And there were many peacocks also of gorgeous colours, uttering their
shrill but melodious cries. Many bevies of swans also, and many flights
of gladdened Kokilas too, adorned the place. The prince of birds, viz.,
Garuda, dwelt on that summit constantly. The four Regents of the world,
the deities, and diverse classes of Rishis, used always to come there
from the desire of doing good to the world. It was there that the
high-souled Vishnu had undergone the severest austerities for the object
of obtaining a son. It was there that the celestial generalissimo named
Kumara, in his younger days, disregarding the three worlds with all the
celestial denizens, threw down his dart, piercing the Earth therewith.
Throwing down his dart, Skanda addressing the universe, said,--If there
be any person that is superior to me in might, or that holds Brahmanas to
be dearer, or that can compare with me in devotion to the Brahmanas and
the Vedas, or that is possessed of energy like unto me, let him draw up
this dart or at least shake it!--Hearing this challenge, the three worlds
become filled with anxiety, and all creatures asked one another,
saying,--Who will raise this dart?--Vishnu beheld all the deities and
Asuras and Rakshasas to be troubled in their senses and mind. He
reflected upon what should be the best to be done under the
circumstances. Without being able to bear that challenge in respect of
the hurling of the dart, he cast his eyes on Skanda, the son of the
Fire-god.
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