ಬಾಲಕಾಂಡ
ಸಪ್ತ ತ್ರಿಂಶಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ
( ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕಥ)

ತಪ್ಯಮಾನೇ ತಪೋ ದೇವೇ ದೇವಾಸ್ಸರ್ಷಿಗಣಾಃ ಪುರಾ |
ಸೇನಾಪತಿಂ ಅಭೀಸ್ಸಂತಃ ಪಿತಾಮಹಮುಪಾಗಮನ್ ||

In those old times when Mahadeva was performing penance, Devas and other Rishis approached Brahma with the object of obtaining a leader for all the forces Devas .

ತತೋ ಬ್ರುವನ್ ಸುರಾಸ್ಸರ್ವೇ ಭಗವಂತಂ ಪಿತಾಮಹಮ್ |
ಪ್ರಣಿಪತ್ಯ ಸುರಾಸ್ಸರ್ವೇ ಸೇಂದ್ರಾಸ್ಯಾಗ್ನಿ ಪುರೋಗಮಾಃ ||
ಯೋ ನ ಸ್ಸೇನಾಪತಿರ್ದೇವ ದತ್ತೋ ಭಗವತಾ ಪುರಾ |
ತತಃ ಪರಮಮಾಸ್ಥಾಯ ತಪ್ಯತೇ ಸ್ಮ ಸಹೋಮಯಾ ||
ಯದತ್ರಾನಂತರಂ ಕಾರ್ಯಂ ಲೋಕಾನಾಂ ಹಿತಕಾಮ್ಯಯಾ |
ಸಂವಿಧತ್ಸ್ವ ವಿಧಾನಜ್ಞ ತ್ವಂ ಹಿ ನಃ ಪರಮಾಗತಿಃ ||

All Devas with Indra and Agni leading them bowed to Brahma and told him as follows. " O Deva ! In the times before Parameswar, the one whom you appointed as leader, is now immersed in penance along with his wife. For the benefit of the worlds you must think of further steps. You are the one who knows all the ways".

ದೇವತಾನಾಂ ವಚಃ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಸರ್ವಲೋಕಪಿತಾಮಹಃ |
ಸಾಂತ್ವಯನ್ ಮಧುರೈರ್ವಾಕ್ಯೈಃ ತ್ರಿದಶಾನಿದಮಬ್ರವೀತ್ ||
ಶೈಲಪುತ್ಯ್ರಾ ಯದುಕ್ತಂ ತತ್ ನ ಪ್ರಜಾ ಸ್ಸಂತು ಪತ್ನಿಷು |
ತಸ್ಯಾ ವಚನಮಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟಂ ಸತ್ಯಮೇತನ್ನಸಂಶಯಃ ||
ಇಯಮಾಕಾಶಗಾ ಗಂಗಾ ಯಸ್ಯಾಂ ಪುತ್ತ್ರಂ ಹುತಾಶನಃ |
ಜನಯಿಷ್ಯತಿ ದೇವಾನಾಂ ಸೇನಾಪತಿಮರಿಂದಮಮ್ ||
ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠಾ ಶೈಲೇಂದ್ರ ದುಹಿತಾ ಮಾನಯಿಷ್ಯತಿ ತತ್ಸುತಮ್ |
ಉಮಾಯಾ ಸ್ತದ್ಬಹುಮತಂ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ ನ ಸಂಶಯಃ ||

'Hearing those words of Devas, Brahma consoling them with sweet soothing words spoke as follows." As stated by the daughter of the King of mountains you will not have sons through your wives. Her words are difficult and cannot be overcome. They are also true. Through this Ganga flowing through the skies Agni can obtain a son. He will be the one to lead Devas. Ganga will take care of him . He will be favored by Uma too ! There will be no doubt about that" .

ತಚ್ಛ್ರುತ್ವಾ ವಚನಂ ತಸ್ಯ ಕೃತಾರ್ಥಾ ರಘುನಂದನ |
ಪ್ರಣಿಪತ್ಯ ಸುರಾಸ್ಸರ್ವೇ ಪಿತಾಮಹಮಪೂಜಯನ್ ||
ತೇಗತ್ವಾ ಪರ್ವತಂ ರಾಮ ಕೈಲಾಸಂ ಧಾತುಮಂಡಿತಮ್ |
ಅಗ್ನಿಂ ನಿಯೋಜಯಾಮಾಸುಃ ಪುತ್ರಾರ್ಥಂ ಸರ್ವ ದೇವತಾಃ ||
ದೇವಕಾರ್ಯಮಿದಂ ದೇವ ಸಂವಿಧತ್ಸ್ವಹುತಾಶನ |
ಶೈಲಪುತ್ರ್ಯಾಂ ಮಹಾತೇಜೋ ಗಂಗಾಯಾಂ ತೇಜ ಉತ್ಸೃಜ ||

' Oh Raghunandana ! Hearing those words of Brahma the Devas felt that they achieved their objective and then bowed down to Brahma. There after they went to Kailasa and appointed Agni for task of obtaining a son. They said " O Agni , this is the work for benefit of Devas. Keep that great Tejas ( of Siva) in Ganga".

