Chapter 23 - The destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice (4): Śiva’s Fury

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vāyu said:—

1. Thus the gods headed by Viṣṇu with their bodies split and mutilated attained a miserable plight and trembled. Only a few of them scrvived.

2-3. The excessively infuriated Pramathas and Gaṇas urged by Vīrabhadra seized the warriors frightened of the battle tying their hands, feet, shoulders and bellies by means of strong iron fetters.

4. In the meantime Brahmā who had secured his favour due to his charioteership, implored Bhadra, the devotee of the daughter of Himavat.

5. “O lord, enough of this fury. The gods are ruined. Please forgive their faults. O you of auspicious rites.”

6. Implored thus by Brahmā the delighted chief of Gaṇas became calm.

7. Getting the opportunity through Brahmā the gods joined their palms in reverence above their heads and eulogised him by various hymns.

The gods said:—

8. Obeisance to Śiva the quiescent. Obeisance to the trident-bearing destroyer of sacrifice. Obeisance to Bhadra, the lord of Rudras, the wealth and prosperity of Rudras.

9. Obeisance to Rudra the deity of deadly fire; to the slayer of death and Kama; the remover of the heads of the gods and of the wicked-souled Dakṣa.

10. O hero, incensurable though we are we have been chastised by you in the war due to our association with this sinner Dakṣa.

11. We have been burnt. O lord, we are afraid of you. You alone are our goal. Save us who have sought refuge in you.

Vāyu said:—

12. Thus eulogised the lord was satisfied. He set gods free from fetters. He took them to the presence of lord Śiva.

13. Śiva, the omnipresent lord of the worlds, was standing in the firmament along with the Gaṇas.

14. On seeing him the gods headed by Viṣṇu were pleased and awe-struck. They bowed to him.

15. Seeing them frightened, Śiva the destroyer of the distress of his devotees said laughingly after glancing at Pārvatī.

Lord Śiva said:—

16. O gods, do not be afraid. You are my own subjects. It is only to bless you that the punishment has been meted out to you by the merciful lord.

17. The transgression of you the gods has been forgiven by us. When we are infuriated you have neither sustenance nor life.

Vāyu said:—

18. Thus spoken to by Śiva of unmeasured splendour the gods immediately had their doubts cleared. The gods danced joyously.

19. Becoming delighted and excited in their minds with bliss, the gods began to eulogise Śiva.

The gods said:—

20. O lord assuming the forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra through Rajas, Tamas and Sattva you are the creator, protector and the annihilator of the worlds.

21. O omniformed, O conceiver of the universe, O sanctifier. O formless, O bestower of happiness you take up forms only for the sake of devotees.

22. O Śiva, O lord of gods, it is due to your favour that the moon became free from ailment when dead she plunged into Yamuna and regained life and happiness.

23. Sīmantinī whose husband had died, O lord, attained unequalled marital bliss by worshipping you. By performing the holy rites on Mondays she bore sons.

24. The lord gave excellent region to Śrīkara. You protected Sudarśana from the fear of danger from the hosts of kings.

25. The storehouse of mercy enabled Medina to cross the ocean of worldly existence. By your miraculous activity you enlivened the husband of Śāradā.

26. Destroying the calamity of Bhadrāyus you conferred happiness on him. By serving you Sauminī became free from worldly bondage.

Viṣṇu said:—

27. O Śiva you are Brahma, Viṣṇu and Śiva by means of the Guṇas Rajas, Sattva and Tamas. With the desire to bless the people you became the creator, sustainer and the annihilator.

28. You are the destroyer of the arrogance and the brilliance of everyone. You are the hidden secret of all lores, the cause of blessings for all.

29. O lord, everything originates from you. You are all. Everything is in you. Save us again Please be merciful on me.

30. In the meantime, getting the opportunity Brahmā bowed to him with palms joined in reverence and informed the trident-bearing lord.

Brahmā said:—

31. O lord, be victorious. O destroyer of the distress of your devotees, who else other than you becomes pleased when offences are of this nature?

32. Those who are killed in battle will regain their souls. When the lord is delighted who will not revive?

33. The fault in the offences committed by the gods, O lord, is actually a blessing because of the weightiness of your acceptance. I consider so.

34-35. When Brahmā implored thus, the lord smiled and glanced at the face of the goddess. As a result of his affection to Brahmā who was like a son unto him, the lord revived the gods to life.

36. He restored the goddesses—mothers of the gods who had been punished by the Pramathas and others.

37. Lord Brahma made the face of Dakṣa look like the the face of an old goat as a befitting punishment for his sins.

38. He was resuscitated and endowed with good intellect. On seeing Śiva he was afraid. With palms joined in reverence he eulogised Śiva.

Dakṣa said:—

39. O lord of the universe, O cause of the blessing for the worlds, O lord, be merciful. Forgive my guilt.

40. You are the creator, protector and the annihilator of the worlds. This has been known by me particularly. You are the lord of Viṣṇu and all others.

41. Everything is spread and pervaded by you alone, created and destroyed by you alone. Viṣṇu and other lords are not superior to you.

Vāyu said:—

42. The lord, the storehouse of mercy glanced at the guilty one who was emotionally distressed and smilingly said “Do not fear”.

43. Saying so and with a desire to please his father Brahmā, the lord bestowed on Dakṣa the imperishable chieftancy of the Gaṇas.

44. Then Brahma and other gods saluted the lord with palms joined in reverence. In words of humility they eulogised the lord.

Brahmā and others said:—

45. O Śiva, O lord of the gods of the distressed and the helpless, O great lord, be merciful, forgive our guilt.

46. O protector of sacrifices, O lord of sacrifices, O destroyer of sacrifices, O Maheśāna, forgive our guilt.

47. O lord of the gods, O great lord, O nourisher of the vital breath of your devotees, O lord, bestower of punishment on the wicked, be merciful. Obeisance be to you.

48. O lord, you remove the arrogance of the wicked who do not know you. You are the protector of the good whose minds are devoted to you.

49. Certainly due to your kindness your conduct is wonderful. O lord, forgive us for our fault. Lords are favourably disposed towards the distressed.

Vāyu said:—

50. Thus eulogised by Brahmā and other gods lord Śiva, the ocean of mercy, favourably disposed towards the devotees was pleased.

51. Śiva favourably disposed to the distressed blessed Brahmā and other gods and delightedly granted them boons.

52. Then the merciful lord who made their fear subside addressed the gods who had sought refuge in him, with words characterised by smile.

Śiva said:—

53. On seeing you all seeking refuge in me your entire guilt and sin committed as if urged by fate, has been excused by us.

54. O gods headed by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Indra return happily to Devapura^[1] unmindful of the present suppression and without the sense of shame in your minds.

55. Saying this to the gods lord Śiva the destroyer of the sacrifice performed by Dakṣa, along with Śivā, his attendants and followers disappeared even as he stood in the firmament.

56. The gods too returned through the aerial path, free from worries. Discussing about the heroic exploits of Bhadra, Indra and others went in different directions.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Devapura, “city of the gods” is identical with Amarāvatī, the capital of Indra’s heaven, renowned for its greatness and splendour. It is situated somewhere in the vicinity of Meru.