This passage from the Mahābhārata, narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya, glorifies Skanda (Kārtikeya) as the radiant and virtuous protector of the heavens. Adorned in gold and red, attended by the goddess of wealth, and praised by Rishis and celestial beings, Skanda captivates the three worlds with his valor and charm. Though urged to become Indra, he humbly declines and instead accepts the role of commander-in-chief of the celestial army, vowing to protect gods, sages, and all beings from demonic threats. His investiture is a grand event, attended by gods and sages, with hymns, garlands, and blessings from Śiva and Pārvatī.
Skanda’s divine origin is traced to the fiery essence of Rudra, with Agni, Svāhā, and the Kṛttikās also playing roles in his birth—earning him the title "son of Rudra." His cock emblem, gifted by Agni, becomes a symbol of victory. After his installation, Skanda weds Devasenā, the celestial maiden destined for him, in a marriage sanctified by Vedic rites. The narrative closes with Skanda being honored on Śrīpañcamī and Ṣaṣṭhī, hailed as the savior of the heavens and embodiment of divine leadership and virtue.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
उपविष्टं तु तं स्कन्दं हिरण्यकवचस्त्रजम् ।
हिरण्यचूडमुकुटं हिरण्याक्षं महाप्रभम् ॥ १॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
upaviṣṭaṃ tu taṃ skandaṃ hiraṇyakavacastrajam |
hiraṇyacūḍamukuṭaṃ hiraṇyākṣaṃ mahāprabham || 1||
Markandeya said: Skanda was adorned with a golden armlet and garland; he wore a crest and crown of gold; his eyes were gold coloured and they were very bright.
लोहिताम्बरसंवीतं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं मनोरमम् ।
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सुप्रियम् ॥ २ ॥
lohitāmbarasaṃvītaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ manoramam |
sarvalakṣaṇasampannaṃ trailokyasyāpi supriyam || 2 ||
He had sharp teeth, he was clad in a red garment, he looked very handsome, he had a most charming appearance, he possessed all good characteristics, he was the favorite of the three worlds.
ततस्तं वरदं शूरं युवानं मृष्टकुण्डलम् ।
अभजत् पद्मरूपा श्रीः स्वयमेव शरीरिणी ॥ ३ ॥
tatastaṃ varadaṃ śūraṃ yuvānaṃ mṛṣṭakuṇḍalam |
abhajat padmarūpā śrīḥ svayameva śarīriṇī || 3 ||
He was a giver of boons, he was brave and youthful and he was adorned with ear-rings. When he was resting, the goddess of wealth, looking like a lotus and assuming a body, came to him.
श्रिया जुष्टः पृषुयशाः स कुमारवरस्तदा ।
निषण्णो दृश्यते भूतैः पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी ॥ ४ ॥
śriyā juṣṭaḥ pṛṣuyaśāḥ sa kumāravarastadā |
niṣaṇṇo dṛśyate bhūtaiḥ paurṇamāsyāṃ yathā śaśī || 4 ||
When he became thus possessed of the goddess of wealth, that illustrious and delicate being looked like the full moon.
अपूजयन् महात्मानो ब्राह्मणास्तं महाबलम् ।
इदमाहुस्तदा चैव स्कन्दं तत्र महर्षयः ॥ ५ ॥
apūjayan mahātmāno brāhmaṇāstaṃ mahābalam |
idamāhustadā caiva skandaṃ tatra maharṣayaḥ || 5 ||
The high-souled Brahmanas worshipped that greatly powerful one and the great Rishis spoke thus to Skanda.
ऋषय ऊचुः
हिरण्यगर्भ भद्रं ते लोकानां शङ्करो भव ।
त्वया षड्ात्रजातेन सर्वे लोका वशीकृताः ॥ ६ ॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ
hiraṇyagarbha bhadraṃ te lokānāṃ śaṅkaro bhava |
tvayā ṣaḍātrajātena sarve lokā vaśīkṛtāḥ || 6 ||
The Rishis said: O golden egg-born one, may prosperity come to you. May you be the cause of doing good to the world. Though you have been born in six nights, all the worlds have come to your subjection.