ದೇವತಾನಾಂ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಯ ಗಂಗಾಮಭ್ಯೇತ ಪಾವಕಃ |
ಗರ್ಭಂ ಧಾರಯ ವೈ ದೇವೀ ದೇವತಾನಾಂ ಇದಂ ಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ||
ತಸ್ಯ ತದ್ವಚನಂ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ದಿವ್ಯಂ ರೂಪಮಧಾರಯತ್ |
ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ತನ್ಮಹಿಮಾನಂ ಸ ಸಮಂತಾ ದವಕೀರ್ಯತ ||
ಸಮಂತತಸ್ತದಾ ದೇವೀಮ್ ಅಭ್ಯಷಿಂಚತ ಪಾವಕಃ |
ಸರ್ವಸ್ರೋತಾಂಸಿ ಪೂರ್ಣಾನಿ ಗಂಗಯಾ ರಘುನಂದನ ||

Having said yes to Devas, Agni went to Ganga and spoke to her. " O Devi ! , Please bear this Tejas. This is an action to benefit the Devas". Hearing those words of Agni , Ganga then bore a celestial form. Seeing the celestial form the Tejas of Siva spread all over her. O Raghunandana ! because of that Tejas Ganga became full.'

ತಮುವಾಚ ತತೋ ಗಂಗಾ ಸರ್ವದೇವ ಪುರೋಹಿತಮ್ |
ಅಶಕ್ತಾ ಧಾರಣೇ ದೇವ ತವ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಮುದ್ಧತಮ್ |
ದಹ್ಯಮಾನಾs ಗ್ನಿನಾ ತೇನ ಸಂಪ್ರವ್ಯಧಿತ ಚೇತನಾ ||

'Then the Ganga unable to bear the power of that Tejas spoke to Agni, the high priest of all Devas. " Oh Agni Deva I am unable to bear this ever growing Tejas ".

ಅಥಾಬ್ರವೀದಿದಂ ಗಂಗಾಂ ಸರ್ವ ದೇವ ಹುತಾಶನಃ |
ಇಹ ಹೈಮವತೇ ಪಾದೇ ಗರ್ಬೋsಯಂ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ್ಯತಾಂ ||
ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ತ್ವಗ್ನಿವಚೋ ಗಂಗಾ ತಂ ಗರ್ಭಮತಿ ಭಾಸ್ವರಮ್ |
ಉತ್ಸಸರ್ಜ ಮಹಾತೇಜಃ ಸ್ರೋತೋಭ್ಯೋ ಹಿ ತದಾನಘ ||

'Then Agni who carries all the offerings of Devas spoke to Ganga. " Leave the foetus at the foot of the Hymavati mountain". Oh Anagha! Hearing those words of Agni Ganga left the foetus at that place.'

ಯದಸ್ಯಾ ನಿರ್ಗತಂ ತಸ್ಮಾತ್ ತಪ್ತಜಾಂಬೂನದ ಪ್ರಭಂ |
ಕಾಂಚನಂ ಧರಣೀಂ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಂ ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಮಮಲಂ ಶುಭಮ್ |
ತಾಮ್ರಂ ಕಾರ್ಷ್ಣಾಯಸಂ ಚೈವ ತೈಕ್ಷ್ಣ್ಯಾದೇವಾಭ್ಯಜಾಯತ ||
ಮಲಂ ತಸ್ಯಾಭವತ್ ತತ್ರ ತ್ರಪುಸೀಸಕಮೇವಚ |
ತದೇತದ್ಧರಣೀಂ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ಯ ನಾನಾಧಾತುರವರ್ಧತ ||

The foetus so left was bright like gold. The place it was left became imbued with gold. Because of the brilliance of the foetus iron and brass were born. The urine became another material. So the brilliance of that foetus made the earth into variety of materials'.

ನಿಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತಮಾತ್ರೇ ಗರ್ಭೇ ತು ತೇಜೋಭಿರಭಿರಂಜಿತಮ್ |
ಸರ್ವಂ ಪರ್ವತಸನ್ನದ್ಧಂ ಸೌವರ್ಣಮಭವದ್ವನಮ್ ||
ಜಾತರೂಪಮಿತಿ ಖ್ಯಾತಂ ತದಾ ಪ್ರಭೃತಿ ರಾಘವ |
ಸುವರ್ಣಂ ಪುರುಷವ್ಯಾಘ್ರ ಹುತಾಶನ ಸಮಪ್ರಭಮ್ |
ತೃಣ ವೃಕ್ಷ ಲತಾ ಗುಲ್ಮಂ ಸರ್ವಂ ಭವತಿ ಕಾಂಚನಮ್ ||

As soon as that foetus was left there , because of its brilliance all the forests on that mountain became golden. From that time the gold which has brilliance equalling fire is called " Jatarupa" . All the grass, trees , creepers , and forests became golden'`

