Daksha’s Stotra to Śiva (Brahma Purāṇa)
Daksha Kṛta Śiva Stotra · daksha kṛta śiva stotra, “the stotra to Śiva sung by Daksha”
Daksha’s Stotra to Śiva is the praise that Daksha Prajāpati offered to Bhagavān Śiva when his yajña lay destroyed by Vīrabhadra and the bhūtas of Śiva. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39 (verses 30–35), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Cakratīrtha on the Gautamī. In it Daksha, who had insulted Śiva, salutes him as Śaṅkara, the omniscient, Nīlakaṇṭha, the Paramātmā, the very form of yajña and its giver and destroyer, and takes refuge in him. Bhagavān Śiva, the ocean of mercy, was pleased, and at Daksha’s request made his yajña complete.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada that once Daksha began a yajña. When the devas had gathered, he slandered Bhagavān Śiva in their assembly and deliberately left the ruler of the devas uninvited. Satī, Daksha’s daughter, heard from Ahalyā why Śiva had not been invited. “Where is the limit to the pāpa of those women who listen to the censure of their husbands?” she said. “The husband is the ultimate refuge of a wife. What doubt is there, then, about Mahādeva, ruler of everything, guru of the universe? I have heard his censure; I shall not keep this body.” The supremely chaste devī of the devas blazed, and with her thoughts fixed on Śiva alone she cast off her body by the power of yoga.
Maheśvara heard everything from Nārada. He asked Jaya and Vijaya, and they told him that Dākshāyaṇī’s last wish was the destruction of Daksha’s yajña. Then Maheśvara went to the place of the yajña, surrounded by his terrible gaṇas and the great bhūtas.
That yajña was sponsored by Brahmā and the devas and guarded by Daksha, the yajamāna, with purity of mind. Vasishṭha and other mighty ṛshis watched over it, and Indra, the Ādityas and the Vasus protected it. It was adorned with the Ṛk, Yajus and Sāman and the cries of “Svāhā”, and with Śraddhā, Pushṭi, Tushṭi, Śānti, Lajjā, Sarasvatī, Bhūmi, Dyau, Śarvarī, Kshānti, Ushā, Āśā, Jayā, Mati and others. Viśvakarmā and Tvashṭṛ had built it. The divine cows Surabhi, Nandinī, Kāmadhuk and Kāmadohinī gave whatever anyone wished, and the kalpa tree, the Pārijāta and the Kalpalatā stood there. Indra, Pūshan and Hari themselves protected it, and all round were heard the words “Let this be given, let this be eaten, let this be done, stay here happily.”
Vīrabhadra, full of sorrow and anger, went ahead with Bhadrakālī, and after him came Mahādeva with his divine śūla and the divine bow Pināka, attended by the great bhūtas. The bhūtas surrounded the yajña and destroyed it. Some fled, some went to Śiva and praised him, some were angry with Śaṅkara. Vīrabhadra uprooted the teeth of Pūshan, routed Indra in a moment, pierced the eyes of Bhaga, and whirled Sūrya with his arms and hurled him down. The devas took refuge in Vishṇu: “Save us, save us, O bearer of the gadā, from the leader of the bhūtas! Even as Hari watched over it, the whole yajña has been destroyed.” Hari released his cakra to slay the leader of the bhūtas, but as it came near him the leader of the bhūtas seized it, and the dikpālas went away in fear. Seeing the yajña and the devas in that state, Daksha the Prajāpati praised Bhagavān Śiva with bhakti.
The stotra
Daksha said, in the order the Purāṇa gives:
- Victory to you, Śaṅkara, master of Soma.
- Victory to you, the omniscient one; salutation to you.
- Victory, victory to you, Śambhu, the benefactor.
- Salutation to you who are one with Kāla, Time, the deva of death.
- Salutation to you, the primordial maker.
- Salutation to you, Nīlakaṇṭha, the blue-throated one.
- Salutation to you, who are fond of Brahman.
- Salutation to you, whose form is Brahman.
- Salutation to you, Parameśvara of the three abodes; obeisance to you of three forms.
- Obeisance to you, whose form is everything.
- To you, the support of the three worlds,
- the bestower of cherished desires,
- obeisance to you, who are known only through Vedānta;
- obeisance to you, the Paramātmā, the supreme ātmā.
- Obeisance to you, whose form is yajña;
- obeisance to you, the abode of yajña;
- salutation to you, the bestower of yajña;
- obeisance to you, the bearer of the offerings;
- obeisance to you, the destroyer of yajña;
- obeisance to you, the giver of rewards, ruler of the universe.
- “Save me, save me, you who love those who take refuge in you. You alone are the refuge of devotees and non-devotees alike.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39
Śiva’s grace
As Daksha praised him, Maheśvara was pleased and said, “What shall I give you?” Daksha answered, “Maheśvara, let my yajña be complete.” “So be it,” said Maheśvara, ruler of the devas, Śaṅkara, the ātmā of all beings, the ocean of mercy. He made Daksha’s yajña complete and withdrew with his bhūtas, and the devas went back to their abodes as they had come.
The chapter goes on to tell how Bhagavān Vishṇu, whose cakra had been seized, worshipped Bhagavān Śiva on the Godāvarī with a thousand golden lotuses and his own eye, and received back the eye and the cakra; that place is Cakratīrtha, and by merely hearing its account one is freed from all pāpas.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39