अभयं च पुनर्दत्तं त्वयैवैषां सुरोत्तम ।
तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानस्तु त्रैलोक्यस्याभयंकरः ॥ ७ ॥
abhayaṃ ca punardattaṃ tvayaivaiṣāṃ surottama |
tasmādindro bhavānastu trailokyasyābhayaṃkaraḥ || 7 ||
O foremost of celestials, you have removed all their fears, therefore become the Indra of the three worlds and thus remove their cause of apprehension.
स्कन्द उवाच
किमिन्द्रः सर्वलोकानां करोतीह तपोधनाः ।
कथं देवगणांश्चैव पाति नित्यं सुरेश्वरः ॥ ८ ॥
skanda uvāca
kimindraḥ sarvalokānāṃ karotīha tapodhanāḥ |
kathaṃ devagaṇāṃścaiva pāti nityaṃ sureśvaraḥ || 8 ||
Skanda said : O great ascetics, what Indra does with all this worlds? How does that lord of the celestials unceasingly protect the hosts of gods?
ऋषय ऊचुः
इन्द्रो दधाति भूतानां बलं तेजः प्रजाः सुखम् ।
तुष्टः प्रयच्छति तथा सर्वान् कामान् सुरेश्वरः॥९॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ
indro dadhāti bhūtānāṃ balaṃ tejaḥ prajāḥ sukham |
tuṣṭaḥ prayacchati tathā sarvān kāmān sureśvaraḥ||9||
The Rishis said: Indra gives strength, power, offspring, and happiness to all beings. When propitiated that lord of the celestials bestows on all creatures all the objects of their desire.
दुर्वृत्तानां संहरति व्रतस्थानां प्रयच्छति ।
अनुशास्ति च भूतानि कार्येषु बलसूदनः ॥ १० ॥
असूर्ये च भवेत् सूर्यस्तथाचन्द्रे च चन्द्रमाः ।
भवत्यग्निश्च वायुश्च पृथिव्यापश्च कारणैः || ११||
एतदिन्द्रेण कर्तव्यमिन्द्रे हि विपुलं बलम् ।
त्वं च वीर बली श्रेष्ठस्तस्मादिन्द्रो भवस्व नः ॥ १२ ॥
durvṛttānāṃ saṃharati vratasthānāṃ prayacchati |
anuśāsti ca bhūtāni kāryeṣu balasūdanaḥ || 10 ||
asūrye ca bhavet sūryastathācandre ca candramāḥ |
bhavatyagniśca vāyuśca pṛthivyāpaśca kāraṇaiḥ || 11||
etadindreṇa kartavyamindre hi vipulaṃ balam |
tvaṃ ca vīra balī śreṣṭhastasmādindro bhavasva naḥ || 12 ||
He destroys the wicked and fulfills the desires of the righteous. That destroyer of Bala assigns to all creatures their various duties. He officiates for the sun and the moon in places where there is no sun and the moon. When occasion requires he acts for fire, air, earth, and water. These are the duties of Indra. His capacities are immense. You, too, are greatly powerful; therefore, O hero, become our Indra.
शक्र उवाच
भवस्वेन्द्रो महाबाहो सर्वेषां नः सुखावहः ।
अभिषिच्यस्व चैवाद्य प्राप्तरूपोऽसि सत्तम ॥ १३॥
śakra uvāca
bhavasvendro mahābāho sarveṣāṃ naḥ sukhāvahaḥ |
abhiṣicyasva caivādya prāptarūpo’si sattama || 13||
Indra said : O mighty-armed one, O excellent being, make us happy by becoming the lord of all of us. You are worthy of the honor; therefore we shall install you this very day.
स्कन्द उवाच
शाधि त्वमेव त्रैलोक्यमव्यचो विजये रतः ।
अहं ते किङ्करः शक्र न ममेन्द्रत्वमीप्सितम् ||१४||
skanda uvāca
śādhi tvameva trailokyamavyaco vijaye rataḥ |
ahaṃ te kiṅkaraḥ śakra na mamendratvamīpsitam ||14||
Skanda said : O Indra continues to rule over the three worlds with self-possession and a desire for (new) conquests. I shall remain your humble servant. I do not desire to get your sovereignty.
