Chapter 31 - The Celestial Voice

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Brahmā said:—

1. O excellent sage, in the meantime a celestial voice arose, even as Dakṣa, the devas and others were listening.

The celestial Voice said:—

2. O Dakṣa, of evil conduct, of haughty disposition, what is it that you have foolishly done now, this misdeed bringing in many an unhappy calamity in its wake?

3. You never gave any credence to the words of Dadhīci, the king of devotees of Śiva. O fool, if it had been carried out, everything would have been auspicious and pleasing.

4. After cursing you terribly, the brahmin had walked out of the sacrificial hall in protest. Still you did not understand anything, fool that you were.

5. How is it that you did not honour Satī your daughter, the auspicious lady who herself came to your house?

6. O you weak in knowledge, how is it that you did not worship Satī and Śiva? In vain do you feel proud of being Brahmā’s son. You are actually deluded.

7. That Satī alone, who quells all sins, who is the mother of three worlds, who has occupied half the body of Śiva and who confers all welfare should be propitiated always.

8. That Satī alone when worshipped for ever confers good fortunes. She is the great goddess who bestows everything auspicious on her devotees.

9. That Satī alone when propitiated for ever destroys the fear from worldly existence. She is the goddess who confers what we desire and who removes all disorders.

10. That Satī alone when propitiated for ever bestows fame and wealth. She is the great Goddess who confers worldly pleasures and salvation.

11. That Satī alone is the creator of the universe, the protectress of the universe, the cause of destruction of the universe at the end of the Kalpa. She is the primordial Śakti.

12. That Satī alone is the Māyā of the universe, the mother of Viṣṇu, of diverse shining features, and the mother of Brahmā, Indra, the moon, the fire, the sun and the devas.

13. That Satī alone is the bestower of the fruits of penance, charitable gifts and virtuous actions. She is the Śakti of Śiva, the great Goddess, the destroyer of the wicked and the greatest of the great.

14. The due share has not been offered by you who are foolish and evil-minded to the lord whose ever beloved wife is the goddess Satī of such glorious features.

15. Śiva indeed is the great lord, the lord of all, the greatest of the great, worthy of being served by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and others and the cause of all welfare.

16. Penances are performed by the Siddhas who desire to have a vision of Him. Yogic meditations and exercises are performed by Yogins who desire to have a vision of Him.

17. Vision of Śiva yields great fruits, endless wealth and foodgrains and the fructification of all sacrifices.

18. Śiva alone is the creator of the universe, the lord of all lores, the upholder of the primordial learning and the lord, the most auspicious of the auspicious.

19. Since you have not duly respected His Śakti, and since you are wicked, this sacrifice will definitely be destroyed.

20. Inauspicious results befall one when those worthy of worship are not worshipped and they are quelled when they are worshipped, since Śivā is the worthiest of all worship.

21. That Śakti is Śivā, Satī, the dust from whose feet is worn everyday by Śeṣa with his thousand heads.

22. Satī is the beloved of Śiva by meditating upon whose lotus-like feet for ever and by worshipping which Viṣṇu attained his Viṣṇu-hood.

23. Satī is the beloved of Śiva, by meditating upon whose lotus-like feet for ever and by worshipping which, Brahmā attained his Brahmā-hood.

24. Śiva is the lord, by meditating upon whose lotuslike feet for ever and by worshipping which the guardians of quarters—Indra and others attained their respective positions.

25. Śiva is the father of the universe. That Satī is the mother of the universe. O fool, they were not honoured duly by you. How can you attain welfare?

26. Since Satī and Śiva are not propitiated by you, misfortune has befallen you. Miseries have attacked you.

27. Do you feel proud enough to suppose that you can attain welfare without worshipping Śiva? That haughty pride will be quashed today.

28. I do not see anyone among these devas who will come to your assistance, since you are averse to the Lord.

29. If the devas were to come to your assistance, they are sure to be destroyed like moths by fire.

30. Let your face burn. Let your sacrifice be quashed. Whoever comes as your assistant—let him be burnt today immediately.

31. An oath on all the devas for your inauspiciousness, if they are to assist your wickedness.

32. Let all the devas depart quickly from this sacrificial altar. Otherwise you all will perish today without an escape.

33. Let all the sages, Nāgas and others leave this sacrifice. Otherwise, you all will perish today, without an escape.

34. O Viṣṇu, come out of this sacrificial platform quickly. Otherwise you will perish today without an escape.

35. O Brahmā, come out of this sacrificial platform quickly. Otherwise you will perish today, by all means.

Brahmā said:—

36-37. After saying this to those who had gathered in the sacrificial hall, the celestial voice that conferred welfare stopped. O dear one, on hearing the astral voice Viṣṇu and other devas were surprised. The sages too were wonder-struck.