hath been brought about by Agni cohabiting with the six wives of the seven Rishis.”  Others again who had seen the goddess assume the disguise of a bird said, “This evil hath been brought about by a bird.”  No one ever imagined that Swaha was the authoress of that mischief.  But having heard that the (new born) male child was hers, she went to Skanda and gradually revealed to him the fact that she was his mother.  And those seven Rishis, when they heard that a son of great power had been born (to them), divorced their six wives with the exception of the adorable Arundhati, because all the dwellers of that forest protested that those six persons had been instrumental in bringing forth the child.  Swaha too, O king, said again and again to the seven Rishis, saying, “Ye ascetics, this child is mine, your wives are not his mother.”

“’The great Muni Viswamitra had, after the conclusion of the sacrifices of the seven Rishis, followed unseen the god of fire, while the latter was tortured with lust.  He, therefore, knew everything as it happened and he was the first to seek the protection of Mahasena.  And he offered divine prayers to Mahasena and all the thirteen auspicious rites appertaining to childhood, such as the natal and other ceremonies, were all performed by the great Muni in respect of that child.  And for the good of the world he promulgated the virtues of the six-faced Skanda, and performed ceremonies in honour of the cock, the goddess Sakti, and the first followers of Skanda.  And for this reason he became a great favourite of the celestial youth.  That great Muni then informed the seven Rishis of the transformations of Swaha and told them that their wives were perfectly innocent.  But though thus informed the seven Rishis abandoned their spouses unconditionally.’”

“Markandeya continued, ’The celestials having heard of the prowess of Skanda, all said to Vasava, “O Sakra, do thou kill Skanda without delay for his prowess is unbearable.  And if thou dost not exterminate him, he will conquer the three worlds with ourselves, and overpowering thee, will himself become the mighty lord of the celestials.”  Perplexed in mind, Sakra replied unto them, “This child is endowed with great prowess.  He can himself destroy the Creator of the Universe, in battle putting forth his might.  I venture not, therefore, to do away with him.”  To this the gods replied, “Thou hast no manliness in thee, in that thou talkest in this manner.  Let the great Mothers of the Universe repair to-day to Skanda.  They can master at will any degree of energy.  Let them kill this child.”  “It shall be so.”—­the mothers replied.  And then they went away.  But on beholding that he was possessed of great might, they became dispirited, and considering that he was invincible, they sought his protection and said unto him, “Do thou, O mighty being, become our (adopted) son.  We are full of affection for thee and desirous