स्कन्द का जन्म

The lady said : I am the daughter of Prajapati; I am called Devsena. My sister Daityasena has already been carried away by Keshin.

We, two sisters, always used to come with our maids to this Mandara mountain to sport with the permission of Prajapati.

The great Asura daily paid his court to us. O chastiser of Paka, Daityasena agreed, but I did not.

O exalted one, she was carried away, but I have been rescued by your prowess. O lord of the celestials, I desire that you should select for me an invincible husband.

Indra said: You are one of my cousins, for your mother is a sister of my mother Dakshayani. I desire that you should speak to me about your own prowess.

Devasena said: O mighty-armed deity, I am a Abala (weak woman), but my husband must be powerful. By my father's boon he will be adorable of the celestials and the Asura.

Indra said: O lady, O faultless one, I desire to hear what sort of power your husband must wield.

Devasena said : That mighty, celebrated and powerful being who will be ever devoted to Brahma, who will be able to conquer the Devas, the Danavas, the Yakshas, the Kinnaras, the Nagas, the Rakshashas and the evil minded Daityas and who will be able to subjugate all the worlds, should be my husband.

Having heard her these words, he (Indra) became sorry and pensive. (He thought), “There is no husband for this lady like the one she desires to possess.

That sun-like effulgent one then saw the sun on the Udaya (rising) mountain. He also saw the greatly exalted moon entering into the sun.

It being the time of the new moon, Shatakratu saw in that Rudra (fearful) moment that the celestials and the Asuras were fighting on the Udaya mountain.

Shatakratu saw that the morning twilight was tinged with red clouds. The exalted one also saw that the abode of Varuna (ocean) had become as red as blood.

He also saw that Agni, carrying oblations offered with various mantras by Bhrigu, Angira and others, entered the disc of the sun.

He also saw the twenty four Parvas adoring the sun. The beautiful Soma was also present in the sun with such surroundings.

Having seen this union of the sun and the moon and also that terrible conjunction, Indra thus reflected.

“This fearful conjunction of the sun and the moon forebodes a terrible battle at the ends of this night.

The river Sindhu is flowing with a current of fresh blood. The jackals with fiery faces are crying to the sun.

This great conjunction is terrible and it is full of effulgence. This union of the sun, moon and the fire is very wonderful.

If Soma beget a son now, that son may become the husband of this damsel. Agni has also similar surroundings. Agni is also a deity of heaven.

If he too beget a son, that son may become the husband of this damsel. “Having thus, though the exalted one went to the abode of Brahma.

Taking Devasena with him. Saluting the Grandsire he said, "Grant this lady a good warrior for her husband."

Brahma said: O slayer of Danavas, it shall be as you desire. The issue of this union will be very powerful and mighty.

O Shatakratu, that powerful being will be the husband of this lady and the generallissimo of your army,

Having heard this, Indra, with that damsel bowed to him; and then he went to the place where those great Brahmanas, the mighty celestials Rishis, Mahatmans and other lived.

With Indra at their head, the celestials with the desire of drinking the Soma to receive their respective shares, went to the sacrifices of those Rishis.

Having duly performed the ceremony with the blazing fire, those high-souled men offered oblation to the dwellers of heaven.

The Adbhuta fire, that carrier of oblations, was invoked with mantras. Coming out of the disc of the sun, that exalted fire restrained his speech and went there. O best of the Bharata race, entering the sacrificial fire that had been made and into which various offerings were made by the Rishis with mantras, the fire took them with him and made them over to the dwellers of heaven.

Coming out from that place, he saw the wives of those high-souled Rishis sleeping comfortably on their respective beds,

Their complexion was like that of an alter of gold. It was spotless like the disc of moon. It was scattering the beam of light like flames and their bauty was like that of galaxy in the sky.

Seeing the wives of those foremost of Brahmanas with eager eyes, his mind became greatly agitated; he was filled with desires.

Restraining his heart, he considered to be very improper it to be thus moved (will desire). He thought, “The wives of these illustrated Brahınanas are chaste and faithful. They are beyond the reach of other people's desires. I am filled with desire to possess them. I shall therefore by becoming their household fire gratify myself with daily looking at them.”

Thus transforming himself into a household fire Adbhuta fire was highly gratified with seeing those gold complexioned ladies and touching them with his flames.

Attracted by their beauty, he lived there for a long time. Being filled with great love for them, he gave them his heart.

Being disappointed to win the hearts of those Brahmana women and being much afflicted by love, he went to a forest to commit suicide.

But a little while ago, Svaha, the daughter of Daksha, had bestowed her heart on him. That lady was seeking to detect his weak moments.

That faultless lady did not succeed in finding out any weakness in that cool and collected deity of fire. But now that the fire-deity had gone to the forest afflicted with the pangs of love; she thought thus, "As I am too much afflicted with love, I shall assume the disguise of the wives of the seven Rishis and in that disguise I shall find out the deity of fire who is so much smitten with their charms. He will be then gratified and my desire also will be satisfied.