उपासते महात्मानम् उशना च महामुनिः सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास् तथैव परमर्षयः
The great sage Ushanas worshipped the great soul, as did Sanatkumara and foremost sages.
अङ्गिरःप्रमुखाश् चैव तथा देवर्षयो ऽपि च विश्वावसुश् च गन्धर्वस् तथा नारदपर्वतौ
Angiras and the leading divine sages were there, as well as Vishvavasu the Gandharva, and Narada and Parvata.
अप्सरोगणसंघाश् च समाजग्मुर् अनेकशः ववौ सुखशिवो वायुर् नानागन्धवहः शुचिः
Hosts of Apsaras gathered in great numbers; the gentle, auspicious wind blew, carrying various pure fragrances.
सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेतः पुष्पवन्तो ऽभवन् द्रुमाः तथा विद्याधराः साध्याः सिद्धाश् चैव तपोधनाः
The trees became covered with flowers of all seasons; thus, the Vidyadharas, Sadhyas, Siddhas, and ascetics were present.
महादेवं पशुपतिं पर्युपासत तत्र वै भूतानि च तथान्यानि नानारूपधराण्य् अथ
There, they worshipped Mahadeva, the Lord of Creatures, and also other beings of various forms.
राक्षसाश् च महारौद्राः पिशाचाश् च महाबलाः बहुरूपधरा धृष्टा नानाप्रहरणायुधाः
There were fierce Rakshasas and mighty Pisachas, bold and of many forms, wielding various weapons and arms.
देवस्यानुचरास् तत्र तस्थुर् वैश्वानरोपमाः नन्दीश्वरश् च भगवान् देवस्यानुमते स्थितः
Attendants of the god, blazing like fire, stood there; and the blessed Nandishvara, with the god’s approval, remained.
प्रगृह्य ज्वलितं शूलं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थजलोद्भवा
Holding a blazing trident, shining with his own radiance, and Ganga, the best of rivers, born from the waters of all sacred fords.
पर्युपासत तं देवं रूपिणी द्विजसत्तमाः एवं स भगवांस् तत्र पूज्यमानः सुरर्षिभिः
O best of twice-born, she worshipped that god in form; thus the Blessed One was honored there by the gods and sages.
देवैश् च सुमहाभागैर् महादेवो व्यतिष्ठत कस्यचित् त्व् अथ कालस्य दक्षो नाम प्रजापतिः
With the greatly fortunate gods, Mahadeva stood there; then, at a certain time, Daksha, the lord of creatures, appeared.
पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन यक्ष्यमाणो ऽभ्यपद्यत ततस् तस्य मखे देवाः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः
Intending to perform a sacrifice according to the previously stated rite, then, at his sacrifice, all the gods led by Indra assembled.
स्वर्गस्थानाद् अथागम्य दक्षम् आपेदिरे तथा ते विमानैर् महात्मानो ज्वलद्भिर् ज्वलनप्रभाः
Coming from their heavenly abodes, they approached Daksha; those great souls arrived in radiant, blazing chariots.
देवस्यानुमते ऽगच्छन् गङ्गाद्वारम् इति श्रुतिः गन्धर्वाप्सरसाकीर्णं नानाद्रुमलतावृतम्
With the god’s consent, they went to the gateway of the Ganga, as is heard in the tradition, crowded with Gandharvas and Apsaras, covered with various trees and vines.
ऋषिसिद्धैः परिवृतं दक्षं धर्मभृतां वरम् पृथिव्याम् अन्तरिक्षे च ये च स्वर्लोकवासिनः
Surrounded by sages and perfected beings, Daksha, the best of upholders of dharma, was there, along with those dwelling on earth, in the sky, and in the heavenly worlds.
सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा उपतस्थुः प्रजापतिम् आदित्या वसवो रुद्राः साध्याः सर्वे मरुद्गणाः
All, with joined palms, approached the Lord of Creatures: the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, and all the hosts of Maruts.
