॥ अथ ३.२१८ ॥
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
३.२१८.१
उपविष्टं ततः स्कन्दं हिरण्यकवचस्रजम् ।
हिरण्यचूडमुकुटं हिरण्याक्षं महाप्रभम् ॥
M N Dutt Markandeya said : Skanda was adorned with a golden armlet and garland; he wore a crest and crown of gold; his eyes were gold coloured and they were very bright.
३.२१८.२
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं मनोरमम् ।
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सुप्रियम् ॥
M N Dutt He had sharp teeth, he was clad in a red garment, he looked very handsome, he had a most charming appearance, he possessed all good characteristics, he was the favorite of the three worlds.
३.२१८.३
ततस्तं वरदं शूरं युवानं मृष्टकुण्डलम् ।
अभजत्पद्मरूपा श्रीः स्वयमेव शरीरिणी ॥
M N Dutt He was a giver of boons, he was brave and youthful and he was adorned with ear-rings. When he was resting, the goddess of wealth, looking like a lotus and assuming a body, came to him.
३.२१८.६
हिरण्यवर्ण भद्रं ते लोकानां शंकरो भव ।
त्वया षड्रात्रजातेन सर्वे लोका वशीकृताः ॥
M N Dutt The Rishis said: O golden egg-born one, may prosperity come to you. May you be the cause of doing good to the world. Though you have been born in six nights, all the worlds have come to your subjection.
स्कन्द उवाच ।
ऋषय ऊचुः ।
३.२१८.९
इन्द्रो दिशति भूतानां बलं तेजः प्रजाः सुखम् ।
तुष्टः प्रयच्छति तथा सर्वान्दायान्सुरेश्वरः ॥
M N Dutt The Rishis said: Indra gives strength, power, effspring and happiness to all beings. When propetiated that lord of the celestials bestows on all creatures all the objects of their desire.
शक्र उवाच ।
३.२१८.१३
भवस्वेन्द्रो महाबाहो सर्वेषां नः सुखावहः ।
अभिषिच्यस्व चैवाद्य प्राप्तरूपोऽसि सत्तम ॥
M N Dutt Indra said: O mighty armed one, O excellent being, make us happy by becoming the lord of all of us. You are worthy of the honour; therefore we shall instal you this very day.
स्कन्द उवाच ।
३.२१८.१४
शाधि त्वमेव त्रैलोक्यमव्यग्रो विजये रतः ।
अहं ते किंकरः शक्र न ममेन्द्रत्वमीप्सितम् ॥
M N Dutt Skanda said: O Indra, continue to rule over the three worlds with self-possession and with a desire for (new) conquests. I shall remain your humble servant. I do not desire to get your sovereignity.
शक्र उवाच ।
३.२१८.१५
बलं तवाद्भुतं वीर त्वं देवानामरीञ्जहि ।
अवज्ञास्यन्ति मां लोका वीर्येण तव विस्मिताः ॥
M N Dutt Indra said: O hero, your prowess is wonderful. Therefore vanquish the enemies of the celestials. People have been greatly astonished to see your unirivalled prowess.
३.२१८.१६
इन्द्रत्वेऽपि स्थितं वीर बलहीनं पराजितम् ।
आवयोश्च मिथो भेदे प्रयतिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः ॥
M N Dutt I have been bereft of my prowess. Defeated as I am by you, if I am now to act as Indra, I will not be able to command the respect of all creatures. Every one would be busy to bring about disunion, then O lord, they would be the partisans of one or other of us.
३.२१८.१७
भेदिते च त्वयि विभो लोको द्वैधमुपेष्यति ।
द्विधाभूतेषु लोकेषु निश्चितेष्वावयोस्तथा ।
विग्रहः संप्रवर्तेत भूतभेदान्महाबल ॥
M N Dutt I have been bereft of my prowess. Defeated as I am by you, if I am now to act as Indra, I will not be able to command the respect of all creatures. Every one would be busy to bring about disunion, then O lord, they would be the partisans of one or other of us.
३.२१८.१८
तत्र त्वं मां रणे तात यथाश्रद्धं विजेष्यसि ।
तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानद्य भविता मा विचारय ॥
M N Dutt O greatly powerful one, when they will form themselves into two distinct factions, war as before would be the result of that disunion. In that war you will undoubtedly be able to defeat me at your pleasure and then to become the lord of all the worlds. Don't think on this subject.
स्कन्द उवाच ।
शक्र उवाच ।
३.२१८.२०
यदि सत्यमिदं वाक्यं निश्चयाद्भाषितं त्वया ।
यदि वा शासनं स्कन्द कर्तुमिच्छसि मे शृणु ॥
M N Dutt Indra said: O greatly powerful one, O Skanda, at your command I shall continue to act as Indra. If you have said this deliberately and earnestly then hear me how you can gratify your desire to serve me. Become the generallissimo of the celestial army.
स्कन्द उवाच ।
३.२१८.२२
दानवानां विनाशाय देवानामर्थसिद्धये ।
गोब्राह्मणस्य त्राणार्थं सेनापत्येऽभिषिञ्च माम् ॥
M N Dutt Skand said: Instal me (then) as the generallisimo (of the celestial army) for the destruction of the Danavas, for the good of the celestials and for the well-being of Brahmanas and kine.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
३.२१८.२३
सोऽभिषिक्तो मघवता सर्वैर्देवगणैः सह ।
अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥
M N Dutt Markandeya said : Thus having been installed by Indra and all the other celestials and honoured by the great Rishis, he looked exceedingly grand. The golden umbrella (held over his head) looked like a halo of blazing fire.
३.२१८.२४
तस्य तत्काञ्चनं छत्रं ध्रियमाणं व्यरोचत ।
यथैव सुसमिद्धस्य पावकस्यात्ममण्डलम् ॥
M N Dutt Markandeya said : Thus having been installed by Indra and all the other celestials and honoured by the great Rishis, he looked exceedingly grand. The golden umbrella (held over his head) looked like a halo of blazing fire.
३.२१८.२५
विश्वकर्मकृता चास्य दिव्या माला हिरण्मयी ।
आबद्धा त्रिपुरघ्नेन स्वयमेव यशस्विना ॥
M N Dutt O foremost of men, that illustrious deity, the vanquisher of Tripura (Indra) Lord Shiva with his wife came there and put round his neck the celestial garland of gold mady by Vishwakarma.
३.२१८.३०
रुद्रस्य वह्नेः स्वाहायाः षण्णां स्त्रीणां च तेजसा ।
जातः स्कन्दः सुरश्रेष्ठो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत् ॥
M N Dutt O descendant of Bharata, as Rudra, that fire god, (Skanda) Svaha and the six wives (of the seven Rishis) were the cause of the birth of the great deity Skanda, so was he for that reason called the son of Rudra.
३.२१८.३७
इष्टैः स्वाध्यायघोषैश्च देवतूर्यरवैरपि ।
देवगन्धर्वगीतैश्च सर्वैरप्सरसां गणैः ॥
M N Dutt The much esteemed incantation of the Vedic hymns, the music of the celestial musicians, the songs of the celestial and the Gandharvas then rose on all sides.
॥ इति ३.२१८ ॥
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