Anushasanika Parva — The history of the destruction of Taraka

Yudhishthira said You have, O grandfather described to me fully the merits of the gift of gold according to the ordinances laid down in the scriptures and the Veda.

You have also described the origin of gold. Do you tell me now how Taraka met with destruction.

You have, said, O king, that Asura had become unslayable by the gods. Do you tell me fully how his destruction was brought about.

Operpetuator of Kuru's race, I wish to hear this from you, I mean the details of Taraka's destruction. Great is my curiosity to hear the narrative.

Bhishma said The gods and the Rishis, O king reduced to great distress, urged the six Krittikas to rear that child.

Amongst the celestial ladies there were none, except these, who could by their power, bear the seed of Agni in their wombs.

The god of fire became highly pleased with those goddesses for their readiness to sustain the conception caused by the seed of Agni which was gifted with his own great power.

When the energy of Agni, O king, was divided into six parts and placed within the channels, the six Krittikas began to nourish the portion that each held in her womb.

As the great Kumara, however, began to grow within their wombs their bodies being possessed by his energy, they could not get peace anywhere.

Filled with energy as their bodies were, the time at last came for delivery. All of them, it so happened, O prince of men, delivered simultaneously.

Though held in six different wombs, yet when all the parts, as they came out, united into one. The goddess Earth held the child, taking it up from a mass of gold.

Indeed, the child, possessed of a beautiful form, shone like the god of Fire. Of beautiful features, he began to grow in a charming forest of reeds.

The six Krittikas saw that child of theirs loO king like the morning Sun. Filled with affection for him, indeed, loving him very much, they began to rear him with their milk.

On account of his having been born of the Krittikas and reared by them, he was known in the three worlds by the name of Kartikeya. Having originated from the seed which had fallen off from Rudra he was named Skanda, and because of his birth in a solitary forest of reeds he was called Guha.

The thirtythree gods, the points of the compass together with their presiding deities, and Rudra, Dhatri, Vishnu, Yama, Pushan, Aryaman, Bhaga, Angsha Mitra, the Sadhyas, Vasava, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Waters, the Wind, the Firmament, Chandramas and all the Constellations and the Planets and the Sun, and all the Richs and Samans and Yajushes in their embodied forms, came there to see that wonderful child who was the son of the god of Fire.

The Rishis sang hymns of praise and the Gandharvas sang in honour of that child called Kumara of six heads, twelve eyes, and greatly devoted to the Brahmanas.

His shoulders were broad, and he had twelve arms, and the splendour of his body resembled that of fire and Aditya. As he lay stretched on a clump of heath, the gods with the Rishis, seeing him, became filled with great joy and considered the great Asura as already Killed. The celestials then began to bring him various kinds of toys and articles that could amuse him.

As he played like a child, various sorts of toys and birds were given to him. Garuda of excellent feathers gave to him a child of his, viz., a peacock having plumes of variegated colour.

The Rakshasas gave to him a boar and a buffalo. Aruna himself gave him cock of fiery splendour.

The Moon gave him a sheep, and the Sun gave him some dazzling rays of his. The mother of all kine, viz., Surabhi, gave him kine by hundreds and thousands.

Agni gave him a goat having many good qualities. Ila gave him profuse flowers and fruits. Sudhanvan gave him a riding chariot and a car of the great Kubera.

Varuna gave him many auspicious and good products of the Ocean, with some elephants. The king of the celestials gave him lions and tigers and pards and various kinds of the birds of the air, and inany terrible beasts of prey and many umbrellas also. Many Rakshasas and Asuras began to follow that powerful child.

Seeing the son of Agni grow up, Taraka sought, by various means, to bring about his destruction, but could not do anything to that powerful deity.

The gods in time invested Agni's son born a solitary forest with the command of their arıy. And they also informed him of the oppressions made upon them by the Asura Taraka.

The commanderinchief of the celestial army grew up and became possessed of great energy and power. In time Guha killed Taraka, with his irresistible dart.

Indeed, Kumara killed the Asura as easily as if in sport. Having brought about the destruction of Taraka the reestablished the king of the celestials in his sovereignty of the three worlds.

Gifted with mighty power, the celestial general shone in beauty and splendour. The powerful Skanda became the protector of the celestials and did what was agreeable to Shankara.

The illustrious son of Pavaka had a golden form. Indeed, Kumara is always the leader of the celestial arms.

Gold is the powerful energy of the god of fire and was born with Kartikeya. Hence is gold highly sacred, valuable, and excellent and has unending merit.

Thus, O son of Kuru's race, did Vasishtha recite formerly this topic to Rama of Bhrigu's race. Do you, therefore, O king of men, try to make gifts of gold.

By making gifts of gold, Rama became purged of all his sins, and finally acquired a high place in Heaven that is unattainable by other men.