Markandeya said : When Skanda had done all these favourite works of the mothers, Svaha appeared before him and said, “You are my son.

I desire that you should give me great happiness." "To her Skanda replied,” What sort of happiness you desire to get?

Svaha said: O mighty-armed one, O child, I am the favourite daughter of Daksha. My name is Svaha; from my youth I am in love with Agni, but that deity does not understand my feelings. I desire to live forever with him.

Skanda said: O lady, O beautiful one, from this day all the oblations that virtuous, men, who do not deviate from the path of virtue, will offer to the celestials and the Pitris with Mantras uttered by the Brahmanas shall always be offered to Agni coupled with the name of Svaha. Thus, O excellent one, you will always live with Agni.

Markandeya said : Having been thus addressed and worshipped by Skanda, Svaha was greatly pleased. Being thus united with her husband Pavaka (Agni), she much honoured Skanda.

Then Brahma, the lord of creatures, said to Mahasena, “Go and see your father Maheshvara, the chastiser of Tripura.

Rudra with Agni and Uma and with Svaha have combined to make you invincible for the good of the world.

(Slokas to 13 not translated for obvious reason).

Men who are desirous of acquiring wealth should worship these five classes of spirits with the sun-flower. They should also be worshipped for the alleviation of diseases.

Minjika and Minjika, begotten by Rudra should always be worshipped by those who desire the good of their children. Those who desire to have children born to them should always worship those female spirits that live on human flesh and that are produced in trees. Thus all Pishachas are divided into innumerable classes. O king, hear now the origin of the bells and standards of Skanda.

Airavata had two Bells named Vaijayanti. The intelligent Indra brought them and personally gave them to Guha.

Vishakha took one of those Bells and Skanda the other. The standards of both Kartikeya and Vishakha are of the red colour.

That greatly powerful deity Mahasena was very much pleased with the toys give to him by the celestials.

Surrounded by the celestials and the Pishachas and seated on the golden mountain, he looked effulgent in all the grandeur of prosperity.

That mountain covered with beautiful forests looked grand with the presence of that hero, as the Mandara with charming caves looks with the rays of the sun.

The white mountain was adorned with charming forests full of blossoming Santaka flowers and with forests of Karbira, Parijata, Japa and Ashoka trees and also with wild tracts, overgrown with Kadamba trees; it abounded in innumerable celestials deer and birds. The roaring clouds served the purpose of musical instruments. It sounded like the murmurs of an agitated sea. The celestials, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras began to dance. There rose a loud sound of joy from the merriment of all creatures.

It appeared as if Indra with all the worlds had been transferred to the white mountain. All looked at Skanda with great satisfaction. None felt tired in doing so.

When that exalted son of Pavaka was installed as the generallissimo of the celestials army, that handsome and happy lord, riding with Parvati on a car and shining as effulgent as the sun, went to a place called Bhadravata. To his beautiful chariot were yoked thousands of lions and it was driven by Kala (himself). They passed through space and seemed as if they were about to devour the sky.

Striking terror into the hearts of all creatures in the mobile and immobile worlds, those lions flitted through the sky uttering fearful growls. In that chariot was seated Pashupati (Shiva) with the mother Uma.

Looking like the sun with flames of lightening illuminating masses of clouds which are adorned with the bow of Indra. In front of him proceeded the lord of wealth (Kubera) with his followers Guhyakas,

Riding on the backs of human beings and riding (also) on his beautiful car Pushpaka. Indra also with the celestials went riding on his elephant Airavata,

And brought up the rear of Mahadeva, the giver of boons. The great Yaksha Amogha with his followers, the Jrimbhaka Yakshas and other Rakshasas adorned with garlands of flowers were in the right wing of the army. Many celestials warriors with the Vasus and the Rudras, marched in the right wing of the army. Then marched the terrible Yama in company with Death followed by hundreds of fearful diseases. Behind him was carried the fearful, sharp and well-adorned trident of Shiva called Vijaya. The exalted lord of waters Varuna with his terrible Pasha (weapon) surrounded by innumerable aquatic animals marched slowly with the trident. The trident of the Vijaya was followed by Pattisha (weapon) of Rudra guarded.

By mace, balls, clubs and other excellent weapons. O king, Pattisha was followed by the greatly effulgent umbrella of Rudra.

