Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.'

मंत्रोक्ता अपि ते देवाः सर्वे संमूढचेतसः भद्राय न ददुर्भागं तत्प्रहाणमभीप्सवः

Even though spoken to by the mantras, all those gods, their minds utterly confused, did not offer a share for auspiciousness, desiring to reject it.

यदा तथ्यं च पथ्यं च स्ववाक्यं तद्वृथा ऽभवत् तदा ततो ययुर्मंदा ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्

When their own words, though true and proper, became futile, then those dull ones departed for the eternal realm of Brahma.

अथोवाच गणाध्यक्षो देवान्विष्णुपुरोगमान् मन्त्राः प्रमाणं न कृता युष्माभिर्बलगर्वितैः

Then the chief of the hosts spoke to the gods, with Vishnu at their head: 'Mantras have not been honored by you, proud in your strength.'

यस्मादस्मिन् मखे देवैरित्थं वयमसत्कृताः तस्माद्वो जीवितैस्सार्धमपनेष्यामि गर्वितम्

Because in this sacrifice we have been so dishonored by the gods, therefore, together with your lives, I shall remove your pride.

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् क्रुद्धो व्यदहन्नेत्रवह्निना यक्षवाटं महाकूटं यथातिस्रः पुरो हरः

Having spoken thus, the Lord, enraged, split the great altar of the Yakshas with fire from his eye, just as Hara had done before.

ततो गणेश्वरास्सर्वे पर्वतोदग्रविग्रहाः यूपानुत्पाट्य होत्ःणां कंठेष्वाबध्य रज्जुभिः

Then all the lords of the hosts, their forms towering like mountains, uprooted the sacrificial posts and tied them around the necks of the priests with ropes.

यज्ञपात्राणि चित्राणि भित्त्वा संचूर्ण्य वारिणि गृहीत्वा चैव यज्ञांगं गंगास्रोतसि चिक्षिपुः

Breaking and crushing the various sacrificial vessels, and taking the sacrificial components, they threw them into the stream of the Ganga.

तत्र दिव्यान्नपानानां राशयः पर्वतोपमाः क्षीरनद्यो ऽमृतस्रावाः सुस्निग्धदधिकर्दमाः

There, heaps of divine food and drink, as large as mountains, rivers of milk flowing with nectar, and rich, creamy curds appeared.

उच्चावचानि मांसानि भक्ष्याणि सुरभीणि च रसवन्ति च पानानि लेह्यचोष्याणि तानि वै

There were meats of all kinds, both coarse and fine, fragrant foods, drinks full of flavor, and things to lick and chew, all of them.

वीरास्तद्भुजते वक्त्रैर्विलुंपंति क्षिपंति च वज्रैश्चक्रैर्महाशूलैश्शक्तिभिः पाशपट्टिशैः

The heroes devoured these with their mouths, plundering and scattering them, using thunderbolts, discs, great spears, darts, nooses, and clubs.