106 - Tandava dance of Shiva

The sages said:

1. We have heard about the nativity of the elder brother of Skanda. It behoves you now to tell us precisely wherefore and how Lord Shiva begins his Tandava dance.

Suta said:

2. Daruka born in the family of Asuras attained heroism through his penance. Like the fire at the end of a yuga he killed Devas as well as brahmins.

3-7. Devas were extremely afflicted and hurt by Daruka. They sought refuge in Brahma, Ishana, Kumara, Vishnu, Yama and Indra. Knowing that the Asura could be killed only by a woman, he was confronted in a battle by Indra 966 and others in fine guises of women. Still they were overwhelmed by him. O brahmins, they approached Brahma and acquainted him with everything. Accompanied by Brahma they approached the lord of Uma. With Brahma at the forefront, they eulogised him. Approaching the lord of Devas and bowing to him in diverse ways Brahma said: — “O lord, the demon Daruka is a terrible fellow. We have been defeated by him at the outset. It behoves you to protect us by killing Daruka who is destined to be killed by a lady.

966. For brahmadyaih read shakradyaih. The former reading does not suit the content.

8. On hearing this submission of Brahma the lord who destroyed the eyes of Bhaga, said laughingly to the goddess, the daughter of the mountain-lord.

9. O splendid and good-looking lady, I am now requesting you for the welfare of the worlds to slay Daruka who is destined to be killed by a lady.

10. On hearing his words, the goddess 967 entered the body of the lord, she being desirous of taking birth from the lord of Devas.

967. jagato ‘ranih — the source of creation.

11. She entered the lord of Devas the most excellent Deva only in part. 968 But Brahma and Devas such as Indra and others did not know this.

968. ekamshena — svakiya-shodasha-bhagena ST. by her sixteenth part.

12. On seeing the splendid daughter of the lord of the mountains stationed by the side of the lord as before, even the omniscient four-faced lord Brahma was deluded by her Maya.

13. Having entered the body of the lord of Devas, Parvati made her own body out of poison in the neck of the lord.

14. On coming to know of this the enemy of Kama (i. e. Shiva) created Kali the blue-necked goddess with matted hair from his third eye.

15. When the black-neckcd goddess was born the glory of victory too originated. Now Bhavani and Parameshvara were sure to inflict defeat over the demon.

16. On seeing Kali who resembled fire and whose black neck was embellished with poison, taking her origin, Devas and Siddhas, the chief of whom were Vishnu, Brahma and Indra, fled, due to fright;

17. Similarly, an eye manifested itself in the forehead, the exalted contour of the crescent moon on the head, the terrible poison in the neck, the sharp and the terrible trident in the arm and the ornaments in their respective places.

18. Along with the goddess were bom the lords of Siddhas as well as Pishachas who wrore divine garments and who were bedecked in ornaments.

19. At the behest of Parvati, the great goddess slew the demon Daruka who used to attack and kill the chiefs among Devas.

20. O leading brahmins, by virtue of impetuosity, and the fire of anger, the entire universe became agitated.

21. Bhava assumed the form of a boy due to his power of Maya and stationed himself in the cremation ground full of corpses and ghosts. lshvara, then cried in order to quaff the fire of her anger.

22. O brahmins, on seeing the boy, who was actually lshana the goddess was deluded by his Maya. She took him, kissed him on his head and suckled him at her breasts.

23. Along with her breast-milk the boy quaffed up her warth also and he became the protector of the holy centres.

24. He assumed eight 969 physical forms for his manifestation as the intelligent protector of holy centres. Thus, her excessive anger was ceased by that boy.

969. murtayo’shtau— ST. adds: tastu Kashyam prasiddhah; the eight of forms of Bhairava are represented by their respective images in Varanasi.

25-28. In order to propitiate her, the delighted trident bearing lord of Devas performed the tandava dance at dusk, along with the ghosts and leaders of goblins. After quaffing the nectar-like dance of Shiva up to the throat [i.e. after enjoying the dance of Shiva very much] Parameshvari danced in the midst of ghosts, happily along with yoginis. Devas all round, including Brahma, Indra and Vishnu, bowed to and eulogised Kali and then prayed to the goddess Parvati. Thus, the Tandava of the trident-bearing lord has been briefly mentioned to you. Others 970 are of the opinion that the Tandava of the lord is due to the Bliss of yoga.

970. apare — Sanskadayah ST. the sages Sanaka and others.