Sūta said: May Senāpati (Skanda) the son of the lord of Devas dispel my sin. He is conversant with the reality of the teaching in the Vedas and Śāstras; he ponders over all actions, he is richly endowed with all attributes, he is the eldest and the lord of all; he is gentle, and has the body of Mahaviṣṇu, he is the noble commander of the army, he is the mysterious suppressor of sacrifice; he rides on the elephant Airāvata, he has black curly hairs; his limbs are black, his eyes are red; moon and serpent constitute his ornaments; he is surrounded by goblins, ghosts, evil spirits and Kūṣmāṇḍas and he is engaged in the worship of Śiva.