Gadayuddha Parva — The history of the Tirtha Taijasa and that of the installation of the King of Waters; The history of Agnitirtha

Vaishampayana said Listen now to the numbers of the mothers, those destroyers of foes, O hero that became the companions of Kumara, as I name them.

Listen, O, Bharata, to the names of those illustrious mothers. The mobile and immobile universe is permeated by those auspicious ones.

They are Prabhabavati, Vishalakshi Palit Gonasi, Shrinati, Vahula, Vahuputrika, Apsujata, Gopali, Vrihadarnbalika, Jayavati, Malatika, Dhruvaratna, Bhayankari, Vasudama, Sudama, Vishoka, Nandini, Ekachuda, Mahachuda, Chakranemi, Uttejana, Jayatsena, Kamalakshi, Shobhana, Shatrunjaya, Krodhana, Shalabhi, Khari, Magadhi, Shubhavaktra, Tirthaseni, Gitipriya, Kalyani, Kodruroma, Amitashana, Meghasvana, Bhogavati, Shaubhru, Kanakavati, Alatakshi, Viryavati, Viddyutjihbha, Padmabati, Sunakshatra, Kandara, Bahuyojana, Santanika, Kamala, Mahavala, Sudama, Bahudama, Suprabha, Jashasvini, Nrityapriya, Shatolukhalainckhala, Shataghantata, Shatananda, Bhagananda, Bhavini, Vapsumati, Chandrashita, Bhadrakali, Jhankarika, Nishkuntika, Vaira, Chatwaravasini, Sumangala, Svastimati, Vriddhikama, Jayapriya, Ghanada, Suprsada, Bhavada, Janesvari, Edi, Bhedi, Samedi, Vetalojanani, Kanduti, Kalika, Devamitra, Tambusi, Ketaki, Chitrasena, Achala, Kukkutika, Shankshalika, Shakunika, Kundarika, Kokilika, Kumbhika, Shatodari, Utkrathini, Jalela, Mahavega, Kankana, Manojava, Kantakini, Pradhasa, Putana, Kheshaya, Antarghati, Vama, Kroshana, Tadiprabha, Mandodari, Tuhundi, Kotara, Meghavahini. Sobhaga, Lambini, Lamba, Vasuchuda, Vakathini, Urddhavenidhara, Pingakshi, Lohamekhala, Prithuvaktra, Madhulika, Madhukumbha, Yakshlika, Matsunika, Jarayu, Jarjjaranana, Khyata, Dahaha, Dhamadhama, Khandakhanda. Pushana, Manikuttitka, Amogha. Lambapayodhara, Venuvinadhara, Pingakshi, Lohamekshala, Shasholukaumkhi, Krishna, Kharajangha, Mahajava, Shishumaramukhi, Shveta, Lohitakshi, Vibhishana, Jatalika, Kamachari, Dirghajivha, Valotkata, Kalehika, Vamanika, Mukuta, Lohitakshi, Mahakaya, Harinpinda, Ekatwacha, Sukusuma, Krishnakarni, Kshurakarni, Shatushkarni, Karnapraverana, Shatushpathaniketa, Gokarni, Mahishanana, Kharakarni, Mahakarni, Bheriswanamahaswana, Shankshakumbhashrava, Bhagada, Gana, Sugana, Bhini, Kamada, Chatupatharata, Bhutirtha, Anyagochara, Pashuda, Vittada, Sukhada, Mahayasha, Payoda, Gomahishada, Suvishala, Pratishtha, Supratishtha, Rochamana, Surochana, Naukarni, Mukhakarni, Vashira, Manthini, Ekavaktra, Megharava, Meghamala and Virochana.

These and many other mothers, O foremost of Bharata's race, numbering by thousands, of diverse forms, became the followers of Kartikeya.

There nails were long, their teeth were large and their lips also, O Bharata, were projecting. Of straight forms and handsome features, all of them, endowed with youth, were adorned with ornaments.

Of ascetic merit, they were capable of assuming forms at will. Not having fleshy limbs, they were of fair complexions and endued with the lustre of gold.

Some amongst them were dark and looked like clouds in hue and some were of the color of smoke, O best of Bharata's race. And some were endued with the effulgence of the morning sun and were highly blessed. Possessed of long were tresses, they were clad in what dresses.

The braids of some were tied upwards and the eyes of some were twany and some had long girdles. Some had long stomachs, some had long cars and some had long breasts.

Some had coppery eyes and coppery appearance and the eyes of some were green. Capable of granting boons and of walking at will, they were always cheerful.

