Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 37: The History of Skanda
Text 1.37.13
देवतानां प्रतिज्ञाय गङ्गामभ्येत्य पावकः।
गर्भं धारय वै देवि देवतानामिदं प्रियम्॥
devatānāṁ pratijñāya gaṅgām abhyetya pāvakaḥ
garbhaṁ dhāraya vai devi devatānām idaṁ priyam
devatānām = the demigods; pratijñāya = having assured; gaṅgām = Gaṅgā; abhyetya = approached and [told her]; pāvakaḥ = Agni; garbham = this semen; dhāraya vai = please bare; devi = O goddess; devatānām = to the demigods; idam = for this act; priyam = would be pleasing.
Having assured the demigods, Agni approached Gaṅgā on the skies and told her: O goddess, please bear this semen for such an act would be pleasing to the demigods.