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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 36: Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Kārttikeya’s birth and six nurses

Summary. Gaṅgā releases Agni’s unbearable embryo onto the mountain, its radiance produces minerals and six Kṛttikās nurse the child who becomes the Devas’ commander

Sequence

While Śiva is away at his penance with Umā, the Suras, needing a war commander, approach Brahmā (1.36.1–4)
Brahmā says that Umā's curse stands: they can have no children by their own wives (1.36.5–6)
instead, Agni will father the senāpati (war commander) through Gaṅgā, an arrangement that Umā too will esteem (1.36.7–8)
the Devas honor Brahmā, go to Kailāsa, and instruct Agni to cast his energy into Gaṅgā (1.36.9–11)
Agni asks her to bear the embryo → she assumes a divine form, and he pours himself into her, filling all her channels (1.36.12–14)
burning and overwhelmed, Gaṅgā says that she cannot bear his surging energy (1.36.15)
at Agni's direction she releases the blazing embryo onto the Himālaya's slope. What falls to earth becomes pure gold (1.36.16–17)
copper and iron arise from its fierce heat, while its dross becomes tin and lead → the deposit gives rise to the minerals (1.36.18–20)
its radiance turns the surrounding forest to gold, and gold is henceforth called jātarūpa (1.36.21–22)
the Devas appoint the six Kṛttikās to nurse the newborn → they agree that he is the son of them all (1.36.23–24)
the devatās name him Kārttikeya (1.36.25)
seeing him blazing amid the birth-flow, they also call him Skanda because he has oozed forth, skanna (1.36.26–27)
he becomes six-faced and drinks from the six Kṛttikās' breasts (1.36.28)
after drinking their milk in a single day, the tender-bodied boy defeats the Daitya army through his own courage (1.36.29)
the assembled Suras, with Agni at their head, perform his abhiṣeka as senāpati (commander) → Viśvāmitra closes the account of Gaṅgā and Kumāra's birth. (1.36.30–31)

Verses 1.36.1–31

1.36.1

tapyamāne tapo deve devāḥ sarṣigaṇāḥ purā
senāpatim abhīpsantaḥ pitāmaham upāgaman

Long ago, while the god (Śiva) was performing austerities, the gods together with the hosts of seers, desiring a war-leader, approached the Grandsire (Brahmā).

Words: tapyamāne — while (he) was practising; tapo — austerity; deve — the god (loc.); devāḥ — the gods; sarṣigaṇāḥ — with the hosts of seers; purā — formerly, long ago; senāpatim — a general, war-leader; abhīpsantaḥ — desiring, seeking; pitāmaham — the Grandsire (Brahmā); upāgaman — approached, went to

1.36.2

tato 'bruvan surāḥ sarve bhagavantaṃ pitāmaham
praṇipatya śubhaṃ vākyaṃ sendrāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ

Then all the gods, headed by Indra and Agni, bowing down, spoke this auspicious word to the venerable Grandsire:

Words: tato — then; 'bruvan — spoke; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; bhagavantaṃ — the venerable; pitāmaham — Grandsire; praṇipatya — having bowed down; śubhaṃ — auspicious; vākyaṃ — word, speech; sendrāḥ — together with Indra; sāgnipurogamāḥ — with Agni at their head

1.36.3

yo naḥ senāpatir deva datto bhagavatā purā
sa tapaḥ param āsthāya tapyate sma sahomayā

“O god, the commander who was formerly given to us by your holiness — he, having undertaken supreme austerity, is practising penance together with Umā.

Words: yo — who; naḥ — to us, our; senāpatir — commander; deva — O god; datto — given; bhagavatā — by the venerable one; purā — formerly; sa — he; tapaḥ — austerity; param — supreme; āsthāya — having undertaken, resorted to; tapyate sma — is practising penance; sahomayā — together with Umā

1.36.4

yad atrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā
saṃvidhatsva vidhānajña tvaṃ hi naḥ paramā gatiḥ

Whatever thereupon must be done for the welfare of the worlds, arrange it, O knower of ordinances; for you are our supreme recourse.”

