Chapter 5 - Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Maitreya said:

1. Having learnt from Nārada, the report of the death of his wife (Satī) on being insulted by Prajāpati Dakṣa, and of the total rout of the army of his attendants by the Ṛbhus in that Sacrifice, Śiva’s anger knew no bounds.

2. Śiva (the god with matted locks of hair) got enraged, and bit his lips. He pulled out a matted lock of hair which dazzled with terrific splendour, like the flash of lightning, and a flame of fire. He suddenly sprang to his feet, and with a loud laughter and roar, dashed it on the ground.

3. From it (was born Vīrabhadra), of colossal size, who touched the skies, by his stature. He had a thousand arms. His complexion was like a dark cloud. He had three eyes brilliant like the Sun. He had sharp fangs. His locks of hair were shining like burning flames of fire. He wore a garland of skulls and held various weapons aloft (for striking).

4. Śiva, the Supreme Lord, the master of bhūtas, commanded Vīrabhadra who, with folded hands, requested for an order. “Oh Rudra, as you are my part (manifestation, you need not be afraid of Brahmanic power). You be the leader of my army, oh warrior, and destroy Dakṣa along with his sacrifice”.

5. Being thus commanded by wrathful Śiva, he circumambulated the all-powerful god of gods. Oh Vidura, he then regarded himself capable of withstanding the might of very powerful warriors, by his irresistible force.

6. He was followed by the attendants of Rudra who were roaring loudly. He himself thundered most terribly. Raising his trident which was capable of killing even the god of Death, he dashed forth, with his feet jingling with ornaments.

7-8. Having seen (a cloud of) dust in the northern direction, the sacrificial priest, the sacrificer (Dakṣa), members of the sacrificial assembly, Brāhmaṇas and their wives began to speculate: “What darkness is this? From which place is the cloud of dust (coming)? Winds are not blowing. Nor can these be robbers, as king Prācīnabarhiṣ of iron rule, is still alive. Cows are not driven home so hastily. Whence is this dust? Is the world now due for dissolution (pralaya)?”

9. Ladies of whom Prasūti was prominent, commented with a troubled heart: “This is the consequence of the sin committed by Dakṣa, the Lord of Creation, who slighted his innocent daughter Satī, in the presence of his other daughters.

10. It may be due to Dakṣa’s offence against Rudra who dances at the end of the universe, with his locks of matted hair scattered about, and with the elephants supporting the directions pierced on the prongs of his trident, and with his bannerlike hands holding up the missiles (for discharge), tearing down the directions, by thunderlike peals of laughter.

11. When he is full of rage, can anyone fare well, even if he be god Brahmā himself who provoked his (Rudra’s) wrath—Rudra, who is of irresistible splendour, full of wrath, unbearable to look at when he knits his eyebrows in angry looks, and who has scattered the whole group of constellations with his terrible fangs.”

12. While people with perturbed eyes, were speculating thus wildly, there were thousands of omens portending misfortune to Dakṣa, frequently appearing in the sky, and on the earth.

13. Oh Vidura, in the meanwhile the big sacrificial pandal was rushed at on all sides, and occupied by the followers of Rudra with their weapons held up in their hands. They were short in stature, dark and brown (in complexion) and their faces and stomachs were like crocodiles.

14. Some broke the Prāgvaṃśa (the beam resting on the eastern and western pillars of the sacrificial hall). Others broke the apartment of the sacrificer’s wife (This is to the west of the sacrificial hall). Some broke the assembly hall in front (of the sacrificial hall). Some broke the store-room of the materials for sacrificial offerings; others, the cottage of the sacrificer himself, and the kitchen.

15. Some smashed the sacrificial utensils; some put out the sacrificial fire; some urinated in the sacrificial pit, and some cut down the zonelike construction around the sacrificial platform.

16. Some struck the sages; others threatened the wives, of the priests, etc.; others seized gods who were near by and trying to run away.

17. Maṇiman bound Bhṛgu; Vīrabhadra, Prajāpati Dakṣa; Caṇḍīśa, god Pūṣan; Nandīśvara caught hold of Bhaga.

18. All the sacrificial priests, along with the members of the assembly and gods, saw this. Being severely pelted with, stones, they ran quickly, helter-skelter in all directions.

19. Glorious Vīrabhadra pulled out mustaches and the beard of Bhṛgu, while he was offering the oblations with sruva (a ladle) in his hand, as he had laughed derisively in the assembly showing his beard (when Dakṣa insulted Śiva).

20. Out of anger, venerated Vīrabhadra knocked down Bhaga and pulled out his eyes, as in that sacrificial session of the assembly (while Dakṣa censured Śiva), he made signs with his eyes to Dakṣa.

21. He knocked out the teeth of Pūṣan as Balarāma did to the king of Kaliṅga, as he laughed, showing his teeth, while the great god Śiva was vilified by Dakṣa.

22. The three-eyed Vīrabhadra (threw down Dakṣa and) seating himself on Dakṣa’s chest, he tried to cut his head by a sharp-edged weapon, but he was unable to do so.

23. Hara (Vīrabhadra) was greatly wonder-struck to find that the skin of Dakṣa was not cut by weapons charmed with Vedic mantras called astras. He (who is a form of Paśupati) deeply thought what to do.

24. Observing the way in which animals are killed in the sacrifice, the Lord of Paśus (Souls) severed by that method the head of Dakṣa, the sacrificer, whom he made the animal to be sacrificed.

25. There arose a shout of applause ‘well done’, ‘bravo’ from the Bhūtas, Pretas and Piśācas (members of Vīrabhadra’s army) who praised that act of gallantry. The reverse was the case in others (i.e. in Dakṣa’s camp).

26. Full of rage, Vīrabhadra threw Dakṣa’s head in the sacrificial fire called Dakṣiṇāgni, as an oblation. Having burnt down the sacrificial edifice, he returned to Kailāsa, the home of Guhyakas.