And by the vessels and by the great Rishis. On the right looked beautiful the effulgent scepter followed by Bhrigu Angira and others.

Behind all these, rode Rudra on his white chariot, giving great encouragement to the celestials by his great prowess. Rivers and lakes, the seas, Apsaras, Rishis, celestials, Gandharvas, Nagas, stars, planets and other children of the celestials and also many handsome women followed him in his train. The beautiful ladies went scattering flowers all around.

The clouds went along making their obeisance to the wielder of Pinaka. Soma held a white umbrella over his head.

And Agni and Vayu fanned him with Chamaras. O king, he was followed by the prosperity-bound Indra accompanied with the Royal sages singing the praises of Vrishadhvaja (Shiva).

Gauri, Vidhya, Gandhari, Keshini, Mitra and Savitri, all followed Parvati and so did also all those that are Vidhyas, created by the learned.

The Rakshasas Grahas (spirits) that deliver different divisions of the army the commands (of Skanda) that are implicitly obeyed by Indra an the other celestials went in front of the army as standard-bearers.

That foremost of Yakshas, named Pingala, the friend of Rudra, who is always present in the place where corpses are burnt and who is agreeable to all people, merrily marched with him, sometime going in front of the army and sometime falling behind it, his movements were not certain.

Virtuous actions are the offerings with which the deity Rudra is worshipped by mortals. He is also called Shiva, the omnipotent god, the wielder of Pinaka; he is the great god. He is worshipped in various forms. The son of Kritika, the generallissimo of the celestials army, ever respectful to Brahmanas, being thus surrounded by the celestials forces, also followed that lord of the celestials. Then Mahadeva said these weighty words to Mahasena. "Carefully command the seventh army corps of the celestials forces.'

O lord, very well, I shall command, the seventh army corps. Now tell me soon if I am to do any thing else.

Rudra said: O son, you shall always find me in the field of battle. By looking at me and by devotion to me, you shall derive great good.

Markandeya said : Having said this, Maheshvara Maheshvara (Shiva) embraced him and then permitted him to go. When Skanda was thus allowed to go, great disasters occurred.

To disturb the equanimity of the celestials. The firmament with the stars was on a blaze. The whole universe became greatly confused.

The earth tremble I and sent up a rumbling sound. Darkness covered the whole world. Seeing this fearful catastrophy, Shankara (Shiva) with the greatly blessed Uma and with the celestials and the great Rishis became greatly aggrieved. When such confusion overtook them, they saw before them a fearful and mighty army with various weapons; it looked like a mass of clouds and rocks. Those terrible and countless beings, speaking various languages, came where stood Shankara and the celestials. They hurled on the celestials showers of arrows from all directions,

And also masses of rocks, maces, clubs, Shataghnis, Prasas and Parighas (all weapons). The celestials army was thrown into great confusion by the shower of those fearful weapons and they began to waver. The Danavas made a great havoc by cutting down the soldiers, horses, elephants, chariots and arins. The celestials forces were then seen to turn their backs upon the enemy. Many of them fell, killed by the Asuras as large trees fall in the forest when a wild fire takes place. The dwellers of heaven fell with their heads cut off from their bodies. They had none to lead them in that fearful battle and they were thus killed by the enemy. Seeing his army unsteady and hard pressed by the Danavas, the lord of the celestials, the slayer of Bala, Purandara, tried to rally them by saying, "O heroes, do not be afraid; may success attend you. Take up your arms.

Resolve upon displaying bravery; you will then meet with no more misfortune and you will then be able to defeat these wicked and terrible wretches, the Danavas. Be blessed; attack the great Danavas with me.” Having heard the words of Shakra, the dwellers of heaven became reassured.

And under his leadership they again attacked the Danavas. Thereupon all the celestials and the greatly powerful Marutas.

Along with the greatly exalted Sadhyas and the Vasus returned to the attack, the arrows which they angrily discharged against the enemy drank a large quantity of blood from the bodies of the Daityas and of their horses and elephants. Their sharp arrows passing through their bodies fell upon the ground looking like so inany snakes falling from the sides of a hill. O_king, the Daityas, thus pierced by the arrows, fell on all sides, looking like so many masses of clouds. Attacked by the celestials on the field of battle, the Danava forces.