शक्र उवाच
बलं तवाद्भुतं वीर त्वं देवानामरीन् जहि ।
अवज्ञास्यन्ति मां लोका वीर्येण तव विस्मिताः ॥ १५ ॥
śakra uvāca
balaṃ tavādbhutaṃ vīra tvaṃ devānāmarīn jahi |
avajñāsyanti māṃ lokā vīryeṇa tava vismitāḥ || 15 ||
Indra said : Ohero, your prowess is wonderful. Therefore vanquish the enemies of the celestials. People have been greatly astonished to see your unrivaled prowess.
इन्द्रत्वे तु स्थितं वीर बलहीनं पराजितम् ।
आवयोश्च मिथो भेदे प्रयतिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः ॥ १६ ॥
भेदिते च त्वयि विभो लोको द्वैधमुपेष्यति ।
द्विधाभूतेषु लोकेषु निश्चितेष्वावयोस्तथा ॥ १७ ॥
indratve tu sthitaṃ vīra balahīnaṃ parājitam |
āvayośca mitho bhede prayatiṣyantyatandritāḥ || 16 ||
bhedite ca tvayi vibho loko dvaidhamupeṣyati |
dvidhābhūteṣu lokeṣu niściteṣvāvayostathā || 17 ||
I have been bereft of my prowess. Defeated as I am by you if I am now to act as Indra, I will not be able to command the respect of all creatures. Everyone would be busy to bring about disunion, then O lord, they would be the partisans of one or other of us.
विचहः सम्प्रवर्तेत भूतभेदान्महाबल ।
तत्र त्वं मां रणे तात यथाश्रद्धं विजेष्यसि ।। १८ ।।
तस्मादिन्द्रो भवानेव भविता मा विचारय ।
vicahaḥ sampravarteta bhūtabhedānmahābala |
tatra tvaṃ māṃ raṇe tāta yathāśraddhaṃ vijeṣyasi || 18 ||
tasmādindro bhavāneva bhavitā mā vicāraya |
O greatly powerful one, when they will form themselves into two distinct factions, war as before would be the result of that disunion. In that war, you will undoubtedly be able to defeat me at your pleasure and then to become the lord of all the worlds. Don't think on this subject.
स्कन्द उवाच
त्वमेव राजा भद्रं ते त्रैलोक्यस्य ममैव च ॥ १९ ॥
करोमि किं च ते शक्र शासनं तद् ब्रवीहि मे ।
skanda uvāca
tvameva rājā bhadraṃ te trailokyasya mamaiva ca || 19 ||
karomi kiṃ ca te śakra śāsanaṃ tad bravīhi me |
Skanda said : O Indra, you are my king as well as that of the three worlds. May prosperity come to you. Tell me if I can obey any of your commands.
इन्द्र उवाच
अहमिन्द्रो भविष्यामि तव वाक्यान्महाबल ॥ २० ॥
यदि सत्यमिदं वाक्यं निश्चयाद् भाषितं त्वया ।
यदि वा शासनं स्कन्द कर्तुमिच्छसि मे शृणु ॥ २१ ॥
अभिषिच्यस्व देवानां सैनापत्ये महाबल ।
indra uvāca
ahamindro bhaviṣyāmi tava vākyānmahābala || 20 ||
yadi satyamidaṃ vākyaṃ niścayād bhāṣitaṃ tvayā |
yadi vā śāsanaṃ skanda kartumicchasi me śṛṇu || 21 ||
abhiṣicyasva devānāṃ saināpatye mahābala |
Indra said: O greatly powerful one, O Skanda, at your command I shall continue to act as Indra. If you have said this deliberately and earnestly then hear me how you can gratify your desire to serve me. Become the generalissimo of the celestial army.
