Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अशेषामिव तामाज्ञां शिवयोश्चित्रकृत्ययोः मूर्ध्नि कृत्वा नमस्कृत्य भद्रो गंतुं प्रचक्रमे

Receiving this command from both Shiva and Parvati, whose deeds are wondrous, Bhadra bowed his head and prepared to depart.

अथैष भगवान्क्रुद्धः प्रेतावासकृतालयः वीरभद्रो महादेवो देव्या मन्युप्रमार्जकः

Then, the blessed Lord, enraged, Vīrabhadra, the great god, whose abode is among the dwellings of spirits, the remover of the goddess's wrath, appeared.

ससर्ज रोमकूपेभ्यो रोमजाख्यान्गणेश्वरान् दक्षिणाद्भुजदेशात्तु शतकोटिगविश्वरान्

From the pores of his skin, he created the lordly Gaṇas called Romajas, and from his right arm, he brought forth a hundred crore Gaṇas of fierce aspect.

पादात्तथोरुदेशाच्च पृष्ठात्पार्श्वान्मुखाद्गलात् गुह्याद्गुल्फाच्छिरोमध्यात्कंठादास्यात्तथोदरात्

From his feet, thighs, back, sides, face, throat, secret parts, ankles, crown of the head, neck, mouth, and belly, he produced more beings.

तदा गणेश्वरैर्भद्रैर्भद्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः संछादितमभूत्सर्वं साकाशविवरं जगत्

Then, with those noble Gaṇeśvaras, equal in valor to Bhadra, the entire world, with all its spaces and openings, became filled.

सर्वे सहस्रहस्तास्ते सहस्रायुधपाणयः रुद्रस्यानुचरास्सर्वे सर्वे रुद्रसमप्रभाः

All of them had a thousand arms, each hand holding a thousand weapons; all were followers of Rudra, all shone with the same radiance as Rudra.

शूलशक्तिगदाहस्ताष्टंकोपलशिलाधराः कालाग्निरुद्रसदृशास्त्रिनेत्राश्च जटाधराः

Holding tridents, spears, maces, axes, skulls, and stones, resembling Kālāgni Rudra, they were three-eyed and wore matted hair.

निपेतुर्भृशमाकाशे शतशस्सिंहवाहनाः विनेदुश्च महानादाञ्जलदा इव भद्रजाः

Hundreds of them, riding on lions, swiftly descended through the sky, roaring with great sounds like thunderclouds, these sons of Bhadra.

तैर्भद्रैर्भगवान्मद्रस्तथा परिवृतो बभौ कालानलशतैर्युक्तो यथांते कालभैरवः

Surrounded by these noble beings, the blessed Lord shone, as if joined by hundreds of fires of destruction, like Kālabhairava at the end of time.

तेषां मध्ये समारुह्य वृषेंद्रं वृषभध्वजः जगाम भगवान्भद्रश्शुभमभ्रं यथा भवः

Among them, mounting the great bull, the Bull-bannered Lord, the blessed Bhadra, advanced, shining like the creator amidst the clouds.

तस्मिन्वृषभमारूढे भद्रे तु भसितप्रभः बभार मौक्तिकं छत्रं गृहीतसितचामरः

When Bhadra, radiant as ashes, mounted the bull, he bore a pearl-white parasol and held a pure white chowrie.

स तदा शुशुभे पार्श्वे भद्रस्य भसितप्रभः भगवानिव शैलेन्द्रः पार्श्वे विश्वजगद्गुरोः

Then, by Bhadra's side, shone the ash-hued Lord, like the lord of mountains beside the preceptor of the universe.

सो ऽपि तेन बभौ भद्रः श्वेतचामरपाणिना बालसोमेन सौम्येन यथा शूलवरायुधः

He too, Bhadra, shone with the white chowrie in hand, like the gentle young moon, as did the trident-bearing Lord.

दध्मौ शंखं सितं भद्रं भद्रस्य पुरतः शुभम् भानुकंपो महातेजा हेमरत्नैरलंकृतः

In front of Bhadra, the radiant Bhānu, adorned with gold and jewels, blew a pure, auspicious conch, making the earth tremble.

देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्दिव्यसंकुलनिःस्वनाः ववृषुश्शतशो मूर्ध्नि पुष्पवर्षं बलाहकाः

Divine drums resounded, filling the heavens with celestial echoes, and hundreds of clouds showered flowers upon their heads.

फुल्लानां मधुगर्भाणां पुष्पाणां गंधबंधवः मार्गानुकूलसंवाहा वबुश्च पथि मारुताः

The winds, carrying the fragrance of blooming, honey-filled flowers, blew gently along the path, favoring their journey.

ततो गणेश्वराः सर्वे मत्ता युद्धबलोद्धताः

Then all the Gaṇeśvaras, intoxicated and proud of their battle strength, advanced.

तदा भद्रगणांतःस्थो बभौ भद्रः स भद्रया यथा रुद्रगणांतः स्थस्त्र्यम्बकोंबिकया सह

At that time, Bhadra, standing among the hosts of Bhadra, shone with Bhadra, just as Tryambaka stands among the Rudra hosts with Ambikā.

तत्क्षणादेव दक्षस्य यज्ञवाटं रण्मयम् प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्वीरभद्रो महानुगः

In that very moment, the mighty-armed Vīrabhadra, accompanied by his great followers, entered Dakṣa's sacrificial enclosure, now transformed into a battlefield.

ततस्तु दक्षप्रतिपादितस्य क्रतुप्रधानस्य गणप्रधानः प्रयोगभूमिं प्रविवेश भद्रो रुद्रो यथांते भुवनं दिधक्षुः

Then, the noble Rudra, chief of the hosts, entered the sacrificial ground established by Daksha, intending to destroy the world at its end.

ततो विष्णुप्रधानानां सुराणाममितौजसाम् ददर्श च महत्सत्रं चित्रध्वजपरिच्छदम्

There he saw the great sacrifice of the gods, led by Vishnu, those of immeasurable might, adorned with splendid banners.

सुदर्भऋतुसंस्तीर्णं सुसमिद्धहुताशनम् कांचनैर्यज्ञभांडैश्च भ्राजिष्णुभिरलंकृतम्

The ground was covered with pure darbha grass and seasonal offerings, the sacred fire was well kindled, and it was adorned with brilliant golden vessels for the sacrifice.

ऋषिभिर्यज्ञपटुभिर्यथावत्कर्मकर्तृभिः विधिना वेददृष्टेन स्वनुष्ठितबहुक्रमम्

It was attended by sages skilled in sacrifice, performing the rites as prescribed, following the procedures set forth in the Vedas.

देवांगनासहस्राढ्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम् वेणुवीणारवैर्जुष्टं वेदघोषैश्च बृंहितम्

It was filled with thousands of divine maidens and served by hosts of apsarases, resounding with the melodies of flutes and vīṇās, and amplified by the chants of the Vedas.

दृष्ट्वा दक्षाध्वरे वीरो वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् सिंहनादं तदा चक्रे गंभीरो जलदो यथा

Seeing Daksha's sacrifice, the mighty hero Vīrabhadra let out a roar like a deep thundercloud.

ततः किलकिलाशब्द आकाशं पूरयन्निव गणेश्वरैः कृतो जज्ञे महान्न्यक्कृतसागरः

Then, a tumultuous noise arose, as if filling the sky, made by the lords of the hosts, a great sound that even drowned out the ocean.

तेन शब्देन महताः ग्रस्ता सर्वेदिवौकसः दुद्रुवुः परितो भीताः स्रस्तवस्त्रविभूषणाः

Struck by that great sound, all the gods dwelling in heaven were seized with fear, and fled in all directions, their garments and ornaments falling away.

किंस्विद्भग्नो महामेरुः किंस्वित्संदीर्यते मही किमिदं किमिदं वेति जजल्पुस्त्रिदशा भृशम्

The gods exclaimed in alarm, 'Has mighty Meru been shattered? Is the earth splitting apart? What is this, what is this?'

मृगेन्द्राणां यथा नादं गजेंद्रा गहने वने श्रुत्वा तथाविधं केचित्तत्यजुर्जीवितं भयात्

Just as the roar of a lion terrifies elephants in the deep forest, so too did some, hearing that sound, abandon their lives out of fear.