e origin of gold. O thou of puissance,
hear how Kartikeya grew up, O delighter of Bhrigu's race. After a long
time Kartikeya grew up. He was then, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race,
chosen by all the deities with Indra at their head, as the generalissimo
of the celestial forces. He slew the Daitya Taraka as also many other
Asuras, at the command of the chief of the celestials, O Brahmana, and
actuated also by the desire of benefiting all the worlds. I have also, O
thou of great might, discoursed to thee on the merits of making gifts of
gold. Do thou, therefore, O foremost of all speakers make gifts of gold.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "Thus addressed by Vasishtha, Jamadagni's son of
great prowess then made gifts of gold unto the Brahmanas and became
cleansed of his sins. I have thus told thee, O king, everything about the
merits of the gifts of gold and about its origin also, O Yudhishthira. Do
thou also, therefore, make abundant gifts of gold unto the Brahmanas.
Verily, O king, by making such gifts of gold, thou wilt surely be
cleansed of all thy sins!"'"

SECTION LXXXVI

"'Yudhishthira said, "Thou hast, O grandsire, discoursed to me, in detail
on the merits that attach to the gift of gold agreeably with the
ordinances laid down in the scriptures as indicated in the auditions of
the Veda. Thou hast also narrated what the origin is of gold. Do thou
tell me now how Taraka met with destruction. Thou hast said, O king, that
Asura had become unslayable by the gods. Do thou tell me in detail how
his destruction was brought about. O perpetuator of Kuru's race, I desire
to hear this from thee. I mean the details of Taraka's slaughter. Great
is my curiosity to hear the narrative."

"'Bhishma said, "The gods and the Rishis, O monarch, reduced to great
distress (by Taraka's prowess and the conduct of Ganga in casting off
Agni's seed), urged the six Krittikas to rear that child. Amongst the
celestial ladies there were none, save these, that could, by their
energy, bear the seed of Agni in their wombs. The god of fire became
exceedingly gratified with those goddesses for their readiness to sustain
the conception caused by the cast off seed of Agni which was endued with
his own high energy. When the energy of Agni, O king, was divided into
six portions and placed within the channels (leading to the womb), the
six Krittikas began to nourish the portion that each held in her womb. As
the high-souled Kumara, however, began to grow with