स्कन्द उवाच
दानवानां विनाशाय देवानामर्थसिद्धये ॥ २२ ॥
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय सैनापत्येऽभिषिञ्च माम् ।
skanda uvāca
dānavānāṃ vināśāya devānāmarthasiddhaye || 22 ||
gobrāhmaṇahitārthāya saināpatye’bhiṣiñca mām |
Skanda said : Install me (then) as the generalissimo (of the celestial army) for the destruction of the Danavas, for the good of the celestials, and for the well-being of Brahmanas and kine.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
सोऽभिषिक्तो मघवता सर्वैर्देवगणैः सह ॥ २३ ॥
अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ।
तत्र तत् काञ्चनं छत्रं ध्रियमाणं व्यरोचत ।। २४ ।
यथैव सुसमिद्धस्य पावकस्यात्ममण्डलम् ।
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
so’bhiṣikto maghavatā sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ saha || 23 ||
atīva śuśubhe tatra pūjyamāno maharṣibhiḥ |
tatra tat kāñcanaṃ chatraṃ dhriyamāṇaṃ vyarocata || 24 |
yathaiva susamiddhasya pāvakasyātmamaṇḍalam |
Markandeya said: Thus having been installed by Indra and all the other celestials and honoured by the great Rishis, he looked exceedingly grand. The golden umbrella (held over his head) looked like a halo of blazing fire.
विश्वकर्मकृता चास्य दिव्या माला हिरण्मयी ॥ २५ ॥
आबद्धा त्रिपुरघ्नेन स्वयमेव यशस्विना ।
आगम्य मनुजव्याघ्र सह देव्या परंतप ॥ २६ ॥
viśvakarmakṛtā cāsya divyā mālā hiraṇmayī || 25 ||
ābaddhā tripuraghnena svayameva yaśasvinā |
āgamya manujavyāghra saha devyā paraṃtapa || 26 ||
O foremost of men, that illustrious deity, the vanquisher of Tripura (Indra) Lord Shiva with his wife came there and put around his neck the celestial garland of gold made by Vishwakarma.
अर्चयामास सुप्रीतो भगवान् गोवृषध्वजः ।
रुद्रमग्निं द्विजा: प्राहू रुद्रसूनुस्ततस्तु सः ।। २७ ।
arcayāmāsa suprīto bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ |
rudramagniṃ dvijā: prāhū rudrasūnustatastu saḥ || 27 |
That exalted god Vrishadhvaja (Siva) honored him with a joyous heart. That deity is called Rudra by the Brahmanas and therefore Skanda is called the son of Rudra.
रुद्रेण शुक्रमुत्सृष्टं तच्छ्वेतः पर्वतोऽभवत् ।
पावकस्येन्द्रियं श्वेते कृत्तिकाभिः कृतं नगे ॥ २८ ॥
rudreṇa śukramutsṛṣṭaṃ tacchvetaḥ parvato’bhavat |
pāvakasyendriyaṃ śvete kṛttikābhiḥ kṛtaṃ nage || 28 ||
The semen ejaculated by Rudra was converted in the form of a white mountain. The constellations Krittikas etc. had transmitted the fire semen at that white mountain made of Rudra semen.
पूज्यमानं तु रुद्रेण दृष्ट्वा सर्वे दिवौकसः ।
रुद्रसूनुं ततः प्राहुर्गुहं गुणवतां वरम् ॥ २९ ॥
pūjyamānaṃ tu rudreṇa dṛṣṭvā sarve divaukasaḥ |
rudrasūnuṃ tataḥ prāhurguhaṃ guṇavatāṃ varam || 29 ||
As Rudra was seen by all the dwellers of heaven to honor Guha (Skanda), the foremost of all accomplished beings is for this reason called the son of Rudra.
अनुप्रविश्य रुद्रेण वह्नि जातो ह्ययं शिशुः ।
तत्र जातस्ततः स्कन्दो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत् ॥३०॥
anupraviśya rudreṇa vahni jāto hyayaṃ śiśuḥ |
tatra jātastataḥ skando rudrasūnustato’bhavat ||30||
The child had his birth from the action of Rudra entering into the constitution of the deity of fire and for this reason, Skanda is called the son of Rudra.
रुद्रस्य वह्नेः स्वाहायाः षण्णां स्त्रीणां च भारत ।
जातः स्कन्दः सुरश्रेष्ठो रुद्रसूनुस्ततोऽभवत् ।। ३१ ।।
rudrasya vahneḥ svāhāyāḥ ṣaṇṇāṃ strīṇāṃ ca bhārata |
jātaḥ skandaḥ suraśreṣṭho rudrasūnustato’bhavat || 31 ||
O descendant of Bharata, as Rudra, that fire god, (Skanda) Svaha and the six wives (of the seven Rishis) were the cause of the birth of the great deity Skanda, so was he for that reason called the son of Rudra.
