Kumara's Extraordinary Conduct

Brahma said

There Gangeya showed the quality of his birth. Narada, hear it with great joy; it will give you devotion. A brahmana named Narada came there. The prosperous man had been performing a sacrifice and came and took refuge with Guha. Pleased in understanding, the brahmana approached Kartika, bowed properly and with auspicious words of praise told him his purpose.

The brahmana said

Lord, listen to my words and counter my hardships today. You are lord of the whole universe and I have taken refuge with you. I began a sacrifice that involved sacrificing a goat. The goat broke free of its bonds and wandered far from my house. I do not know where it has gone. Though I searched a great deal, I have not been able to find it. This will cause a serious obstruction to my sacrifice. When you are established as lord, how can my sacrifice be spoiled? Lord, think about this properly and act so that my wish is satisfied. Lord, Shiva's son, to whom else can I go for refuge but you? You are lord of the whole universe, served by all the immortals, a friend to the distressed and an ocean of compassion, kind to devotees who serve you well, the supreme lord praised by Hari, Brahma and the other gods. You are Skanda, Parvati's delight, alone supreme, scorcher of enemies, the paramatman, giver of refuge to the virtuous. Protector of the distressed, great lord, Shankara's son, lord of the three worlds, lord of maya, I have come and taken refuge with you. You are loved by brahmanas; save me. You are everyone's lord and loved, you know everything, and Brahma and the other gods praise you. By maya you take different forms. You bring happiness to your devotees and are bent on protecting them. You love your devotees more than your own life. You have gunas but are beyond the three gunas and distinct from them. You are Shambhu himself and Shambhu's son. When pleased you confer happiness. Your form is great and exists as consciousness. You are the son of omniscient Shankara, who destroyed Tripura, always subject to virtuous love. You have six faces and love the virtuous who bow to you. You are loved by Sarveshvara Shankara and destroy those who hate the virtuous. You are a guru even to Shankara. You are lord of the universe and of all; the immortals serve at your feet. You who love service, save me. You terrify enemies and secure the welfare of those who take refuge with you. You give happiness; I worship your lotus feet. Skanda, hear my plea and put devotion to you in people's minds, always. If you are on a person's side, guard his flanks and give him freedom from fear, what can a powerful, skilled adversary do to him? If you are the protector, what can Takshaka or a flesh-eating beast do to him? Lord, even the guru of the gods cannot praise you properly, so how can I? I am wicked in understanding and a lowly human. Whether you are pure or impure, noble or not, Skanda, whatever your nature, I pray at your lotus feet. Lord of everything, kind to devotees, ocean of compassion, I belong to you; I am your servant, not the servant of hundreds of leaders of ganas. Virtuous lord, you know every kind of devotion, even in the mind. You destroy your servants' afflictions. Truly there is no protector but you, illustrious one, neither man nor immortal. You bring welfare and destroy the sins of kali yuga. You are Kubera's friend, your heart melts with compassion, you have twelve eyes and six radiant faces. Guha, see that my sacrifice is completed. You protect the three worlds and are kind to those who take refuge; you are the performer of the sacrifice and its nurturer, and you remove those who cause obstacles. Remover of obstacles, creator of the virtuous in every way, Ishana's son, see that my sacrifice is completed. I bow to you. Skanda, you save everyone and also know everything. Lord of everything, you penetrate and protect in every way. You know music. You are the supreme lord who knows the Vedas, the creator, lord of the gods, goal of the virtuous, loved by Bhavani, Shambhu's son, wisdom personified, self-ruling, the meditator and the one meditated on, the ancestor of ancestors, the origin of virtuous atmans.

Brahma said

The emperor of the gods, Shambhu's son, heard these words and sent his own attendant Virabahu on the task, with instructions to search. The immensely valiant one bowed devotedly and left at once.

He searched all through the globe that is the universe. Though he heard of the hardships the goat had caused, he could not find it anywhere. At last he went to Vaikuntha and saw the goat there, immensely strong, the sacrificial stake tied round its neck, causing havoc. The brave one caught it by the horns and subdued it, and though it bleated a lot, brought it before his master. The lord Kartika had the greatness to hold up the whole universe and was the source of great prosperity. Seeing the goat, Guha mounted it. Sage, in a single muhurta the goat circled the entire universe and, not at all tired, returned to its place. The lord got down and sat on his seat, and the goat stood there too. Narada the brahmana spoke to him.

Narada the brahmana said

Divinity, lord of the gods, ocean of compassion, I bow to you. Give me my goat so that I may gladly complete my sacrifice. Please be my friend.

Kartika said

Brahmana, this goat does not deserve to be killed. Narada, go back to your own home. By my favour your sacrifice will be completed in every way.

Brahma said

Hearing the lord, the brahmana was pleased in mind. Pronouncing excellent blessings over him, he went back to his dwelling.