15 - Destruction of Daksha’s Sacrifice 

Naimiseyas (The residents of Naimisha forest) said: 

1. “O Sūta, narrate in detail the origin of Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, serpents and the Rakşhasas in Vaivasvata Manvantara. 

2. O highly intelligent one, what did Daksha, the royal Son of Pracetas, who had been cursed formerly by Shambhu, do? We wish to hear it now.” 

Sūta said:

3. I shall recount the creation of the subjects in continuity with the previous kalpa as mentioned by Nārāyana. The story dispels sins and it will be sustained in all the three units of Time (i.e. the past, present and future). 

4. On being cursed by Shambhu, Daksha, the Royal son of Pracetas, censured Bhava due to the previous enmity and performed a Yājña (sacrifice) at Gangädvåra (i.e. near the source of the river Gangā). 

5. All Devas were invoked along with Vishnu in order to receive their respective shares. All leading sages came there along with all other sages. 

6. On seeing the entire host of Devas arrived, excepting Shankara, the Brähmaņa sage named Dadhicha spoke thus to Pracetasa (Dakşha). 

Dadhicha said:

7. “How is it that Rudra is not being worshipped now duly-Rudra, the lord, whose behests every one beginning with Brahma and ending with the Pishachas (Ghosts), carries out?” 

Daksha said:

8. “In all Yajñas the share to Shankara is not allotted. Shankara is not being worshipped because there are no Mantras of Shankara along with his wife.”¹ 

1. This legend recording a struggle between the followers of Yajna-cult and the Shaivites and the successful assertion of Rudra’s claim in the institution of sacrifice, is found in the Mbh. Shanti. 283 and a number of Puranas such as Bh. P. IV 5, Väyu I. 30.74-174, NP. II.66.5-17 and others. It is probable that there may be some historical basis to this incident which is mythologically represented in these ancient works. 

9. The infuriated great sage laughed at Daksha derisively and said these words even as all Devas were listening. The sage possessed all types of knowledge himself. He was as if an embodiment of knowledge). 

Dadhicha said:

10. “How is it that Shankara is not known well and hence not worshipped by means of all Yajñas? It is he who is known as. Paramešhvara and it is from him, the soul of the universe that every thing begins to function. (v.l. He is the source of every thing). 

Daksha said: 

11. “Indeed he is not Shankara (benefactor), but is Rudra, the annihilator. He is only the Tämasa (possessor of Tamo-guna) Hara. He is known as a naked mendicant holding the human skull. It is not proper to call him the soul of the universe. 

12. Indeed Ishvara, the lord and creator of the universe is Lord Nārāyaṇa, Hari. This glorions Lord of Sättvic nature is worshipped in all holy rites.” 

Dadhicha said:

13. “Is not this lord of a thousand rays (the sun-god) seen by you? He is the sole annihilator of worlds. He is Parameśhvara in the form of Kāla. 

14. It is him that the righteous scholars, the expounders of the Brahman, pray to. He is the witness of everything. He is the body of Shankara of intense brilliance and he is of the form of Kala. 

15. He is Rudra, the great god. He is the kind-hearted Hara, Kapalin (v.l. of matted hair). He is the lord Aditya, the sun-god. He is the blue-necked and Vilohita (very ruddy). 

16. He is eulogised as one of a thousand rays by the singers of Säman hymns, the Hotrs and the Adhvaryus. See him as Rudramūrti (one of the terrible form), of the creator of the universe and an embodiment of three Vedas.” 

Daksha said:

17. “The twelve Adityas have come here as the sharers in the Yajña. All of them should be known as suns. There is no other Sun.” 

18. When he said thus, the sages who had come to assist him as well as to witness the Yajña said to Daksha, “That is exactly so.” 

19-20. Their minds were overwhelmed with Tamas. They could not see the Bull-bannered deity. They were in thousands, in hundreds. Most of them again and again censured Hara, the lord of living beings. They denounced thus even the Vedic Mantras. They honoured the statement of Daksha, because they had been deluded by Vişhnu’s Māyā. 

21. Vasava (Indra) and all other Devas came there for their shares. They did not see Lord Iśhāna (Shiva) except Närayana, Hari. 

22. Even as all of them were watching, Lord Hiranyagarbha (born out of a golden egg) Brahma, the most excellent among the knowers of Brahman vanished, in a moment. 

