मार्कण्डेय उवाच अग्नीनां विविधा वंशाः कीर्तितास्ते मयानघ। शृणु जन्म तु कौरव्य कार्तिकेयस्य धीमतः॥
Markandeya said : O sinless one, O descendant of Kuru, I have told you the history of the various branches of the Agni race. (Now) hear about the birth of the intelligent Kartikeya.
अद्भुतस्याद्भुतं पुत्रं प्रवक्ष्याम्यमितौजसम्। जातं ब्रह्मर्षिभार्याभिर्ब्रह्मण्यं कीर्तिवर्धनम्॥
I shall (now) speak to you about the wonderful and famous and highly effulgent son of Adbhut, who was born of the wives of the Brahmarsis.
देवासुराः ए । यत्ता विनिघ्नन्तः परस्परम्। तत्राजयन् सदा देवान् दानवा घोररूपिणः॥
In the days of yore, the Devas and the Danavas were always engaged in destroying one another. The fearful Danavas were always able to vanquish the Devas.
वध्यमानं बलं दृष्ट्वा बहुशस्तैः पुरंदरः। स सैन्यनायकार्थाय चिन्तामाप भृशं तदा॥
Findings his armies slaughtered by them and being eager to find out a Generalissimo for the celestials army Purandara (Indra) was filled with great anxiety.
देवसेनां दानवैर्हि भग्नां दृष्ट्वा महाबलः। पालयेद् वीर्यमाश्रित्य स ज्ञेयः पुरुषो मया॥
(He thought), "I must find out a powerful person, who will be able to reorganize the celestials army, slaughtered as it is by the Danavas."
स शैलं मानसं गत्वा ध्यायनर्थमिदं भृशम्। शुश्रावार्तस्वरं घोरमय मुक्तं स्त्रिया तदा॥
He then went to the Mandara mountain. When he was deeply engaged in his own thought, he heard a piteous voice of a woman crying.
अभिधावतु मां कश्चित् पुरुषस्त्रातु चैव ह। पतिं च मे प्रदिशतु स्वयं वा पतिरस्तु मे॥
"May some one soon come to me. Let him point out to me a protector or become my protector himself.”
पुरंदरस्तु तामाह मा भर्नास्ति भयं तव। एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽपश्यत् केशिनं स्थितमग्रतः॥
Purandara said to her, “Don't be afraid; you have no fear.” When he said this he saw Keshin (an Asura) standing before him.
किरीटिनं गदापाणि धातुमन्तमिवाचलम्। हस्ते गृहीत्वा कन्यां तामथैनं वासवोऽब्रवीत्॥
Like a hill of metals. He had a crown on his head and a mace in his hand, he held a lady by the hand. To him Vasava thus spoke,
अनार्यकर्मन् कस्मात् त्वमिमां कन्यां जिहीर्षसि। वलिाणं मां विजानीहि विरमास्याः प्रबाधनात्॥
“Why are you insolently behaving towards this lady? Know that I am the wielder of thunder. Stop from doing any violence to this lady."
केश्युवाच विसृजस्व त्वमेवैनां शत्रैषा प्रार्थिता मया। क्षमं ते जीवतो गन्तुं स्वपुरं पाकशासन॥
Keshin said: O chastiser of Paka, leave her alone. I desire to possess her. Do you think that you will be able to return home with your life?
एवमुक्त्वा गदां केशी चिक्षेपेन्द्रवधाय वै। तामापतन्तीं चिच्छेद मध्ये वलोण वासवः॥
Markandeya said : Having said this, Keshin hurled his mace to kill Indra. When falling Vasava cut it down with his thunderbolt.
अथास्य शैलशिखरं केशी क्रुद्धो व्यवासृजत्। तदा पतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य शैलशृङ्गं शतक्रतुः॥
Thereupon Keshin in great anger hurled upon Indra a large mass of rocks. Seeing that the mass of rocks was falling (upon him) Shatakratu.
बिभेद राजन् वलोण भुवि तन्निपपात ह। पतता तु तदा केशी तेन शृङ्गेण ताडितः॥
O king, cut it down with his thunderbolt and it fell on the ground. Keshin himself was wounded by that falling mass of rocks.
हित्वा कन्यां महाभागां प्राद्रवद् भृशपीडितः। अपयातेऽसुरे तस्मिंस्तां कन्यां वासवोऽब्रवीत्। कासि कस्यासि किछेह कुरुषे त्वं शुभानने॥
Having been thus wounded, he fled away leaving the damsel behind. When the Asura was gone, Indra thus spoke to the lady, “Who and whose are you? O beautiful one, what has brought you here?” CHADTCR 29A