Words: yad — whatever; atrānantaraṃ — next after this, thereupon; kāryaṃ — to be done, the task; lokānāṃ — of the worlds; hitakāmyayā — out of desire for (their) welfare; saṃvidhatsva — arrange, ordain; vidhānajña — O knower of ordinances; tvaṃ — you; hi — for, indeed; naḥ — our; paramā — supreme; gatiḥ — recourse, refuge, goal

1.36.5

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ
sāntvayan madhurair vākyais tridaśān idam abravīt

Having heard the speech of the deities, the Grandsire of all the worlds, soothing the gods with sweet words, said this:

Words: devatānāṃ — of the deities; vacaḥ — speech, words; śrutvā — having heard; sarvalokapitāmahaḥ — the Grandsire of all worlds; sāntvayan — soothing, consoling; madhurair — with sweet; vākyais — words; tridaśān — the gods (the Thirty); idam — this; abravīt — said

1.36.6

śailaputryā yad uktaṃ tan na prajāsyatha patniṣu
tasyā vacanam akliṣṭaṃ satyam eva na saṃśayaḥ

That which was said by the mountain's daughter — that you shall not beget offspring upon your wives — her flawless word is indeed true, there is no doubt.

Words: śailaputryā — by the mountain's daughter; yad — which; uktaṃ — was said; tan — that; na — not; prajāsyatha — you shall beget offspring; patniṣu — upon (your) wives; tasyā — her; vacanam — word, speech; akliṣṭaṃ — flawless, unmarred; satyam — true; eva — indeed; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

1.36.7

iyam ākāśagā gaṅgā yasyāṃ putraṃ hutāśanaḥ
janayiṣyati devānāṃ senāpatim ariṃdamam

This Gaṅgā moves through the sky; in her Agni shall beget a son — the commander of the gods, a subduer of foes.

Words: iyam — this; ākāśagā — moving through the sky; gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; yasyāṃ — in whom; putraṃ — a son; hutāśanaḥ — Agni (the oblation-eater); janayiṣyati — will beget, generate; devānāṃ — of the gods; senāpatim — commander; ariṃdamam — subduer of foes

1.36.8

jyeṣṭhā śailendraduhitā mānayiṣyati taṃ sutam
umāyās tad bahumataṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

The eldest daughter of the mountain-lord (Gaṅgā) will honour that son; and that will be highly esteemed by Umā, no doubt.

Words: jyeṣṭhā — the eldest; śailendraduhitā — daughter of the mountain-lord; mānayiṣyati — will honour, esteem; taṃ — that; sutam — son; umāyās — by/to Umā; tad — that; bahumataṃ — highly esteemed, much approved; bhaviṣyati — will be; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

1.36.9

tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya kṛtārthā raghunandana
praṇipatya surāḥ sarve pitāmaham apūjayan

Hearing that speech of his, O joy of the Raghus, all the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed down and honoured the Grandsire.

Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — speech; tasya — his; kṛtārthā — their purpose fulfilled; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; praṇipatya — having bowed down; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; pitāmaham — the Grandsire; apūjayan — honoured, worshipped

1.36.10

te gatvā parvataṃ rāma kailāsaṃ dhātumaṇḍitam
agniṃ niyojayām āsuḥ putrārthaṃ sarvadevatāḥ

Going to the mountain Kailāsa, adorned with minerals, O Rāma, all the deities appointed Agni to the task for the sake of a son:

Words: te — they; gatvā — having gone; parvataṃ — to the mountain; rāma — O Rāma; kailāsaṃ — Kailāsa; dhātumaṇḍitam — adorned with minerals; agniṃ — Agni; niyojayām āsuḥ — appointed, engaged; putrārthaṃ — for the sake of a son; sarvadevatāḥ — all the deities

1.36.11

devakāryam idaṃ deva samādhatsva hutāśana
śailaputryāṃ mahātejo gaṅgāyāṃ teja utsṛja

“Accomplish this task of the gods, O god Agni; O one of great splendour, cast your energy into Gaṅgā, the mountain's daughter.”

