Because he had carried a fierce and radiant seed, Agni, the Fire God, was told by Rudrāṇī that he must bear the embryo as a punishment. Thus, cursed by Rudrāṇī, Agni endured the burden of the embryo within himself for many years. In his distress, Agni approached Gaṅgā, the supreme river, and appealed to her: "O great river, listen! I am greatly afflicted by carrying this embryo. For my sake, bear this burden; by my favor, your suffering will become light." Gaṅgā, pleased and compassionate, agreed, saying, "So be it." Though her mind burned with the strain, she bore the embryo, enduring great hardship for a long time with steadfast devotion. In time, Gaṅgā placed the embryo in the pure womb of Himavat, in a beautiful place called Sharavana, adorned with blossoming trees. There, she released the embryo, shining like fire. From this union was born a son—child of Rudra, Agni, and Gaṅgā—radiant as the dawn, resembling a hundred suns, and possessed of immense energy and might. When this illustrious son of Jahnavi was born, the heavens filled with celestial chariots, as if the sky were covered with birds. Divine drums resounded sweetly above, while Siddhas and Charanas, dwelling in the air, showered flowers in celebration. The foremost Gandharvas sang everywhere, joined by all the Yakshas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, and Kinnaras. Thousands of great serpents and excellent birds gathered around this radiant son of Shiva and Agni, whose brilliance subdued the demons, Danavas, and Rakshasas. Born from Agni, he was first seen at the beginning of a ritual among the wives of the seven sages—all except Arundhati, who was away for ablution. Surrounded by these women, the Lord, fierce and radiant like a young sun, was cherished and nurtured by his many mothers. Desiring to please all the goddesses at once, this illustrious son of Jahnu, resplendent with great brilliance, manifested six faces for their joy. He was glorious, lotus-eyed, and like the rising sun; by his birth, the worlds were overwhelmed with his radiance. This great birth, intolerable to the gods, scattered the hosts of Dānavas, and thus he became known as mighty Skanda. Because he was nurtured by the Kṛttikās in ancient times, he was also called Kārttikeya, the slayer of the Asuras. As the enemy of the Daityas yawned, from his mouth—encircled by a garland of flames—emerged his own invincible power. For Skanda’s delight, mighty Viṣṇu created two noble birds: Garuḍa and the son of Aditi. Vāyu gave him the peacock, the rooster, and the banner; Sarasvatī bestowed the great, resounding vīṇā; Svayambhū presented a ram; and Śambhu granted a sheep. In the play of illusion, when the mountain Krauñca was struck down and the great Asura Tāraka was raised up and then slain, Skanda, together with Indra, Upendra, and the illustrious gods, was anointed as commander of the divine army—the mighty foe of the Daityas. Thus, he became known as the commander of the gods, leader of men, Skanda, destroyer of the enemies of the celestials and lord of all worlds. He was surrounded by various Pramathas, Davas, hosts of Bhūtas, groups of Mothers, and Vināyakas. Meanwhile, a maiden witnessed aerial chariots falling and herself cast down from heaven. Among those descending, she saw her ancestors, shrunken to the size of dust motes—extremely subtle, abandoned, their sacrificial fires untended, like extinguished flames. As she fell, she bowed her head and cried out to them, "Protect me!" Her ancestors reassured her, saying, "Do not fear," and she sought to appease them with plaintive words. The ancestors replied to the maiden, deprived of prosperity through her own transgression: "By your own actions, you have lost your fortune. You must practice austerity, O fair-smiling one. Whatever deeds are performed here by the gods with bodies, those very acts yield their results. Deeds bear fruit immediately, whether among the gods, after death, or in human form. Therefore, after death, you will receive the fruit of becoming Amāvasvapatī." Thus addressed, the ancestors were appeased, and, meditating, bestowed their favor upon her out of compassion. Seeing that the destined event was certain, the gods, the Soma-drinkers, the Pitṛs, and the king's daughter of Amāvasu spoke together: "When you are born on earth as a human, O great one, becoming a maiden, you will again attain your own worlds. In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara, you will be born from the womb of a fish, as the daughter of this very king Amāvasu, from Adrikā. You will give birth to the heir of the sage Parāśara, who will divide the one Veda into four. You will also bear two sons of Mahābhiṣa—renowned Śantanu, increasing his fame: Vicitravīrya, who knows dharma, and Citrāṅgada, the king, endowed with energy, strength, and virtue. After producing these sons, you will again attain your worlds. Because of transgressing the Pitṛs, you will receive a blameworthy birth, becoming the daughter of that same king in Adrikā. Becoming a maiden, you will then attain these worlds." Thus addressed, the daughter of Dāśa became Satyavatī, her fate sealed by the words of her ancestors and the gods.