अरजे वाससी रक्ते वसानः पावकात्मजः ।
भाति दीप्तवपुः श्रीमान् रक्ताभ्राभ्यामिवांशुमान्॥ ३२ ॥
araje vāsasī rakte vasānaḥ pāvakātmajaḥ |
bhāti dīptavapuḥ śrīmān raktābhrābhyāmivāṃśumān|| 32 ||
That son of the deity of fire was clad in a pair of red clothes. He thus looked like the sun peeing from behind a mass of red clouds.
कुक्कुटश्चाग्निना दत्तस्तस्य केतुरलंकृत: ।
समुच्छ्रितो भाति कालाग्निरिव लोहितः ॥ ३३ ॥
kukkuṭaścāgninā dattastasya keturalaṃkṛta: |
samucchrito bhāti kālāgniriva lohitaḥ || 33 ||
The red cock given to him by the fire god became his sign. When sitting on the flagstaff of his car it looked like the very image of the all-destroying fire.
या चेष्टा सर्वभूतानां प्रभा शान्तिर्बलं तथा ।
अचतस्तस्य सा शक्तिर्देवानां जयवर्धिनी ॥ ३४ ॥
yā ceṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ prabhā śāntirbalaṃ tathā |
acatastasya sā śaktirdevānāṃ jayavardhinī || 34 ||
The presiding deity of the power which gives victory to the celestials, which is the direction of all exertions of all creatures and which constitutes their glory, then came to him.
विवेश कवचं चास्य शरीरे सहजं तथा।
युध्यमानस्य देवस्य प्रादुर्भवति तत् सदा ॥ ३५ ॥
शक्तिर्धर्मो बलं तेजः कान्तत्वं सत्यमुन्नतिः ।
ब्रह्मण्यत्वमसम्मोहो भक्तानां परिरक्षणम् ॥ ३६ ॥
निकृन्तनं च शत्रूणां लोकानां चाभिरक्षणम् ।
स्कन्देन सह जातानि सर्वाण्येव जनाधिप ॥ ३७॥
viveśa kavacaṃ cāsya śarīre sahajaṃ tathā|
yudhyamānasya devasya prādurbhavati tat sadā || 35 ||
śaktirdharmo balaṃ tejaḥ kāntatvaṃ satyamunnatiḥ |
brahmaṇyatvamasammoho bhaktānāṃ parirakṣaṇam || 36 ||
nikṛntanaṃ ca śatrūṇāṃ lokānāṃ cābhirakṣaṇam |
skandena saha jātāni sarvāṇyeva janādhipa || 37||
A mysterious charm entered into his constitution, the charm which manifests its power on the battlefield. Beauty, strength, piety, power, might, truthfulness, rectitude, devotion to Brahmanas, freedom from illusion or perplexity, protection of followers, destruction of foes, and care of all creatures, these, O lord of men, are the inborn virtues of Skanda.
एवं देवगणैः सर्वैः सोऽभिषिक्तः स्वलंकृतः ।
बभौ प्रतीतः सुमनाः परिपूर्णेन्दुमण्डलः ।। ३८ ।।
evaṃ devagaṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ so’bhiṣiktaḥ svalaṃkṛtaḥ |
babhau pratītaḥ sumanāḥ paripūrṇendumaṇḍalaḥ || 38 ||
Thus installed by all the celestial, he looked pleased and complacent. Dressed in his best style, he looked as beautiful as the full moon.
इष्टैः स्वाध्यायघोषैश्च देवतूर्यवरैरपि ।
देवगन्धर्वगीतैश्च सर्वैरप्सरसां गणैः ॥ ३९ ॥
iṣṭaiḥ svādhyāyaghoṣaiśca devatūryavarairapi |
devagandharvagītaiśca sarvairapsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ || 39 ||
The much-esteemed incantation of the Vedic hymns, the music of the celestial musicians, the songs of the celestial and the Gandharvas then rose on all sides.
एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिस्तुष्टैर्हष्टैः स्वलंकृतैः ।
सुसंवृतः पिशाचानां गणैर्देवगणैस्तथा ॥ ४० ॥
क्रीडन् भाति तदा देवैरभिषिक्तश्च पावकिः ।
अभिषिक्तं महासेनमपश्यन्त दिवौकसः || ४१||
विनिहत्य तमः सूर्यं यथेहाभ्युदितं तथा ।
अथैनमभ्ययुः सर्वा देवसेनाः सहस्रशः ।।४२॥
etaiścānyaiśca bahubhistuṣṭairhaṣṭaiḥ svalaṃkṛtaiḥ |
susaṃvṛtaḥ piśācānāṃ gaṇairdevagaṇaistathā || 40 ||
krīḍan bhāti tadā devairabhiṣiktaśca pāvakiḥ |
abhiṣiktaṃ mahāsenamapaśyanta divaukasaḥ || 41||
vinihatya tamaḥ sūryaṃ yathehābhyuditaṃ tathā |
athainamabhyayuḥ sarvā devasenāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||42||
Surrounded by the well-dressed Apsaras, by many gay and happy-looking Pishachas, and by the celestial, that son of Agni sported in all his grandeur. To the dwellers of heaven, the installed Skanda looked like the sun rising after the darkness had passed away. Then thousands of the celestial forces.
अस्माकं त्वं पतिरिति ब्रुवाणाः सर्वतो दिशः ।
ता: समासाद्य भगवान् सर्वभूतगणैर्वृतः ।।
अर्चितस्तु स्तुतश्चैव सान्त्वयामास ता अपि ।
शतक्रतुश्चाभिषिच्य स्कन्दं सेनापतिं तदा ॥ ४४ ॥
asmākaṃ tvaṃ patiriti bruvāṇāḥ sarvato diśaḥ |
tā: samāsādya bhagavān sarvabhūtagaṇairvṛtaḥ ||
arcitastu stutaścaiva sāntvayāmāsa tā api |
śatakratuścābhiṣicya skandaṃ senāpatiṃ tadā || 44 ||
Saying "You are our lord", came to him from all directions. That exalted one, surrounded by all creatures and praised and honored by them, and encouraged them in return. Satakratu (Indra) also, after having installed Skanda as the generalissimo of the celestial army.
सस्मार तां देवसेनां या सा तेन विमोक्षिता ।
अयं तस्याः पतिर्नूनं विहितो ब्रह्मणा स्वयम् ॥ ४५ ॥
विचिन्त्येत्यानयामास देवसेनां ह्यलंकृताम् ।
स्कन्दं प्रोवाच बलभिदियं कन्या सुरोत्तम । ४६ ॥
अजाते त्वयि निर्दिष्टा त्व पत्नी स्वयम्भुवा ।
तस्मात् त्वमस्या विधिवत् पाणिं मन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ॥ ४७॥
गृहाण दक्षिणं देव्याः पाणिना पद्मवर्चसा ।
एवमुक्तः स जचाह तस्याः पाणि यथाविधि ॥ ४८ ॥
sasmāra tāṃ devasenāṃ yā sā tena vimokṣitā |
ayaṃ tasyāḥ patirnūnaṃ vihito brahmaṇā svayam || 45 ||
vicintyetyānayāmāsa devasenāṃ hyalaṃkṛtām |
skandaṃ provāca balabhidiyaṃ kanyā surottama | 46 ||
ajāte tvayi nirdiṣṭā tva patnī svayambhuvā |
tasmāt tvamasyā vidhivat pāṇiṃ mantrapuraskṛtam || 47||
gṛhāṇa dakṣiṇaṃ devyāḥ pāṇinā padmavarcasā |
evamuktaḥ sa jacāha tasyāḥ pāṇi yathāvidhi || 48 ||
Remembered Devasena whom he had once rescued. "This one has undoubtedly been destined by Brahma himself to be the husband of that lady," thus reflecting, the slayer of Vala (Indra) brought her adorned with all ornaments; and he then thus spoke to Skanda, "O foremost of the celestial, even before your birth this lady was destined to be your wife by the Self-create ( Brahma ) ; therefore with due rites and Mantras accept her hand, her right hand which is like a lotus." Having been thus addressed, he accepted her hands in due rites.
