troops, capable of destroying the enemies of the gods, and of forms like that of Vishnu.  The gods then, with Vasava at their head, and the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Munis, and the Pitris, all shouted, ‘Victory (to Skanda)!’ Then Yama gave him two companions, both of whom resembled Death, Unmatha and Pramatha, possessed of great energy and great splendour.  Endued with great prowess, Surya, with a gratified heart, gave unto Kartikeya two of his followers named Subhraja and Bhaswara.  Soma also gave him two companions, Mani and Sumani, both of whom looked like summits of the Kailasa mountain and always used white garlands and white unguents.  Agni gave unto him two heroic companions, grinders of hostile armies, who were named Jwalajihbha and Jyoti.  Ansa gave unto Skanda of great intelligence five companions, Parigha, and Vata, and Bhima of terrible strength, and Dahati and Dahana, both of whom were exceedingly fierce and possessed of great energy.  Vasava that slayer of hostile heroes, gave unto Agni’s son two companions, Utkrosa and Panchaka, who were armed respectively with thunder-bolt and club.  These had in battle slain innumerable enemies of Shakra.  The illustrious Vishnu gave unto Skanda three companions, Chakra and Vikrama and Sankrama of great might.  The Ashvinis, O bull of Bharata’s race, with gratified hearts, gave unto Skanda two companions Vardhana and Nandana, who had mastered all the sciences.  The illustrious Dhatri gave unto that high-souled one five companions, Kunda, Kusuma, Kumuda, Damvara and Adamvara.  Tvashtri gave unto Skanda two companions named Chakra and Anuchakra, both of whom were endued with great strength.  The lord Mitra gave unto the high-souled Kumara two illustrious companions named Suvrata and Satyasandha, both of whom were endued with great learning and ascetic merit, possessed of agreeable features, capable of granting boons and celebrated over the three worlds.  Vidhatri gave unto Kartikeya two companions of great celebrity, the high-souled Suprabha and Subhakarman.  Pushan gave him, O Bharata, two companions, Panitraka and Kalika, both endued with great powers of illusion.  Vayu gave him, O best of the Bharatas, two companions, Vala and Ativala, endued with great might and very large mouths.  Varuna, firmly adhering to truth, gave him Ghasa and Atighasa of great might and possessed of mouths like those of whales.  Himavat gave unto Agni’s son two companions, O King, Suvarchas and Ativarchas.  Meru, O Bharata, gave him two companions named Kanchana and Meghamalin.  Manu also gave unto Agni’s son two others endued with great strength and prowess, Sthira and Atisthira.  Vindhya gave unto Agni’s son two companions named Uschrita and Agnisringa both of whom fought with large stones.  Ocean gave him two mighty companions named Sangraha and Vigraha, both armed with maces.  Parvati of beautiful features gave unto Agni’s son Unmada and Pushpadanta and Sankukarna.  Vasuki, the king of the snakes, O tiger among men, gave unto