Chapter 12 - The story of Śiva and Pārvatī including that of Kārttikeya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Brahmā said:—

1. On seeing Tāraka killed, Viṣṇu and other gods, with faces refulgent with pleasure, eulogised Kārttikeya with devotion.

The gods said:—

2. Obeisance to you of good features, obeisance to you who confer auspiciousness on the universe, O kinsman of the universe, obeisance be to you. Obeisance to you, O purifier of the universe.

3. Obeisance to you, the slayer of the chief of the Asuras. O lord, obeisance to the slayer of the Asura Bāṇa. Obeisance to the destroyer of Pralamba. Obeisance to you of holy features. Obeisance to you, O son of Śiva.

4. You alone are the creator, sustainer and annihilator of the universe. You, born of firegod, be pleased. Your cosmic image is identical with the universe. O son of Śiva, kinsman of the distressed, be pleased.

5. O lord, protector of the gods, O lord, save us always. O merciful one, protector of gods, be pleased.

6. After killing the Asura Tāraka along with his followers, O great lord, the gods have been freed from adversities by you.

Brahmā said:—

7. O sage, thus eulogised by Viṣṇu and the other gods, lord Kumāra granted them fresh boons in order.

8. On seeing the mountains eulogising, the son of Śiva became very glad and spoke to them after granting boons.

Skanda said:—

9. All of you mountains will become worthy of being worshipped by the sages and resorted to by persons following the paths of action and knowledge.

10. O mountains, at my word you will be assuming the forms of phallic emblems, the special forms of Śiva. There is no doubt about it.

11. My maternal grandfather, the excellent mountain Himavat, will become the fortunate bestower of fruits to ascetics.

The gods said:—

12. By killing Tāraka the lord of Asuras, and by granting boons thus, all of us including the mobile and immobile beings have been made happy by you.

13. Now, it behoves you to go to Kailāsa with great pleasure, to the abode of Śiva in order to see your mother and father Śiva and Pārvatī.

Brahmā said:—

14. After saying thus and obtaining his permission, Viṣṇu and other gods went jubilantly to that mountain along with Kumāra.

15. When the lord Kumāra started to Kailāsa, the abode of Śiva, sounds of “Victory” arose indicating great auspiciousness.

16. Kumāra got in the richly decorated aerial chariot that shone above all the things.

17. O sage, with great pleasure, Viṣṇu and I held the chowries aloft above the head of the lord with alertness.

18. Indra and other gods, rendering suitable service to Kumāra went ahead joyously flanking him on all sides.

19. They reached Śiva’s mountain crying shouts of victory to Śiva. They entered the precincts with delight. Auspicious sounds arose.

20. On seeing Śiva and Pārvatī, Viṣṇu and other gods bowed to Śiva with devotion and stood there humbly with palms joined in reverence.

21. Kumāra descended from the aerial chariot in all humility and bowed joyously to Śiva and Pārvatī seated on a throne.

22. O Nārada, on seeing their beloved son Kumāra, the lordly couple Śiva and Pārvatī rejoiced much.

23. The great lord got up, kissed him on the head with joy, stroked him with the hand and placed him on his lap.

24. With great affection, the highly delighted Śiva kissed the face of Kumāra, the great lord and the slayer of Tāraka.

25. Pārvatī, too got up and placed him on her lap. Keeping him close to her head with great affection she kissed his lotus-like face.

26. O dear Nārada, the joy of the couple—Śiva and Pārvatī who followed the worldly conventions, increased very much.

27. There was great jubilation in the abode of Śiva. Everywhere the sound of shouts “Victory” and “Obeisance” rose up.

28. O sage, then Viṣṇu, other gods and the sages bowed joyously to Śiva. They eulogised Him.

The gods said:—

29. O lord of the gods, O bestower of protection to your devotees, Obeisance, Obeisance to you many times, O merciful lord Śiva.

30. Wonderful indeed, O great lord, is your divine sport, conferring happiness to all good men, O Śiva, kinsman to the distressed, O lord.

31. We are deluded in our intellects. We are ignorant of the procedure of your worship, O eternal one. We do not know your invocation nor your wonderful course, O lord.

32. Obeisance to you, the support of the waters of the Gaṅgā, to the deity possessed of the attributes, obeisance to the lord of the gods, obeisance to Śiva.

33. Obeisance to the bull-bannered lord Śiva, obeisance to the lord of Gaṇas; Obeisance to the lord of all. Obeisance to the lord of the three worlds.

34. O lord, obeisance to you, the annihilator, the sustainer and creator of the worlds. O lord of gods, obeisance to you, the lord of three attributes and the eternal.

35. Obeisance to the lord free from attachment; obeisance to Śiva the great soul. Obeisance to the pure beyond the world of matter, obeisance to the great, the unwasting.

36. Obeisance to you the god of death holding the staff of punishment and noose in the hand. Obeisance to the chief of the deities invoked by Vedic mantras. Obeisance to you the hundred-tongued deity.

37. O lord, everything has come out of your body whether past, present or future, whether mobile or immobile.

38. O lord, protect us always. O supreme lord, we have sought refuge in you in every respect.

39. Obeisance to you, the blue-necked Rudra, of the form of offering. Obeisance to you both possessed and devoid of forms, the multiformed one.

40. Obeisance to Śiva, the blue-necked, the wearer of ashes on the limbs from the funeral pyre. Obeisance to you Śrīkaṇṭha and Nīlaśikhaṇḍa.

41. Obeisance to you saluted by all, saluted by the Yogins. Obeisance to you, the great lord, whose feet are worshipped by all.

42. You are Brahmā among all the gods, you are Nīlalohita among Rudras; you are the soul in all living beings; you are the Puruṣa of Sāṅkhya system.

43. You are Sumeru among mountains, you are the moon among the stars. You are Vasiṣṭha among the sages and you are Indra among the gods.

44. You are Oṃkāra among all Vedic passages; O great lord, be our protector. For the benefit of the worlds you nourish the Beings.

45. O great lord, O fortunate one, O scrutinizer of the good and evil, O lord of gods, make us flourish as those who carry out your instructions.

46. In your millions and millions of forms we are unable to realize your true self. O lord of gods, obeisance be to you.

Brahmā said:—

47. After eulogising thus and bowing to him frequently, Viṣṇu and other gods stood before him after placing Skanda ahead.

48. On hearing the eulogy of the gods, Śiva, the lord of all, the self-ruler was delighted. The compassionate lord then laughed.

49. Śiva the great Īśāna, the kinsman of the distressed, the goal of the good, became delighted and spoke to Viṣṇu and other important gods.

Śiva said:—

50. O Viṣṇu, O Brahmā, O gods, listen to my words with attention. I am merciful. I shall by all means protect you, the gods.

51. The lord of the three worlds is a slayer of the wicked. He is favourably disposed to his devotees. He is the creator, sustainer and annihilator of all yet free from aberrations.

52. O excellent gods, whenever you are faced with misery you shall worship me for your happiness.

Brahmā said:—

53-54. O sage, thus ordered, Viṣṇu, the other gods and the sages bowed to Śiva, Pārvatī, and Kumāra joyously, and returned to their abodes in great delight singing the pleasant glory of Śiva, Pārvatī and their son.

55. Śiva stayed on the mountain joyously along with Pārvatī, the Gaṇas and Kumāra. Lord Śiva was much pleased.

56. Thus O sage, the divine and pleasant story of Kumāra and Śiva has been narrated to you. What else do you wish to hear?