Were struck with panic and they wavered at that shower of various arrows. Then the celestials loudly gave vent to their joy with uplifted weapons. The celestials musicians began to play various airs. Thus took place that great battle, so fearful to both sides.

The battle field was covered with blood and strewn with the bodies of both the Devas and the Danavas. The celestials however, were soon worsted and the fearful Danavas again made a great havoc of the celestials army. The Asura drums were sounded and their shrill bugles were loudly blown. The Danava chiefs sent forth terrific lion-like roars. Then came forward from the fearful Danava army a greatly powerful Danava, named Mahisha with a large mass of rocks in his hands.

He looked like the sun peeping from amongst a mass of dark clouds. O king, seeing that uplifted mass of rocks about to be hurled on them, the dwellers of heaven fled in confusion.

But they were pursued by Mahisha who hurled on them the rock. O ruler of earth, by the falling of that rock, ten thousand warriors of the celestials army were killed by being crushed to the ground.

This act of Mahisha struck terror into the hearts of the celestials. With other Danavas, he again attacked them as a lion attacks a herd of small deer.

When Indra and the other dwellers of heaven saw that Mahisha was advancing to attack them, they fled leaving behind their arms and colours.

Thereupon Mahisha was greatly enraged and the quickly advanced towards the chariot of Rudra. Reaching near, he seized its pole with his hands.

When Mahisha in great wrath thus seized the pole of Rudra's chariot, the earth began to groan and the great Rishis fainted away.

Huge and cloud-like Daityas made great noise in joy, thinking that they had already won the victory.

Though the exalted Rudra was in this plight, he did not kill Mahisha, for he knew that the wicked wretch would be killed by Skanda.

The fiery Mahisha, gloating over the prize he had secured, sent up in great joy loud roars to the great alarm of the celestials and to the great joy of the Danavas.

When the celestials were in that great danger, Mahasena burning like a (second) sun came forward in great wrath.

That mighty armed lord was clad in red , clothes, adorned with garlands of red flowers and incased in golden armour.

He rode on a golden chariot as bright as the sun, drawn by chest-nut horses. Seeing him the Daitya forces suddenly lost heart in the field of battle.

O king of kings, the greatly powerful Mahasena hurled a blazing Shakti (weapon) for the destruction of Mahisha. That weapon cut off his head and he fell on the ground dead.

His head, as massive as a hill, extending in length sixteen yojanas, falling on the ground barred the entrance to the country of the northern Kurus, though now the people of that country easily pass by that gate. It was seen by the Devas and the Danavas that Skanda hurled his Shakti again and again on the field of battle. It returned to his hands again and again killing thousands of the enemies. The fearful Danavas were killed in large numbers by the arrows of the greatly intelligent Mahasena. Then they were exceedingly alarmed and the followers of Skanda began to kill and cut them down and drink their blood. They in great joy exterminated the Danavas in no time.

As the sun destroys darkness or as fire destroys a forest or as the wind drives away clouds. In this manner, the illustrious Skanda defeated all his enemies.

The celestials came to congratulate him and he in his turn worshipped Maheshvara (Shiva). The son of Kritika looked as grand as the sun in all his glorious effulgence.

When the enemies (of the celestials) were completely destroyed by Skanda and when Maheshvara went away, then Purandara embraced him and thus spoke to him,

"O Skanda, O foremost of all warriors, this Mahisha who was made invincible by Brahma is (now) killed by you. The celestials were like grass to him.

O mighty armed hero, you have removed a thorn from the side of the celestials; you have killed in battle hundreds of Danavas, as brave as Mahisha, those enemies of the celestials who used to harass us always. Your followers have eaten up hundreds of Danavas,

O god, you are as invincible in battle as the husband of Uma (Shiva). This victory will be celebrated as your first great achievement.

Your fame will be everlasting all over the three worlds. O mighty armed hero, all the celestials will pay allegiance to you."

Having said this to Mahasena, the husband of Sachi with the permission of the three eyed deity (Shiva) left the place accompanied by the celestials.

Rudra returned to Bhadravata and the celestials returned to their respective abodes. The celestials were thus addressed by Rudra, “Look at Skanda as you do me.

That son of Agni, having killed the Danavas, have conquered the three worlds in one day. He has been worshipped by the great Rishis. The Brahmanas who attentively read this story of the birth of Skanda obtain prosperity in this world and the association with Skanda in the next world."