Chapter 4 - The advent of Vāyu

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:—

1. The fortunate sages of devout rites worshipped lord Śiva and began their sacrifice there.

2. The sacrifice of the sages functioned evoking wonder in everyone like that of the Viśvasṛjas formerly who were desirous of creating the universe.

3. After sometime when the Satra had concluded with the distribution of manifold gifts Vāyu himself came there at the instance of Brahmā.

4-7. Vāyu the disciple of Brahmā, the self-controlled lord who perceives everything directly; in whose bidding stay the forty-nine Maruts^[1] always; who sustains the bodies of all living beings urging them perpetually by his own functionaries Prāṇa and others; who is endowed with the eightfold glories; who supports the worlds with his holy hands; who is born of Ākāśa; who possesses the two qualities of touch and sound and whom the philosophers call the material cause of fiery principle.

8. On seeing him at the hermitage the sages who were busy in a long Satra remembered the words of Brahmā and felt unequalled pleasure.

9. Standing up they welcomed and bowed to him. They offered him a golden seat.

10. He seated himself there and was worshipped by the sages. Congratulating them he enquired after their health.

Vāyu said:—

11. O brahmins, hope you are all quite well, now that this great sacrifice has concluded. Hope that the Asuras, the enemies of the gods, the destroyers of sacrifices do not harass you.

12-13. Hope that imprecations and expiatory rites do not take place. Hope that the rites are duly performed by you after worshipping the gods, with Stotra and Śastra hymns and the ancestors with the rites due to them. What do you propose to do afterwards, now that the great Satra has been concluded?

14. When addressed thus by Vāyu, the meditator on Śiva, the sages were delighted in their minds. They considered themselves sanctified. They replied thus humbly.

15. Today we have attained bliss; our penances are rendered fruitful since you have come for the increase of our welfare.

16. Listen to an old anecdote. Formerly we meditated on Prajāpati when we were overwhelmed by darkness. We wanted to acquire perfect knowledge.

17. The lord Brahmā worthy of being sought refuge in, blessed us as we sought refuge in him and said, “O brahmins, Lord Rudra is superior to all. He is the ultimate cause.

18. Only the devotee sees the lord whose real nature cannot be reflected upon or argued over. Devotion is acquired through grace and through grace is bliss attained.

19. Hence, in order to propitiate him perform the Satra. Worship him who is the ultimate cause, perform Satra in Naimiṣa extending over a long period.

20. At the end of the Satra, by means of his grace Vāyu will come there. You will acquire perfect knowledge from his mouth and attain welfare.

21. Commanding thus Brahmā sent us all to this place. O fortunate one, we were eagerly awaiting your arrival.

22. We sat and performed the Satra for a thousand divine years. We had nothing to wish for except your advent.

23. On hearing thus this story of the sages who had performed the satra for a long time Vāyu was delighted in his mind and stayed there surrounded by the sages.

24. On being implored by the sages, the lord succinctly narrated the glory of Śiva beginning with creation in order to enhance their piety.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

According to the Vedic concept they are sons of Rudra but a legend represents their origin in an unborn son of Diti whom Indra dashed in the womb into forty-nine pieces and gave the name Maruts.