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स्कन्दोपाख्यान (skandopAkhyAna)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Skandopākhyāna(ṃ)]
(“episode of Skanḍa”).--§ 500 (cf. Skanda-Śakra-samāg.). The Pārishadas of Skanda: When Skanda was struck with the thunderbolt, a{??}number of male children were produced, who steal little children, whether born or in the womb, as also a number of female children. They adopted Viśākha as their father. Bhadraśākha (form of Skanda, cf. v. 14400), with a face like that of a goat, in the battle protected his sons and daughters, in the presence of the mothers. Therefore they call Skanda Kumārapitṛ (so B., C. has Kumāraṃ pitaraṃ), and those who desire to have sons worship Rudra as Agni, and Umā as Svāhā (so C., B. has Agnimukhāṃ instead of Agnim Umāṃ). The daughters of the Tapa fire obtained from Skanda that they became the mothers of the whole world
some of them should be good (śivāḥ) and some evil (aśivāḥ). Having adopted Skanda as their son, the host of the mothers departed. Kākī, Halimā, etc. (in all seven) () had, by the grace of Skanda, a terrible son Śiśu, who is named vīrāshṭaka (i.e. consisting of eight men) or, when the goat's head is included, navaka (i.e. consisting of nine). The sixth face of Skanda is that of a goat, the best of the six, honoured by the mothers, that by which Bhadraśākha created the divine energy (?śaktiṃ yenāsṛjad divyāṃ). This happened on the fifth day of the bright half of the mouth, and on the sixth a terrific battle took place (III, 228).--§ 501. Description of Skanda. Śrī, embodied and looking like a lotus, rendered her allegiance to him. The brahmans and maharshis praised him, saying: “Hiraṇyagarbha! thou who wast born only six nights ago, do thou become Indra, ” and at his request they explained to him the offices of Indra (b). Even Indra besought him to become the lord of the gods. But, at the request of Skanda, Indra retained his sovereignty, and, with all the gods, anointed Skanda as the leader of the celestial forces, and fastened the celestial wreath of gold, of Viśvakarman's manu-facture, round his neck. Rudra came with Pārvatī and honoured him. Skanda is called the son of Rudra because Agni is called Rudra by brahmans, and because he was produced by Rudra entering Fire, and because he was honoured by Rudra before all the gods, and because the Śveta mountain, where he was reared by the Kṛttikās, was formed of Rudra's semen virile. The red cock, given him by Agni, formed the ensign of Skanda, perched on the top of his chariot. The power (śakti) which conduces to the victory of the gods, advanced before him. An innate armour entered into his body, and always manifests itself on the battle-field. Under the recitation of holy texts he was honoured by D., G., Aps., Pś., etc. Then he married Devasenā (names v. 14451), Bṛh. performing the necessary prayers and oblations. Then Lakshmī began to serve him. Therefore the fifth lunar day is called Śrī-pañcamī, and the sixth “a great tithi” (mahātithiḥ) (III, 229)