विष्णुना सहिताः सर्व आगता यज्ञभागिनः ऊष्मपा धूमपाश् चैव आज्यपाः सोमपास् तथा
All the recipients of the sacrifice came, together with Vishnu: the Ushmapas, Dhumapas, Ajyapas, and also the Somapas.
अश्विनौ मरुतश् चैव नानादेवगणैः सह एते चान्ये च बहवो भूतग्रामास् तथैव च
The Ashvins and the Maruts, along with various groups of gods, and many other hosts of beings likewise.
जरायुजाण्डजाश् चैव तथैव स्वेदजोद्भिदः आगताः सत्त्रिणः सर्वे देवाः स्त्रीभिः सहर्षिभिः
Those born from womb, egg, sweat, and sprout, all the sacrificers, all the gods, together with women and sages, arrived.
विराजन्ते विमानस्था दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः तान् दृष्ट्वा मन्युनाविष्टो दधीचिर् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
They shone, standing in their chariots, blazing like fires; seeing them, Dadhichi, filled with anger, spoke these words.
अपूज्यपूजने चैव पूज्यानां चाप्य् अपूजने नरः पापम् अवाप्नोति महद् वै नात्र संशयः
A man incurs great sin, without doubt, by honoring the unworthy and by failing to honor those who are worthy.
एवम् उक्त्वा तु विप्रर्षिः पुनर् दक्षम् अभाषत
Having spoken thus, the sage addressed Daksha again.
पूज्यं च पशुभर्तारं कस्मान् नार्चयसे प्रभुम्
Why do you not worship the Lord of Creatures, who is worthy of honor?
सन्ति मे बहवो रुद्राः शूलहस्ताः कपर्दिनः एकादशस्थानगता नान्यं विद्मो महेश्वरम्
There are many Rudras of mine, bearing tridents and matted hair, established in eleven places; we know no other great lord than him.
सर्वेषाम् एकमन्त्रो ऽयं ममेशो न निमन्त्रितः यथाहं शंकराद् ऊर्ध्वं नान्यं पश्यामि दैवतम् तथा दक्षस्य विपुलो यज्ञो ऽयं न भविष्यति
For all, there is one mantra; my lord is not invited. As I see, beyond Shankara, I see no other deity. Thus, Daksha's grand sacrifice will not succeed.
विष्णोश् च भागा विविधाः प्रदत्तास् तथा च रुद्रेभ्य उत प्रदत्ताः अन्ये ऽपि देवा निजभागयुक्ता ददामि भागं न तु शंकराय
Various shares have been given to Vishnu, and likewise to the Rudras; other gods too have their allotted portions. I give shares, but not to Shankara.
गतास् तु देवता ज्ञात्वा शैलराजसुता तदा उवाच वचनं शर्वं देवं पशुपतिं पतिम्
Then, knowing this, the gods went to the daughter of the mountain king, who spoke these words to Sharva, the lord, the master of creatures.
भगवन् कुत्र यान्त्य् एते देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन तत्त्वज्ञ संशयो मे महान् अयम्
O blessed one, where are these gods headed, led by Indra? Tell me truly, knower of truth; this great doubt has arisen in me.
दक्षो नाम महाभागे प्रजानां पतिर् उत्तमः हयमेधेन यजते तत्र यान्ति दिवौकसः
Daksha, O greatly fortunate, is the eminent lord of creatures; he is performing a horse sacrifice, and the heavenly beings are going there.
यज्ञम् एतं महाभाग किमर्थं नानुगच्छसि केन वा प्रतिषेधेन गमनं ते न विद्यते
O greatly fortunate, why do you not follow this sacrifice? By what prohibition is your going not permitted?
सुरैर् एव महाभागे सर्वम् एतद् अनुष्ठितम् यज्ञेषु मम सर्वेषु न भाग उपकल्पितः
O greatly fortunate, all this has been performed by the gods alone. In all sacrifices of mine, no share has been allotted to me.