The adorable Sakha, which is Kartikeya’s Vayu form proceeded towards Agni.  Naigameya, that child of fiery splendour, proceeded to the presence of Ganga.  All those forms, of similar appearance, were endued with great effulgence.  The four forms proceeded calmly to the four gods and goddesses (already mentioned).  All this seemed exceedingly wonderful.  The gods, the Danavas, and the Rakshasas, made a loud noise at sight of that exceedingly wonderful incident making the very hair to stand on end.  Then Rudra and the goddess Uma and Agni, and Ganga, all bowed unto the Grandsire, that Lord of the Universe.  Having duly bowed unto him, O bull among kings, they said these words, O monarch, from desire of doing good unto Kartikeya.  ’It behoveth thee, O Lord of the gods, to grant to this youth, for the sake of our happiness, some kind of sovereignty that may be suitable to him and that he may desire.  At this, the adorable Grandsire of all the worlds, possessed of great intelligence, began to think within his mind as to what he should bestow upon that youth.  He had formerly given away unto the formless ones (gods) all kinds of wealth over which the high-souled celestials, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas, ghosts, Yakshas, birds, and snakes have dominion.  Brahma, therefore, regarded that youth to be fully entitled to that dominion (which had been bestowed upon the gods).  Having reflected for a moment, the Grandsire, ever mindful of the welfare of the gods, bestowed upon him the status of a generalissimo among all creatures, O Bharata!  And the Grandsire further ordered all those gods that were regarded as the chief of the celestials and other formless beings to wait upon him.  Then the gods headed by Brahman, taking that youth with them, together came to Himavat.  The spot they selected was the bank of the sacred and divine Sarasvati, that foremost of rivers, taking her rise from Himavat, that Sarasvati which, at Samanta-panchaka, is celebrated over the three worlds.  There, on the sacred bank, possessing every merit, of the Sarasvati, the gods and the Gandharvas took their seats with hearts well-pleased in consequence of the gratification of all their desires.”

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Vaishampayana said, “Collecting all articles as laid down in the scriptures for the ceremony of investiture, Brihaspati duly poured libations on the blazing fire.  Himavat gave a seat which was adorned with many costly gems.  Kartikeya was made to sit on that auspicious and best of seats decked with excellent gems.  The gods brought thither all kinds of auspicious articles, with due rites and mantras, that were necessary for a ceremony of the kind.  The diverse gods—­Indra and Vishnu, both of great energy, and Surya and Candramas, and Dhatri, and Vidhatri, and Vayu, and Agni, and Pushan, and Bhaga, and Aryaman, and Ansa, and Vivaswat, and Rudra of great intelligence, and Mitra, and the (eleven) Rudras, the (eight) Vasus, the (twelve) Adityas, the (twin) Ashvinis, the Viswedevas, the Maruts, the Saddhyas,