23. When lord Brahmă vanished, Daksha personally sought refuge in Nārāyaṇa, Hari, the saviour of the worlds. 

24. Then the fearless Daksha resumed the Yajña. Lord Vişhnu, the protector of those who seek refuge, was his patron deity (the saviour). 

25. Observing that all Devas and sages were antagonistic to Rudra, the holy sage Dadhicha spoke thus to Daksha: 

26. “There is no doubt in this that a man incurs great sin in worshipping one who is not worthy of worship and in not worshipping those who deserve worship. 

27. The terrible punishment meted out by divine intercession is sudden and terrible in that place where bad men are received well and good men are slighted.”. 

28. After saying thus, the Brāhmaṇa sage cursed those Brāhmaṇas who were antagonistic to Iśhvara (Shiva) and who had come there to render assistance to Daksha. 

29-32. “Since you have excluded the Supreme Lord (Shiva) from the Vedas, since the great god honoured in all the worlds has been censured, all of you, those who are antagonistic to Ishvara, will be excluded from the Trayi (three Vedas). Those who cansure the path of the Lord with the minds viciously inclined towards bad scriptures, will be harassed by the defects of Kali, after the advent of the Kali age. Your learning is false, your conduct of life is false. You swagger about your own false knowledge. You will be forced to abandon your entire power of penance and go to Naraka (Hell). Even though you take refuge in him, Hruşhikeśha (Vişhnu) will turn his face against you”, ¹ 

1. This protest against non-inclusion of god Shiva (in the invitees of the sacrifice by sage Dadhicha is not in the Bh. P. or NP. (both Vaishnava Puräņas) but is found in the Vayu 1.30.103-106 (but Dadhicha’s curse to all sages is not in the Väyu), in SK. P. Maheshvara Khanda 1.2.14-32 (but no curse by Dadhicha but a simple walk-out), in ŚP. Rudra Samhita 27.26-50 too, Dadhicha protests and walks away. Dadhicha’s curse to all the sacrificial priests appears to be KP’s contribution. KP, however, shares some verses with the Väyu e.g. 

арuјуа-рujаnе caiva pujyanam chapyapujane |

narah Papamavápnoti mahad vai nātra samshayah || 

-(Väyu I.30.103=KP.I.15.26.)

33. After saying thus, the Brāhmaṇa sage, the storehouse of penance ceased (to speak). He mentally thought of Rudra, the destroyer of all sins. 

34. In the meantime, the all-knowing goddess learnt this and spoke to the great god, Maheśhvara, her husband as the lord of Paśhus. 

Shri Devi said:

35. O Shankara, Daksha who had been my father in the previous birth is performing a Yajña after censuring your status and your own self. ²

2. In the Bh. P. and other Puranas Shiva as a revenge of the selfimmolation of his consort Sati destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha. In KP., however, the goddess (the daughter of Himaván) remembers her insult in the previous birth by Dakşha, when in his previous birth, he was her father, and in order to wreak revenge of her insult in that birth by her then father, shc urges god Shiva to destroy his sacrifice in this new incarnation! 

36. The gods and the great sages are assembled there rendering him assistance. Please destroy that sacrifice immediacly. I am choosing this boon. 

37. Thus implored by the goddess, the great Lord, the Lord of Devas, created Rudra immediately with a desire to destroy the Yajña of Daksha. 

38-40. He was highly infuriated. He had a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and huge arms, a thousand in number. He was invincible. He resembled the fire at the close of the Yugas. He was terrible due to his curved fangs. He could not be seen (directly) due to his glaring brilliance. He held a conch and a discus. He had a staff in his hand. He roared loudly. He held a horn in his hand and was beautified with Bhasma (ashes). He became famous as Virabhadra. He was accompanied by the Lords of Devas. Immediately after being born, he stood praying unto the Lord of Devas with palms joined in reverence. 

41. Shiva spoke to him thus: “O Ganeśhvara (leader of the attendants). Blessings unto you. After censuring me, Daksha is performing a Yajña, at Gangadvāra, (near the source of the river Gangå). Destroy that sacrifice of Daksha.” 

42. Then the sacrifice of Daksha was destroyed by Virabhadra playfully like a single lion released from bondage. 

43. Bhadrakāli, Maheśhvari was created angrily by Umā. Gaņa (the attendant Virabhadra) rode on the bull and went along with her. 