Possessed of great strength, some amongst them partook of the nature of Yama, soine of Rudra, some of Soma, some of Kuvera, some of Varuna, some of Indra and some of Agni, O destroyer of foes.

And some were of the nature of Vayu, some of Kumara, some of Brahman, O foremost of Bharatas, race and some of Vishnu and some of Surya and some of Varaha.

Of handsome and delightful features, they were beautiful like the Assuras. In voice they resembled the kokila and it walth, Kuvera.

In battle, their energy esembled that of Shakra. In lustre they reseat-led fire. In battle they always struck terror to 'eir enemies.

Capable of assuming any form at will, in fleetness they resembled the very wind. Of inconceivable power and great energy, their prowess also was inconceivable.

They live in trees and open spots and crossings of four roads. They live also in caves and crematoriums, mountains and springs.

Bedecked with various kinds of ornaments, they wear various kinds of dresses and speak different languages.

These and many other fairs (of the mothers), all capable of terrorizing the enemies, followed, the great Kartikeya, at the command of the king of gods.

The worship chastiser of Paka, ( foremost of kings, conferred on Kartikeya, a dart for the destruction of the enemies of the celestials.

That dart produces a loud sound and is adorned with many large bells. Possessed of great lustre, it seemed to blaze with light. And Indra also gave him a banner effulgent as the morning sun.

Shiva gave him a large army, highly dreadful and armed with various kinds of weapons and endued with great energy of ascetic penances.

Invincible and possessing all the qualities of a good army that force was known by the name of Dhananjaya. It was protected by thirty thousand warriors each of whom was powerful like Rudra himself. That force knew not how to fly from battle.

Vishnu Gave him a triumphal garland that increases the power of the wearer. Uma gave him two pieces of cloth, effulgent like the sun.

With great pleasure Ganga gave Kumara a celestial water-pot, begotten of ambrosia and Brihaspati gave him a sacred stick.

Garuda gave him his favorite son, a peacock of beautiful feathers.

Aruna gave him a cock of sharp talons, The royal Varuna gave him a powerful shake.

The lord Brahma gave him, his devout devotee, a black deer-skin. And the Creator of all the worlds also gave him Victory in all battles.

Having obtained the command of the celestial forces, Skanda shone like a blazing fire of bright flames.

Accompanied by those companions and the mothers, he set out for the destruction of the demons, cheering up all the foremost of the celestials.

That terrible army of celestials, furnished with standards adorned with bells and equipt with drums and conchs and cymbals and armed with weapons and decked with many banners, shone like the autumnal sky, bespangled with planets and stars.

Then that vast host of celestials and various other creatures began cheerfully to beat their drums and blow their conchs numbering in thousands.

And they also played on their Patahas and Jharjharas and Krikachas and cow-horns and Adambaras and Gomukhas and Dindimas of loud sound.

All the gods, with Vasava at their head, lauded Kumara. The celestials and the Gandharvas sang and the Apsaras danced.

Well pleased (with these attentions) Skanda granted a boon to all the celestials, saying-1 shall kill all your enemies, that wish to kill you.

Having got this boon from that best of celestials, the illustrious gods considered their enemies as already killed.

After Skanda had granted that boon a tremendous sound uprose from all those creatures full of joy, filling the three worlds.

Accompanied by that vast army, Skanda then started for the destruction of the Daityas and the protection of the celestial beings.

Exertion and Victory and Righteousness and Success and Prosperity and Courage and the Scriptures, (in their embodied forms) followed Kartikeya's army, O king.

With that awe-inspiring force, armed with lances and mallets and blazing hands and maces and heavy clubs and arrows and darts and spears and bedecked with beautiful ornaments and armour, the divine Guha set out with leonine roars.

Beholding him, all the Daityas and Rakshasas and Danavas, overcome with fear, dispersed in all directions.

Arined with various weapons, the gods pursued them. Seeing the enemy flying away, the energetic and powerful Skanda, became swollen with anger.

He repeatedly hurled his terrible weapon, viz., the dart, he had received from Agni. The energy displayed by him then resembled a fire fed with libations of clarified butter.

While the dart was repeatedly hurled by Skanda of unfathomable energy, meteors, O king, dropped upon the Earth.

Thunder-bolts, also, with tremendous noise, dropped upon the Earth. Everything looked terrible, O king, as on the day of the universal dissolution.

When that terrible dart was once hurled by the son of Agni, millions of darts came out of it, O best of Bharatas.

The powerful and worshipful Skanda filled with joy, at last killed Taraka, the chief of the Daityas, cndued with great energy and prowess and surrounded in that battle, by a hundred thousand heroic and powerful Daityas.

