Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

यः स्रष्टा चैव संहर्ता भर्ता चैव महेश्वरः तस्मादन्यं न पश्यामि शंकरात्मानमध्वरे

He is the creator, the destroyer, the sustainer—Maheshvara; therefore, I see no other self of Shankara in the sacrifice.

एतन्मखेशस्य सुवर्णपात्रे हविः समस्तं विधिमंत्रपूतम् विष्णोर्नयाम्यप्रतिमस्य भागं प्रभोर्विभज्यावहनीयमद्य

This entire oblation, purified by rite and mantra, should be brought today in a golden vessel as the share of the matchless Lord Vishnu, the master of the sacrifice.

यस्मान्नाराधितो रुद्रस्सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वरः तस्माद्दक्ष तवाशेषो यज्ञो ऽयं न भविष्यति

Because Rudra, the Lord of all gods and lords, has not been worshipped, therefore, Daksha, your entire sacrifice will not succeed.

इत्युक्त्वा वचनं क्रुद्धो दधीचो मुनिसत्तमः निर्गम्य च ततो देशाज्जगाम स्वकमाश्रमम्

Having spoken thus, the great sage Dadhichi, enraged, departed from that place and went to his own hermitage.

निर्गते ऽपि मुनौ तस्मिन्देवा दक्षं न तत्यजुः अवश्यमनुभावित्वादनर्थस्य तु भाविनः

Even after the sage had left, the gods did not abandon Daksha, for they were compelled to experience the misfortune that was destined.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु ज्ञात्वैतत्सर्वमीश्वरात् दग्धुं दक्षाध्वरं विप्रा देवी देवमचोदयत्

At that very moment, knowing all this from the Lord, the goddess urged the god to burn up Daksha's sacrifice, O brahmins.

देव्या संचोदितो देवो दक्षाध्वरजिघांसया ससर्ज सहसा वीरं वीरभद्रं गणेश्वरम्

Prompted by the goddess, the god, wishing to destroy Daksha's sacrifice, suddenly created the mighty Virabhadra, lord of the hosts.

सहस्रवदनं देवं सहस्रकमलेक्षणम् सहस्रमुद्गरधरं सहस्रशरपाणिकम्

That god had a thousand faces, a thousand lotus-like eyes, a thousand clubs in hand, and a thousand quivers of arrows.

शूलटंकगदाहस्तं दीप्तकार्मुकधारिणम् चक्रवज्रधरं घोरं चंद्रार्धकृतशेखरम्

He held a trident, axe, and mace in his hands, bore a blazing bow, wielded a discus and thunderbolt, was terrifying, and wore the crescent moon as his crest.

कुलिशोद्योतितकरं तडिज्ज्वलितमूर्धजम् दंष्ट्राकरालं बिभ्राणं महावक्त्रं महोदरम्

His hands shone with a raised thunderbolt, his hair blazed like lightning, his mouth was wide and fierce with fangs, and his belly was vast.

विद्युज्जिह्वं प्रलंबोष्ठं मेघसागरनिःस्वनम् वसानं चर्म वैयाघ्रं महद्रुधिरनिस्रवम्

He had a tongue like lightning, lips hanging down, a roar like thunderclouds and the ocean, wore a tiger skin, and blood flowed greatly from him.

गण्डद्वितयसंसृष्टमण्डलीकृतकुण्डलम् वरामरशिरोमालावलीकलितशेखरम्

His earrings formed circles touching both cheeks, his crest was adorned with a garland of the best gods' heads.

रणन्नूपुरकेयूरमहाकनकभूषितम् रत्नसंचयसंदीप्तं तारहारावृतोरसम्

He was adorned with great golden ornaments—anklets and armlets that rang in battle, his chest covered with shining jewels and a string of pearls.

महाशरभशार्दूलसिंहैः सदृशविक्रमम् प्रशस्तमत्तमातंगसमानगमनालसम्

He, whose valor was like that of a great sharabha, tiger, or lion, moved with the majestic gait of a noble, intoxicated elephant.

शंखचामरकुंदेन्दुमृणालसदृशप्रभम् सतुषारमिवाद्रीन्द्रं साक्षाज्जंगमतां गतम्

His radiance resembled a conch, yak-tail fan, jasmine, moon, or lotus-stalk; he appeared like the lord of mountains covered in snow, now come alive and moving.