44. Thousands of other Rudras, who became famous as Romajas (born of hair) were created by that intelligent being in order to assist him (Virabhadra). 

45. They wielded tridents, Shaktis and iron clubs in their hands. They had sticks, pebbles and stones in their hands. They resembled Rudra and the Kålägni (terrible fire of dissolution of the universe). They made the ten quarters reverberate with their shouts and sounds. 

46. All of them were very terrible. Accompanied by their wives, they rode on the bulls. They went thus towards the place of sacrifice of Daksha, surrounded the leading Gana (i.e. Virabhadra). 

47-48. All of them reached the place that was well known as Gangadvāra. They saw the place of sacrifice of Daksha of unmeasured splendour. There were thousands of celestial women, It was reverberating as apsaras were singing to the rich tunes and sounds of flutes and lutes. It was resounded with the chanting sound of the Vedic mantras. 

49-50. On seeing Prajapati seated along with the sages and Devas, Virabhadra, beloved of Rudra, said smilingly: 

51. “All of us are the followers of Sharva (Shiva) of immeasurable brilliance. We have come here desirous of receiving our shares. Give the desired shares to us. *

*v.l. bhāgābhilipsaya prăptă bhāgān Yacchadhvam ipsitān| 

We have arrived here with the desire to receive our share in the Yajna. Give unto us our share (in the Yajña) as desired by us. 

52. O excellent sages, if this is some one’s deception. ** let this be told that the shares are to be given to you and not to us.” 

**v.l. kasyachid iyam ajña muni-surottamah) | 

O excellent sages and gods! (Please tell us) whose order is this that the shares...) arrogant”. After saying this the leading Ganas burned the sacrificial hall. 

53. Inform him, who commands you thus. We shall know from him. Devas the foremost among whom was Prajapati Daksha on being addressed thus, by the leader of Ganas, spoke: 

54-56a. They said to the lord, “We do not know that the Mantras authorise your share.” The Mantras retaliated “You Devas are confounded in your minds by Tamas, because you do not worship Maheśhvara, the king of the Adhvara (sacrifice). Hara is the lord of all living beings. Devas constitute his body. He is worshipped in the Yajñas. He bestows prospcrities and achievements.” 

56b-57a. Though addressed thus by the Mantras gods whose minds were lost by the deluding potency of the great god (Shiva) did not pay any heed. Hence the hymns (Mantras) left the gods and returned to their own abodes. 

57b-58a. Then, lord Virabhadra, the destroyer of gods who was accompanied by his spouse and lords of ganas touched lovingly the sage Dadhicha with both of his hands and said (to Daksha and other gods):

58b-59a. “You had been arrogant due to your strength. Hence you did not recognise the authority of the Mantras. So today I am forcibly destroying you who had been proud and 

59b-61a. The leaders of Ganas became infuriated. They uprooted the sacrificial posts and threw them here and there, The Gaņeśhvaras, all of whom were terrible ones, took the sacrificial horse along with the Prastotru and Hotru (the priests) and hurled them into the currents of Ganga. 

61b-62a. Even Virabhadra whose mind was ablaze with wrath, paralysed the hand of Indra as he raised it to strike and did the same to other gods. 

62b-67a. Sportively he plucked out the eyes of Bhaga by the tip of his finger nails. Hitting with his fist he felled down the teeth of Pūşhan. The mighty leader of Gaņas sportively and smilingly kicked Lord Moon with the big toe of his leg. O excellent sages, he cut off the pair of hands of fire and playfully plucked out his tongue. Then he kicked sages on their heads. The mighty one then pierced Vişhnu, who had been coming thither on his Garuda with sharp arrows after stunning Sudarshana. The powerful Garuda stared at the Gaņa and suddenly hit him with his wings and roared like the ocean. 

67b-68. Then Rudra himself created thousands of Garudas more powerful than Garuda, the son of Vinatā. They rushed against Garuda. On seeing them, the intelligent Garuda of great velocity fled away. 