In that battle, he then fell downı Mahisha, who was surrounded by eight Padmas of Daityas. He next killed Tripada who was surrounded by a thousand Ajutas of Dailyas.

The powerful Skanda then over-powered Hradodara, who encircled by Nikharvas of Daityas, with all his followers armed with various weapons.

Filling the ten points of the horizon, the followers of Kumara, O king, made a loud noise, while those Daityas were being killed and danced and jumped and laughed in joy.

Thousands of Daityas, O king, were reduced to ashes by the flames that came out Skanda's arrow, while other died at the very roars of Skanda.

The three worlds were terrified at the yawns of Skanda's soldiers. The enemies were consumed with flames produced by Skanda. Many were killed by his roars only. was ten

Some amongst the enemies of the celestials, struck with banners, were killed. Some, frightened by the sounds of bells, dropped on the face of the earth. Some wounded with weapons, fell down dead.

In this way the heroic and powerful Kartikeya killed numberless enemies of the gods, highly powerful that came to fight with him.

Then Vali's powerful son Vana, getting upon the Kranucha mountain, fought with the celestial army.

Highly intelligent, the great generalissimo Skanda rushed against that enemy of the gods. Fearing Kartikeya, he took shelter within the Krauncha mountain.

Worked up with ire, the worshipful Kartikeya then pierced that mountain with that dart given him by Agni. The mountain was called Krauncha (crane). for the sound it always produced resembled the cry of a crane.

That mountain was variegated with Shala trees. The monkey and elephants that lived on it were frightened. The birds that had lived there rose up and wheeled around in the sky. The serpents began to dart down its sides.

It resounded also with the cries of a large number of leopards and bears that ran hither and thither in fright. Other forests on it rang with the cries of hundreds of animals.

Sharabhas and lions suddenly run out. On account of all this, that mountain though it was reduced to a very pitiable condition still shone very beautiful.

Vidyadharas living on its summits soared into the air. The Kinnaras also became very anxious, bewildered by the fear caused by the fall of Skanda's arrow.

The Daityas then, by hundreds and thousands, came out of that burning mountain, all bedecked with beautiful ornaments and garlands. The followers of Kumara, overpowering them in battle, killed them all, the worshipful Skanda worked up with ire, killed the son of the Daitya chief (Vali) along with his younger brother as Indra has killed Vritra formerly.

The destroyer of hostile heroes, viz., Agni's son, pierced with his dart the Krauncha mountain, dividing his own-self sometimes into many and sometimes aggregating them all into one.

Repeatedly discharged by him, the arrow repeatedly came back to him. Indeed such was the power and glory of the worshipful son of Agni.

With redoubled heroism, energy, fame and success, the god pierced the mountain and killed hundreds of Dailyas.

Having thus slain the enemies of the celestials, the worshipful god was worshipped and honored by the latter and was greatly delighted.

After the Krauncha mountain had been pierced and after the son of Chanda had been killed drums were beat, О king and conchs were blown.

The celestial ladies showered flowers continually upon that divine lord of Yogins.

Auspicious winds began to blow, carrying divine perfumes. The Gandharvas and great Rishis always engaged in the performance of sacrifices, sang his praises.

Some spoke of him as the powerful son of the Grandsire, viz., Sanatkumara, the eldest of all the sons of Brahman.

Some described him as as the of Maheshvara and some a that of Agni. Some spoke of him as the son of Uma or of Krittakas or of Ganga.

Hundreds and thousands of people described that Lord of Yogins of shining form and great might, as the son of one of those or of either of two of those or of any one of four of those. son

"I have thus told you, O king, everything about the installation of Kartikeya. Listen now to the history of the sanctity of that best of Tirthas, on the Sarasvati.

That best of Tirthas, O king after the enemies of the celestials had been killed, became a second heaven.

The powerful son of Agni gave to each of those leading celestials various kinds of dominion and wealth and at last the sovereignty of the three worlds.

Thus, O king was that adorable destroyer of the Daityas installed by the gods as their generalissimo.

That other Tirtha, O best of Bharatas, where in days of Yore, Varuna, the Lord of water had been installed by the celestials, is known by the name of Taijasa.

Having bathed in that Tirtha and adored Skanda, Rama gave to the Brahmans gold and clothes and ornaments and many other things.

Passing one night there, that killer of hostile heroes, viz., Madhava, lauding that foremost of Tirthas and touching its water, became cheerful and happy.

I have now told you everything about which you had enquired, viz., how the divine Skanda was installed by the celestials.