Words: devakāryam — this task of the gods; idaṃ — this; deva — O god; samādhatsva — accomplish, bring about; hutāśana — O Agni; śailaputryāṃ — in the mountain's daughter; mahātejo — O one of great splendour; gaṅgāyāṃ — in Gaṅgā; teja — energy, seed; utsṛja — cast, discharge

1.36.12

devatānāṃ pratijñāya gaṅgām abhyetya pāvakaḥ
garbhaṃ dhāraya vai devi devatānām idaṃ priyam

Having given his promise to the gods, Agni the purifier approached Gaṅgā: “Bear this embryo, O goddess; this is dear to the gods.”

Words: devatānāṃ — to the gods; pratijñāya — having promised, given his word; gaṅgām — Gaṅgā; abhyetya — having approached; pāvakaḥ — the purifier (Agni); garbhaṃ — the embryo; dhāraya — bear, hold; vai — indeed; devi — O goddess; devatānām — of/to the gods; idaṃ — this; priyam — dear, pleasing

1.36.13

ity etad vacanaṃ śrutvā divyaṃ rūpam adhārayat
sa tasyā mahimāṃ dṛṣṭvā samantād avakīryata

Hearing this speech, she assumed a divine form; and he (Agni), beholding her majesty, poured himself out on every side.

Words: ity — thus; etad — this; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; divyaṃ — divine; rūpam — form; adhārayat — assumed, took on; sa — he; tasyā — her; mahimāṃ — majesty, greatness; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; samantād — on every side; avakīryata — was scattered, poured forth

1.36.14

samantatas tadā devīm abhyaṣiñcata pāvakaḥ
sarvasrotāṃsi pūrṇāni gaṅgāyā raghunandana

Then Agni suffused the goddess on every side; and all the channels of Gaṅgā were filled, O joy of the Raghus.

Words: samantatas — on every side; tadā — then; devīm — the goddess; abhyaṣiñcata — sprinkled, suffused; pāvakaḥ — the fire (Agni); sarvasrotāṃsi — all the channels/streams; pūrṇāni — full; gaṅgāyā — of Gaṅgā; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus

1.36.15

tam uvāca tato gaṅgā sarvadevapurohitam
aśaktā dhāraṇe deva tava tejaḥ samuddhatam
dahyamānāgninā tena saṃpravyathitacetanā

Then Gaṅgā, burning with that fire, her consciousness sorely agitated, said to him, the household-priest of all the gods: “I am unable, O god, to bear your surging energy.”

Words: tam — him; uvāca — said; tato — then; gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; sarvadevapurohitam — the household-priest of all the gods; aśaktā — unable; dhāraṇe — in bearing (loc.); deva — O god; tava — your; tejaḥ — energy; samuddhatam — surging, violently raised; dahyamānāgninā — being burnt by the fire; tena — by that; saṃpravyathitacetanā — her consciousness sorely agitated

1.36.16

athābravīd idaṃ gaṅgāṃ sarvadevahutāśanaḥ
iha haimavate pāde garbho 'yaṃ saṃniveśyatām

Then Agni, the fire of all the gods, said this to Gaṅgā: “Let this embryo be deposited here on the slope of the Himālaya.”

Words: athābravīd — then he said; idaṃ — this; gaṅgāṃ — to Gaṅgā; sarvadevahutāśanaḥ — the fire of all the gods; iha — here; haimavate — on the Himālayan (of Himavat); pāde — slope, foot (loc.); garbho 'yaṃ — this embryo; saṃniveśyatām — let it be deposited, placed

1.36.17

śrutvā tv agnivaco gaṅgā taṃ garbham atibhāsvaram
utsasarja mahātejāḥ srotobhyo hi tadānagha

Hearing Agni's word, the mighty Gaṅgā then released that intensely blazing embryo from her streams, O sinless one.

Words: śrutvā — having heard; tv — and, but; agnivaco — Agni's word; gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; taṃ — that; garbham — embryo; atibhāsvaram — intensely blazing; utsasarja — released, discharged; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; srotobhyo — from the streams; hi — indeed; tadānagha — then, O sinless one

1.36.18

yad asyā nirgataṃ tasmāt taptajāmbūnadaprabham
kāñcanaṃ dharaṇīṃ prāptaṃ hiraṇyam amalaṃ śubham

That which issued from her, gleaming like refined river-gold, became, on reaching the earth, gold — pure and lovely bullion.