69-79a. That he left Vişhnu and fled quickly was surprising. When Garuda had disappeared, the lotus-born deity (Brahmä) came there and intercepted Virabhadra and Vişhnu. Thanks to the great glory of Paramesthin (i. e. Brahma) he eulogised Isha. Lord Shambhu himself came there. On seeing that lord of Devas and Umå endowed with all attributes, Lord Brahma, Daksha and the heaven-dwellers eulogised them. Daksha in particular bowed to goddess Parvati, the sharer of half the body of Ishvara. With palms joined in reverence he eulogised her with various hymns. Then the goddess, the store house of kindness, said smilingly to Rudra, the great god Maheshvara, with a delighted mind, - “You alone are the creator of the universe, its ruler and protector. Daksha and the heaven dwellers should be blessed by your lordship.” 

Then the Lord with matted hair and blue-red complexion spoke to Devas and Pracetasa Daksha who had bowed down. “O Devas, all of you may go. I am delighted with you. I should be worshipped in all Yäjñas. I shall not be denigrated on any account. O Daksha, you too listen to my words that protect all. Eschew all worldly desires and strenuously become my devotee. At the end of a kalpa, thanks to my grace, you will become the chief of Gaņas. Till then you continue (in your present position) abiding by my directive remaining contented in what you are authorised.” 

79b-80a. After saying this, Lord Shiva along with his consort and ganas (followers) immediately vanished from the sight of Daksha of immeasurable splendour. 

80b-8la. When Shankara the great Lord vanished, the lotus-born deity Brahma himself spoke to Daksha what was conducive to the welfare of the world. 

Brahmä said: 

81b-82. What is your delusion*when the bull-bannered deity is pleased with you? When the lord himself protects you alertly (why should you be agitated?). This great god is in the heart of all living beings. 

*v.l. (kim tavāpagato mohah etc.) Is your delusion dispelled? (now that the bull-bannered god) is pleased with you, alertly abide by what the god himself commanded you to do (Crt. Ed.). Ft. Note 11 p. 27 adopted in the Crt. Ed. of KP. I.14.80. 

83. It is him that the learned persons who have become merged in Brahman and who expound Vedas realise. He is the Atman of all living beings. He is the seed (cause) and the ultimate goal. 

84-85a. Maheśhvara the lord of Devas is eulogised by the Vedic Mantras. They who worship the eternal Rudra by means of their own soul and mind endowed with earnest devotion, attain the greatest region. 

85b-86. Hence, knowing the Supreme Lord to be devoid of beginning, middle or end propitiate him strenuously, mentally, verbally and physically. Assiduously avoid the hatred of Shiva that will cause only your own destruction. 

87a. The activities of a hater (of Shiva) become only defective in every respect, 

87b-88a. There is absolutely no doubt that the great Yogin, the immutable Vishņu who is your protector is no one else than the great god, the glorious god Rudra. 

88b-89a. Those men who consider Vişhņu the source of origin of the universe, different from Ishvara due to delusion, go to hell because they do not adhere to the Vedas. 

89b-90a. Those who follow Vedas look upon Lord Rudra and Lord Nārāyaṇa identical and they attain liberation. 

90b-91a. “He who is Vişhnu is Rudra himeslf. He who is Rudra is Vişhņu.” If one comprehends this and worships the lord, one attains the ultimate goal. 

91b-92a. It is Vişhnu who creates the entire world and it is Lord Shiva who surveys and protects it. In this way, the whole universe originates from Rudra-Nārāyaṇa together. 

92b-93a. Hence eschew the hatred of lord Vishnu and concentrate your mind on him. Resort to Mahadeva, worthy of being the refuge of the expounders of Brahman.” 

93b-94a. After listening to the words of Brahma, Prajapati Daksha sought refuge in the lord of the earth, god Shiva, the wearer of elephant’s hide. 

94b-96a. Great sages who were burnt down by the fire of Dadhicha’s curse became haters of god Shiva due to delusion. In due course, in the Kali age, they, being entirely bereft of the power of their penance, came to be born again in the families of Brāhmaṇas merely, thanks to the impressions in their previous life and the command of god Brahma. 

96b-97a. Being made to fall in hells like Raurava and others till the end of the kalpa, all of them being absolved from the effects of the curse would, in due course of time, attain the brilliance of the Sun. 

97b-98. Prompted at the instance of the self-born god, they would propitiate through penance and Yoga Lord Shiva, the controller of the universe and the Lord of Devas and will regain their previous status through the grace of Shankara. 

99. Thus, the entire story of destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice has been recounted to you. Now listen to the progeny of the daughters of Daksha.”