ತಂ ಕುಮಾರಂ ತತೋ ಜಾತಂ ಸೇಂದ್ರಾ ಸ್ಸಹಮರುದ್ಗಣಾಃ |
ಕ್ಷೀರಸಂಭಾವನಾರ್ಥಾಯ ಕೃತ್ತಿಕಾ ಸ್ಸಮಯೋಜಯನ್ ||
ತಾಃ ಕ್ಷೀರಂ ಜಾತಮಾತ್ರಸ್ಯ ಕೃತ್ಯಾ ಸಮಯಮುತ್ತಮಮ್ |
ದದುಃ ಪುತ್ತ್ರೋsಯಮಸ್ಮಾಕಂ ಸರ್ವಾಸಾಮಿತಿ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತಾಃ ||
ತತಸ್ತು ದೇವತಾಸ್ಸರ್ವಾಃ ಕಾರ್ತಿಕೇಯ ಇತಿಬ್ರುವನ್ |
ಪುತ್ತ್ರಸ್ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯ ವಿಖ್ಯಾತೋ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ ನ ಸಂಶಯಃ ||

Indra and other celestials deployed Krittikas to give milk to that child who was born there. Those Krittikas too decided with Devas that the child belongs to them all and started giving milk to that just born child. All the Devas said "Without doubt this boy will be well known all over the three worlds and will be known by the name of Kartikeya".

ತೇಷಾಂ ತದ್ವಚನಂ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಸ್ಕನ್ನಂ ಗರ್ಭಪರಿಸ್ರವೇ |
ಸ್ನಾಪಯನ್ ಪರಯಾ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾ ದೀಪ್ಯಮಾನಂ ಯಥಾsನಲಮ್ ||
ಸ್ಕಂಧ ಇತ್ಯಬ್ರುವನ್ ದೇವಾಃ ಸ್ಕನ್ನಂ ಗರ್ಭಪರಿಸ್ರವಾತ್ |
ಕಾರ್ತಿಕೇಯಂ ಮಹಾಭಾಗಂ ಕಾಕುತ್ ಸ್ಥ ಜ್ವಲವೋಪಮಮ್ ||

Following the words of Devas Krittikas bathed that child born of the Tejas of Siva and burning with the the brilliance of the fire. Since he was moved from the body of Ganga in the form of the foetus, he was known as "Skandha". Since he was brought up by Krittikas he was known as "Kartikeya"!

ಪ್ರಾದುರ್ಭೂತಂ ತತಃ ಕ್ಷೀರಂ ಕೃತ್ತಿಕಾನಾಮಮುತ್ತಮಮ್ |
ಷಣ್ಣಾಂ ಷಡಾನನೋ ಭೂತ್ವಾ ಜಗ್ರಾಹ ಸ್ತನಜಂ ಪಯಃ ||
ಗೃಹೀತ್ವಾ ಕ್ಷೀರಮೇಕಾಹ್ನಾ ಸುಕುಮಾರವಪುಸ್ತದಾ |
ಅಜಯತ್ ಸ್ವೇನ ವೀರ್ಯೇಣ ದೈತ್ಯಸೈನ್ಯಗಣಾನ್ ವಿಭುಃ ||
ಸುರಸೇನಾಗಣಪತಿಂ ತತಸ್ತಮತುಲದ್ಯುತಿಮ್ |
ಅಭ್ಯಷಿಂಚನ್ ಸುರಗಣಾಃ ಸಮೇತ್ಯಾಗ್ನಿಪುರೋಗಮಾಃ ||

The six Krittikas were full with milk for the child. From those six Krittikas the child drank milk with his six faces. That baby having been fed only once, defeated all the Rakshasa armies with his strength . Then Devas who came along with Agni anointed the child with unmatched power as the leader of the Deva's armies.

ಏಷ ತೇ ರಾಮ ಗಂಗಾಯಾ ವಿಸ್ತರೋsಭಿಹಿತೋ ಮಯಾ |
ಕುಮಾರಸಂಭವಶ್ಚೈವ ಧನ್ಯಃ ಪುಣ್ಯಸ್ತಥೈವ ಚ ||

'O Rama ! I have told you the story of Ganga and the story of the birth of the child too. Who ever hears this story will have fulfilled the purpose of their life'.

ಭಕ್ತಶ್ಚ ಯಃ ಕಾರ್ತಿಕೇಯೇ ಕಾಕುತ್ ಸ್ಥ ಭುವಿ ಮಾನವಃ |
ಆಯುಷ್ಮಾನ್ ಪುತ್ತ್ರಪೌತ್ರೈಶ್ಚ ಸ್ಕಂದಸಾಲೋಕ್ಯತಾಂ ವ್ರಜೇತ್ ||

O Rama ! anybody who prays to Kumaraswami will have long life and live happily with is progeny. He will also attain the world of Skandha too !!

ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯೇ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ
ಬಾಲಕಾಂಡೇ ಸಪ್ತತ್ರಿಂಶ ಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ ||
ಸಮಾಪ್ತಂ ||

||Thus the thirty seventh Sarga of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayan comes to an end ||
|| om tat sat ||

|| Om tat sat ||