ज्वालामालापरिक्षिप्तं दीप्तमौक्तिकभूषणम् तेजसा चैव दीव्यंतं युगांत इव पावकम्

Encircled by a garland of flames, adorned with blazing pearl ornaments, he shone with such brilliance as if he were the fire of dissolution at the end of an age.

स जानुभ्यां महीं गत्वा प्रणतः प्रांजलिस्ततः पार्श्वतो देवदेवस्य पर्यतिष्ठद्गणेश्वरः

He approached, knelt upon the ground with his knees, bowed with joined palms, and then stood respectfully at the side of the Lord of the gods, Ganesha.

मन्युना चासृजद्भद्रां भद्रकालीं महेश्वरीम् आत्मनः कर्मसाक्षित्वे तेन गंतुं सहैव तु

Out of wrath, he created the auspicious and formidable goddess Bhadrakali, the great power of Maheshvara, to accompany him as witness to his deeds.

तं दृष्ट्वावस्थितं वीरभद्रं कालाग्निसन्निभम् भद्रया सहितं प्राह भद्रमस्त्विति शंकरः

Seeing Virabhadra standing there, resembling the fire of destruction, together with Bhadra, Shankara spoke: 'May all be well.'

स च विज्ञापयामास सह देव्या महेश्वरम् आज्ञापय महादेव किं कार्यं करवाण्यहम्

He, along with the goddess, addressed Maheshvara: 'Command me, O Great God—what task shall I perform?"

ततस्त्रिपुरहा प्राह हैमवत्याः प्रियेच्छया वीरभद्रं महाबाहुं वाचा विपुलनादया

Then the destroyer of the three cities, out of love for Parvati, spoke in a deep, resonant voice to Virabhadra, the mighty-armed one.

प्राचेतसस्य दक्षस्य यज्ञं सद्यो विनाशय भद्रकाल्या सहासि त्वमेतत्कृत्यं गणेश्वर

'Immediately destroy the sacrifice of Daksha, son of Prachetas, together with Bhadrakali; this is your task, O Lord of the Ganas.'

अहमप्यनया सार्धं रैभ्याश्रमसपीपतः स्थित्वा वीक्षे गणेशान विक्रमं तव दुःसहम्

'I too, along with her, will remain at Raibhya's hermitage and witness, O Lord of the Ganas, your formidable valor.'

वृक्षा कनखले ये तु गंगाद्वारसमीपगाः सुवर्णशृंगस्य गिरेर्मेरुमंदरसंनिभाः

The trees at Kanakhala, near the gateway of the Ganga, resemble Mount Meru and Mandara with golden peaks.

तस्मिन्प्रदेशे दक्षस्य युज्ञः संप्रति वर्तते सहसा तस्य यज्ञस्य विघातं कुरु मा चिरम्

In that region, Daksha's sacrifice is now taking place; quickly disrupt that sacrifice without delay.

इत्युक्ते सति देवेन देवी हिमगिरीन्द्रजा भद्रं भद्रं च संप्रेक्ष्य वत्सं धेनुरिवौरसम्

When the god had spoken thus, the goddess, daughter of the lord of the Himalayas, looked upon Bhadra with affection, as a cow gazes at her calf.

आलिंग्य च समाघ्राय मूर्ध्नि षड्वदनं यथा सस्मिता वचनं प्राह मधुरं मधुरं स्वयम्

Embracing and smelling the head of the six-faced one, she smiled and spoke sweet, gentle words herself.

वत्स भद्र महाभाग महाबलपराक्रम मत्प्रियार्थं त्वमुत्पन्नो मम मन्युं प्रमार्जक

'Dear Bhadra, greatly fortunate and mighty in valor, you were born for my sake, to remove my anger.'

यज्ञेश्वरमनाहूय यज्ञकर्मरतो ऽभवत् दक्षं वैरेण तं तस्माद्भिंधि यज्ञं गणेश्वर

'Daksha, absorbed in sacrificial rites, did not invite the Lord of Sacrifice; therefore, out of enmity, O Lord of the Ganas, destroy his sacrifice.'