Words: yad — that which; asyā — from her; nirgataṃ — issued forth, come out; tasmāt — from that; taptajāmbūnadaprabham — with the luster of refined river-gold; kāñcanaṃ — gold; dharaṇīṃ — the earth; prāptaṃ — having reached; hiraṇyam — gold, bullion; amalaṃ — pure, spotless; śubham — lovely, bright

1.36.19

tāmraṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ caiva taikṣṇyād evābhijāyata
malaṃ tasyābhavat tatra trapusīsakam eva ca

Copper and black iron too came into being from its fierce heat; and its dross there became tin and lead.

Words: tāmraṃ — copper; kārṣṇāyasaṃ — black iron; caiva — and also; taikṣṇyād — from the fierce heat/sharpness; evābhijāyata — indeed came into being; malaṃ — the dross, impurity; tasyābhavat — of it became; tatra — there; trapusīsakam — tin and lead; eva — indeed; ca — and

1.36.20

tad etad dharaṇīṃ prāpya nānādhātur avardhata

All this, upon reaching the earth, grew into the various minerals.

Words: tad — that; etad — this; dharaṇīṃ — the earth; prāpya — having reached; nānādhātur — into the various minerals; avardhata — grew, developed

1.36.21

nikṣiptamātre garbhe tu tejobhir abhirañjitam
sarvaṃ parvatasaṃnaddhaṃ sauvarṇam abhavad vanam

The moment the embryo was set down, the whole forest clinging to the mountain, tinged by its radiances, turned to gold.

Words: nikṣiptamātre — as soon as it was deposited; garbhe — the embryo (loc.); tu — and, but; tejobhir — by (its) radiances; abhirañjitam — tinged, coloured; sarvaṃ — whole, all; parvatasaṃnaddhaṃ — clinging to the mountain; sauvarṇam — golden; abhavad — became; vanam — forest

1.36.22

jātarūpam iti khyātaṃ tadā prabhṛti rāghava
suvarṇaṃ puruṣavyāghra hutāśanasamaprabham

From that time on, O Rāghava, gold has been known as jātarūpa — gold, O tiger among men, whose radiance equals fire's.

Words: jātarūpam — jātarūpa (‘native form’, i.e. gold); iti — thus (so called); khyātaṃ — known, famed; tadā — then, from that time; prabhṛti — onwards, beginning; rāghava — O Rāghava; suvarṇaṃ — gold; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; hutāśanasamaprabham — whose radiance equals fire's

1.36.23

taṃ kumāraṃ tato jātaṃ sendrāḥ sahamarudgaṇāḥ
kṣīrasaṃbhāvanārthāya kṛttikāḥ samayojayan

Then, to nurture with milk that boy who had been born, the gods with Indra and the host of Maruts appointed the Kṛttikās (Pleiades).

Words: taṃ — that; kumāraṃ — boy, prince; tato — then; jātaṃ — born; sendrāḥ — together with Indra; sahamarudgaṇāḥ — together with the host of Maruts; kṣīrasaṃbhāvanārthāya — for the purpose of nurturing with milk; kṛttikāḥ — the Kṛttikās (Pleiades); samayojayan — appointed, engaged

1.36.24

tāḥ kṣīraṃ jātamātrasya kṛtvā samayam uttamam
daduḥ putro 'yam asmākaṃ sarvāsām iti niścitāḥ

Having made a solemn compact, they gave milk to the newborn, resolved: “This is the son of all of us.”

Words: tāḥ — they (fem.); kṣīraṃ — milk; jātamātrasya — to the newborn (just-born); kṛtvā — having made; samayam — an agreement, compact; uttamam — excellent, solemn; daduḥ — gave; putro 'yam — ‘this is a son; asmākaṃ — of us, our; sarvāsām — of all (fem.); iti — thus (thinking); niścitāḥ — resolved, determined

1.36.25

tatas tu devatāḥ sarvāḥ kārtikeya iti bruvan
putras trailokya vikhyāto bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

Then all the deities said, “Kārtikeya!” — “This son will be renowned throughout the three worlds, no doubt.”

