Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

पर्वताश्च व्यशीर्यंत चकम्पे च वसुंधरा मरुतश्च व्यघूर्णंत चुक्षुभे मकरालयः

Mountains were shattered, the earth trembled, the winds whirled violently, and the abode of the sea was agitated.

अग्नयो नैव दीप्यंते न च दीप्यति भास्करः ग्रहाश्च न प्रकाशंते नक्षत्राणि च तारकाः

The fires would not burn, the sun did not shine, the planets gave no light, nor did the stars and constellations.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु यज्ञवाटं तदुज्ज्वलम् संप्राप भगवान्भद्रो भद्रैश्च सह भद्रया

At that very moment, the blessed Vīrabhadra, together with his blessed followers and the blessed lady, arrived at the blazing sacrificial enclosure.

तं दृष्ट्वा भीतभीतो ऽपि दक्षो दृढ इव स्थितः क्रुद्धवद्वचनं प्राह को भवान् किमिहेच्छसि

Seeing him, Daksha, though terrified, stood firm as if resolute, and spoke with feigned anger, 'Who are you? What do you seek here?'

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षस्य च दुरात्मनः वीरभद्रो महातेजा मेघसंभीरनिस्स्वनः

Hearing these words of Daksha, that wicked-minded one, the radiant Vīrabhadra, whose voice was deep as thunderclouds,

स्मयन्निव तमालोक्य दक्षं देवाश्च ऋत्विजः अर्थगर्भमसंभ्रान्तमवोचदुचितं वचः

Gazing at Daksha, as if with a smile, Vīrabhadra, in the presence of the gods and priests, spoke appropriate words, clear and full of meaning.

वयं ह्यनुचराः सर्वे शर्वस्यामिततेजसः भागाभिलिप्सया प्राप्ता भागो नस्संप्रदीयताम्

'We are all attendants of Śarva, of boundless power, come here desiring a share; let our portion now be given.'

अथ चेदध्वरे ऽस्माकं न भागः परिकल्पितः कथ्यतां कारणं तत्र युध्यतां वा मयामरैः

'But if, in this sacrifice, no share has been allotted to us, let the reason be stated, or let me fight here with the immortals.'

इत्युक्तास्ते गणेंद्रेण देवा दक्षपुरोगमाः ऊचुर्मन्त्राः प्रमाणं नो न वयं प्रभवस्त्विति

Thus addressed by the lord of the hosts, the gods, led by Daksha, replied: 'Mantras are our authority; we ourselves have no power.'

मन्त्रा ऊचुस्सुरा यूयं मोहोपहतचेतसः येन प्रथमभागार्हं न यजध्वं महेश्वरम्

The mantras said: 'O gods, your minds are clouded by delusion, for you do not worship Maheshvara, who deserves the first portion.'