बृहस्पतिर्मन्त्रविद्धि जजाप च जुहाव च।
एवं स्कन्दस्य महिषीं देवसेनां विदुर्जनाः ॥ ४९ ॥
bṛhaspatirmantraviddhi jajāpa ca juhāva ca|
evaṃ skandasya mahiṣīṃ devasenāṃ vidurjanāḥ || 49 ||
Brihaspati learned in Mantras and performed all necessary prayers and oblations. Thus Devasena became known amongst men as the wife of Skanda.
षष्ठीं यां ब्राह्मणाः प्राहुर्लक्ष्मीमाशां सुखप्रदाम्।
सिनीवाली कुहूं चैव सद्वृत्तिमपराजिताम् ।। ५० ।।
ṣaṣṭhīṃ yāṃ brāhmaṇāḥ prāhurlakṣmīmāśāṃ sukhapradām|
sinīvālī kuhūṃ caiva sadvṛttimaparājitām || 50 ||
She was also called by the Brahmanas Shashti, Lakshmi, Asha, Sukhaprada, Sinivali, Kuhu, Sadvritti, and Aprajita.
यदा स्कन्दः पतिर्लब्धः शाश्वतो देवसेनया ।
तदा तमाश्रयल्लक्ष्मीः स्वयं देवी शरीरिणी ॥ ५१ ॥
श्रीजुष्टः पञ्चमी स्कन्दस्तस्माच्छ्रीपञ्चमी स्मृता ।
षष्ठ्यां कृतार्थोऽभूद्यस्मात्तस्मात् षष्ठी महातिथिः ।।५२ ॥
yadā skandaḥ patirlabdhaḥ śāśvato devasenayā |
tadā tamāśrayallakṣmīḥ svayaṃ devī śarīriṇī || 51 ||
śrījuṣṭaḥ pañcamī skandastasmācchrīpañcamī smṛtā |
ṣaṣṭhyāṃ kṛtārtho’bhūdyasmāttasmāt ṣaṣṭhī mahātithiḥ ||52 ||
When Skanda was married to Devasena, the goddess of wealth in her embodied form waited upon him with diligence. As Skanda attained celebrity on the fifth lunar day, it was called Sripanchami; and as he obtained his object in the sixth, that day was considered to be a great tithi.
This passage from the Mahabharata, narrated by Markandeya, celebrates the grandeur, virtues, and divine destiny of Skanda (Kartikeya). Adorned in gold and clad in red garments, Skanda's radiant appearance captivates the celestial and earthly beings alike. His valor, youth, and charm make him the favorite of the three worlds. Accompanied by the goddess of wealth, who attends him in an embodied form, he radiates power and prosperity akin to the full moon.
The Rishis and Brahmanas praise Skanda and urge him to assume the role of Indra, the king of the gods. However, Skanda, demonstrating humility and loyalty, declines the position, offering to serve Indra and protect the celestial realms instead. In recognition of his unmatched prowess, Indra requests Skanda to become the generalissimo of the celestial army, a position Skanda accepts to vanquish the Danavas (demons) and ensure the welfare of the gods, Brahmanas, and all creatures.
The ceremony of his investiture is marked by great splendor. Skanda is adorned with celestial garlands crafted by Vishwakarma and blessed by Shiva and Parvati. Deities, Rishis, and celestial musicians celebrate his ascension with Vedic hymns, music, and dance. Skanda’s virtues—beauty, strength, piety, devotion to righteousness, and protection of followers—are extolled as he is hailed as the protector of the heavens.
Skanda's divine origin is also elaborated upon, tracing his birth to the fiery essence of Rudra (Shiva), with contributions from the fire god Agni, Svaha, and the Krittikas (Pleiades). This lineage earns him the title of the son of Rudra. His red cock emblem, gifted by the fire god, becomes his symbolic mark of victory.
Following his installation, Indra recalls Devasena, a celestial maiden destined by Brahma to be Skanda's wife. With Vedic rites performed by Brihaspati, Skanda, and Devasena are united in marriage. Devasena, also known by several auspicious names like Shashti and Lakshmi, brings further prosperity to Skanda.
The text concludes by highlighting Skanda’s celebration on two auspicious days: Sripanchami (the fifth lunar day), marking his divine fame, and the sixth day, commemorating his fulfillment of destiny. Skanda, surrounded by celestial forces, is hailed as the savior of the heavens, embodying the virtues of a divine protector and leader.