16 - The arrival of Karttikeya 

Narayana said - Karttikeya the son of Shiva thus spoke to Nandishvara, went to Kruttikas and apprised them of the reality speaking the appropriate words. 

Karttikeya said - О mother, I am going to Shiva in order to meet the gods. I shall also meet my mother and other gods there. I, therefore, seek your kind permission to proceed. 

O mothers, don’t be afraid of anything; the birth and death in this universe, the good and bad deeds, meeting and separation are all in the hands of destiny; therefore, there is no other strength greater then the strength of the destiny. 

And the destiny changes according to the wishes of lord Krishna who is beyond the destiny; that is why all the people adore him always. 

With his own divine play, he can increase the destiny and also destroy it. His devotee is controlled by destiny who remains indestructible. This is the resolve of everyone. 

Therefore, shedding all the painful grief recite the name of Govinda, who provides all the pleasures, moksha is essence of all, destroyer of birth, death and fear, all blissful and destroys the net of illusion, he is adored by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva always. 

In this universe, you just think what are you to me and what am I to you? All are like the bubble or the foam of water. 

The meeting and separation are in the hands of the lord. So much so that even the entire universe is in the hands of the lord. No one is independent. This has been ordained by the people of wisdom. 

All the three worlds are perishable like the bubble of water. In this perishable universe, the people who are infatuated with illusion actually work for the illusion of the noble people who are devoted to lord Krishna and do not get involved in it like the wind which does not get involved in the body in anyway. Therefore, О mothers, leaving aside the false sense of attraction, you grant me the permission. 

Thus reassuring them variously Karttikeya offered his salutations and reciting the name of Hari in his mind, he started his journey together with the messengers of Shiva.

In the meantime, a beautiful chariot appeared on the scene which was built by Visvakarma. It was quite beautiful studded with gems, jewels and rubies and adorned with the garland of Parijata flowers. 

The beautiful gems served as mirrors in the chariot. It was illumining with white fly-whisks. There were various types of shining fly-whisks and dancing halls of astonishing types. It was thus the best of all. 

It was quite wide-spread and had a hundred wheels. It could move with the speed of the mind and was quite pleasant to look at. Parvati had sent it with several of her courtiers. 

The heart of Kruttikas felt painful when Karttikeya mounted the chariot and they fainted. Suddenly on regaining consciousness, they dishevelled the hair and became upset. 

With their mind filled with grief they were completely upset. Kruttikas looking at Skanda became hysterical and spoke in panic. 

Kruttikas said - О son, we have been dependent on you; now where should we go and what alone? It is not proper to become like this at the moment. 

We have brought you up with great love and affection; you are our son according to dharma. This is not proper that a son getting stone-hearted should discard his mothers like this. 

Thus speaking Kruttikas embraced their son and fainted because the separation from the son is quite painful. О sage, thereafter Kumara imparted them the divine knowledge on Adhyatma. Thereafter he mounted the chariot together with his mothers. 

О sage, during the time of the journey, they came across the things of welfare like a pitcher filled with water, a Brahmana, a prose, white paddy, mirror, curd, ghee, honey, fried paddy, flowers, Durvd, white rice, bull, elephant, horse, fire in flames, gold, ripe fruits, ladies having husbands and sons, lamp, best of gems, pearls, flower garland, fresh meat, sandal-paste and other things of prosperity. Similarly, the jackal, the mangoose, the pitcher, the dead body were seen by them moving towards the left side which is considered to be quite auspicious.

They also found the geese, peacocks, wagtail bird, parrot, cuckoo, pigeon, samkha, vulture, the sheldrake (cakava), the black buck, Surabhi cow, spotted cow, white fly-whisks, cow with calf and banner moving to the right. 

Many musical instruments played the welfare tunes, besides music of Welfare. The sound of conch and the gong welcomed them. Kumara then delightfully moved on with the chariot and with the speed of the mind to the palace of his father. 

Reaching Kailasa, Karttikeya got down from the chariot together with Kruttikas and the courtiers and in an instant they reached under the Akshyavata. 

Parvati had decorated the entire king's way with rubies, sapphire and several types of the trunks of banana, silken garments, pitchers filled with Srikhanda leaves and water mixed with sandal-paste besides several lamps. There were lots of festivities in the city besides the dancing by the male and female dancers and apsharas. The ladies whose husbands and sons were alive carried Durva-grass and flowers together with Brahmanas and the bards on the way. Parvati, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Durga, Savitn, Rati, Arundhati, Ahalya, Diti, beautiful Tara, Aditi, Satarupa, Indrani, Sandhya, RohinI, Anusuya, Svaha, Sanjna, Varuni, Akuti, Prasuti, Devahuti, Menaka, a part of Mainaka, lady with a single costume, Vasundhara and Manasa reached there. 

О Brahmana, Rambha, Tilottama, Mena, Ghrutachi, the pleasant MohinI, Urvasi, Ratnamala, Susia, Lalita, Kala, Kadambamala, Surasa, the beautiful Vanamala and other beautiful apsaras clad in the best of garments started dancing wearing smiles on their faces. All the people holding karatalas in their hands playing on musical instruments were dancing, while moving forward. 

All the gods, the sages, the mountains, Gandharvas and Kinnaras, were moving joyfully to welcome Kumara.

Various types of musical instruments were played upon by Rudras, courtiers, Bhairavas, Kshetra-palas while moving forward with Shiva. 

Thereafter the valorous Kumara felt delighted at finding Parvati approaching him. He got down from the chariot and bowed in respect to her, besides Lakshmi and other goddesses and the wives of the sages. He bowed in reverence to lord Shiva and started talking to him. 

Finding Karttikeya there, Parvati lifted him up in her lap and kissed him. At that point of time Shiva, the gods, the mountains, the goddesses, wives of the mountains, Parvati, prominent goddesses, gods, the sages showered their blessing on Kumara. 

Thereafter Kumara reached the abode of lord Shiva together with the ganas and he found lord Vishnu the dweller of the ocean of milk, in the centre of the assembly hall, seated on a gemstudded lion-throne in Sukhasana. He was surrounded by Dharma, Brahma, Indra, the moon, the sun, the fire-god, the wind-god and others. He wore a serene smile on his face. He of the sages and the gods served as the fly-whisk bearers. 

Looking at Vishnu the lord of the universe, Kumara bowed in reverence to him and he felt sensational in the body. 

Thereafter he offered salutation to Brahma, Dharma, the gods and the sages and received their blessings individually. 

After individually talking to all of them, he took his seat. At that point of time both Shiva and Parvati distributed charities to the Brahmanas.