Words: tatas — then; tu — and; devatāḥ — the deities; sarvāḥ — all; kārtikeya — Kārtikeya (‘son of the Kṛttikās’); iti — thus; bruvan — said, spoke; putras — the son; trailokya — in the three worlds; vikhyāto — renowned; bhaviṣyati — will be; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

1.36.26

teṣāṃ tad vacanaṃ śrutvā skannaṃ garbhaparisrave
snāpayan parayā lakṣmyā dīpyamānam ivānalam

Hearing that speech of theirs, (they beheld the child) fallen amid the birth-flow, bathed in supreme splendour, blazing like fire.

Words: teṣāṃ — their, of them; tad — that; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; skannaṃ — fallen, oozed forth; garbhaparisrave — in the flow of the womb (loc.); snāpayan — bathing, washing; parayā — with supreme; lakṣmyā — splendour, beauty; dīpyamānam — blazing, shining; ivānalam — like fire

1.36.27

skanda ity abruvan devāḥ skannaṃ garbhaparisravāt
kārtikeyaṃ mahābhāgaṃ kākutsthajvalanopamam

“Skanda!” the gods called him — the illustrious Kārtikeya, O Kākutstha, who resembled fire — because he had oozed forth (skanna) from the birth-flow.

Words: skanda — Skanda; ity — thus; abruvan — they called, said; devāḥ — the gods; skannaṃ — oozed forth, spilt; garbhaparisravāt — from the birth-flow; kārtikeyaṃ — Kārtikeya; mahābhāgaṃ — the illustrious, fortunate; kākutsthajvalanopamam — O Kākutstha, (him) resembling fire

1.36.28

prādurbhūtaṃ tataḥ kṣīraṃ kṛttikānām anuttamam
ṣaṇṇāṃ ṣaḍānano bhūtvā jagrāha stanajaṃ payaḥ

Then the surpassing milk of the Kṛttikās appeared; and becoming six-faced, he drank the milk flowing from the breasts of the six.

Words: prādurbhūtaṃ — appeared, manifested; tataḥ — then; kṣīraṃ — milk; kṛttikānām — of the Kṛttikās; anuttamam — surpassing, unsurpassed; ṣaṇṇāṃ — of the six; ṣaḍānano — six-faced; bhūtvā — having become; jagrāha — seized, took; stanajaṃ — breast-born, from the breast; payaḥ — milk

1.36.29

gṛhītvā kṣīram ekāhnā sukumāra vapus tadā
ajayat svena vīryeṇa daityasainyagaṇān vibhuḥ

Having drunk the milk in a single day, the lord, tender of body, then by his own valour conquered the hosts of the Daitya army.

Words: gṛhītvā — having taken, drunk; kṣīram — milk; ekāhnā — in a single day; sukumāra — very tender, delicate; vapus — body; tadā — then; ajayat — conquered; svena — by his own; vīryeṇa — valour, might; daityasainyagaṇān — the hosts of the Daitya army; vibhuḥ — the lord, mighty one

1.36.30

surasenāgaṇapatiṃ tatas tam amaladyutim
abhyaṣiñcan suragaṇāḥ sametyāgnipurogamāḥ

Then the hosts of gods, assembling with Agni at their head, consecrated him, of spotless radiance, as the lord of the army-hosts of the gods.

Words: surasenāgaṇapatiṃ — as lord of the army-hosts of the gods; tatas — then; tam — him; amaladyutim — of spotless radiance; abhyaṣiñcan — consecrated, anointed; suragaṇāḥ — the hosts of gods; sametyāgnipurogamāḥ — assembling, with Agni at their head

1.36.31

eṣa te rāma gaṅgāyā vistaro 'bhihito mayā
kumārasaṃbhavaś caiva dhanyaḥ puṇyas tathaiva ca

This, O Rāma, is the full account of Gaṅgā that I have related to you, and likewise the birth of Kumāra — blessed and holy alike.

Words: eṣa — this; te — to you; rāma — O Rāma; gaṅgāyā — of Gaṅgā; vistaro — the full account, detail; 'bhihito — told, related; mayā — by me; kumārasaṃbhavaś — and the birth of Kumāra; caiva — and also; dhanyaḥ — blessed, fortunate; puṇyas — holy, meritorious; tathaiva — just so, likewise; ca — and

← 1.35 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Restrained union and Umā’s curses · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.37 Story of Sagara: One heir and sixty thousand sons →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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