Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

मुसलैरसिभिष्टंकैर्भिधिपालैः परश्वधैः उद्धतांस्त्रिदशान्सर्वांल्लोकपालपुरस्सरान्

With pestles, swords, spikes, splitting rods, axes, they attacked all the gods, accompanied by the guardians of the worlds.

बिभिदुर्बलिनो वीरा वीरभद्रांगसंभवाः छिंधि भिंधि क्षिप क्षिप्रं मार्यतां दार्यतामिति

The powerful heroes, born from the body of Virabhadra, struck, broke, hurled, and quickly destroyed, shouting: 'Cut! Break! Throw! Tear! Rend!'

हरस्व प्रहरस्वेति पाटयोत्पाटयेति च संरंभप्रभवाः क्रूराश्शब्दाः श्रवणशंकवः

With cries of 'Strike! Attack! Split! Uproot!'—harsh sounds born of fury—cruel shouts resounded, terrifying to the ear.

यत्रतत्र गणेशानां जज्ञिरे समरोचिताः विवृत्तनयनाः केचिद्दष्टदंष्ट्रोष्ठतालवः

Wherever the lords of the hosts appeared, suited for battle, some had eyes wide open, some had bitten lips, teeth, and palates.

आश्रमस्थान्समाकृष्य मारयन्ति तपोधनात् स्रुवानपहरन्तश्च क्षिपन्तोग्निं जलेषु च

Dragging away those dwelling in hermitages, they killed the ascetics, seized their ladles, and threw fire into the waters.

कलशानपि भिन्दंतश्छिंदंतो मणिवेदिकाः गायंतश्च नदन्तश्च हसन्तश्च मुहुर्मुहुः

They broke the pots, shattered the jewel altars, singing, shouting, and laughing again and again.

रक्तासवं पिबन्तश्च ननृतुर्गणपुंगवाः निर्मथ्य सेंद्रानमरान् गणेन्द्रान्वृषेन्द्रनागेन्द्रमृगेन्द्रसाराः

The foremost hosts of Shiva's attendants drank blood-wine and danced, having crushed the gods along with Indra; the leaders of the hosts, like the chiefs of bulls, serpents, and lions.

चक्रुर्बहून्यप्रतिमभावाः सहर्षरोमाणि विचेष्टितानि नन्दंति केचित्प्रहरन्ति केचिद्धावन्ति केचित्प्रलपन्ति केचित्

They performed many actions of incomparable nature, their hair bristling with delight; some rejoiced, some struck, some ran, some babbled.

नृत्यन्ति केचिद्विहसन्ति केचिद्वल्गन्ति केचित्प्रमथा बलेन

Some danced, some laughed, some leaped; the Pramathas, with their strength.

केचिज्जिघृक्षंति घनान्स तोयान्केचिद्ग्रहीतुं रविमुत्पतंति केचित्प्रसर्तुं पवनेन सार्धमिच्छंति भीमाः प्रमथा वियत्स्थाः

Some tried to seize clouds, some leapt to grasp the sun, some wished to rush along with the wind; the fierce Pramathas stood in the sky.