Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

बहवस्तस्य वीरस्य बाहवः परिघोपमाः शस्त्रैश्चकाशिरे दीप्तैः साग्निज्वाला इवोरगाः

The many arms of that hero, resembling iron clubs, shone with blazing weapons, like serpents with fiery flames.

अस्त्रशस्त्राण्यनेकानिसवीरो विसृजन्बभौ विसृजन्सर्वभूतानि यथादौ विश्वसंभवः

Releasing countless weapons and missiles, the hero shone, as the origin of the universe once released all beings.

यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यः प्रच्छादयति मेदिनीम् तथा वीरः क्षणादेव शरैः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः

Just as the sun covers the earth with its rays, so did the hero, in an instant, cover the directions with his arrows.

खमंडले गणेन्द्रस्य शराः कनकभूषिताः उत्पतंतस्तडिद्रूपैरुपमानपदं ययुः

The arrows of the lord of the hosts, adorned with gold, soared in the sky's circle, attaining the likeness of flashes of lightning.

महांतस्ते सुरगणान् मंडूकानिवडुंडुभाः प्राणैर्वियोजयामासुः पपुश्च रुधिरासवम्

The mighty ones separated the gods from their lives, like frogs by drums, and drank the intoxicating blood.

निकृत्तबाहवः केचित्केचिल्लूनवराननाः पार्श्वे विदारिताः केचिन्निपेतुरमरा भुवि

Some had their arms severed, some their faces torn, some were ripped at the sides; thus, the immortals fell to the earth.

विशिखोन्मथितैर्गात्रैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नसन्धिभिः विवृत्तनयनाः केचिन्निपेतुर्भूतले मृताः गां प्रवेष्टुमिवेच्छंतः खं गंतुमिव लिप्सवः

With bodies pierced by arrows, joints shattered, eyes turned upward, some fell dead to the ground, wishing to enter the earth or longing to ascend the sky.

अलब्धात्मनिरोधानां व्यलीयंतः परस्परम् भूमौ केचित्प्रविविशुः पर्वतानां गुहाः परे

Unable to restrain themselves, some melted together; some entered the caves of mountains upon the earth.

अपरे जग्मुराकाशं परे च विविशुर्जलम् तथा संछिन्नसर्वांगैस्स वीरस्त्रिदशैर्बभौ

Others went into the sky, others entered the waters; thus, the hero shone among the gods, with all limbs severed.

परिग्रस्तप्रजावर्गो भगवानिव भैरवः दग्धत्रिपुरसंव्यूहस्त्रिपुरारिर्यथाभवत्

Like Bhairava, the Lord, surrounded by his hosts, as the destroyer of Tripura, so did he become, consuming the multitude of beings.

एवं देवबलं सर्वं दीनं बीभत्सदर्शनम् गणेश्वरसमुत्पन्नं कृपणं वपुराददे

Thus, the entire army of the gods, wretched and hideous to behold, assumed a pitiable form, born from the lord of the hosts.

तदा त्रिदशवीराणामसृक्सलिलवाहिनी प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा प्राणिनां भयशंसिनी

Then, from the heroes among the gods, a dreadful river of blood began to flow, foretelling terror for living beings.

रुधिरेण परिक्लिन्ना यज्ञभूमिस्तदा बभौ रक्तार्द्रवसना श्यामा हतशुंभेव कैशिकी

The sacrificial ground, drenched with blood, appeared clothed in red, dark as the night, like Kaishiki, bereft of her beauty.

तस्मिन्महति संवृत्ते समरे भृशदारुणे भयेनेव परित्रस्ता प्रचचाल वसुन्धरा

As that great and exceedingly fierce battle unfolded, the earth itself trembled, as if seized by fear.

महोर्मिकलिलावर्तश्चुक्षुभे च महोदधिः पेतुश्चोल्का महोत्पाताः शाखाश्च मुमुचुर्द्रुमाः

The vast ocean surged with mighty waves and whirlpools; blazing meteors fell as great omens, and trees cast down their branches.

अप्रसन्ना दिशः सर्वाः पवनश्चाशिवो ववौ अहो विधिविपर्यासस्त्वश्वमेधोयमध्वरः यजमानस्स्वयं दक्षौ ब्रह्मपुत्रप्रजापतिः

All the quarters became inauspicious, and an unwholesome wind blew; alas, this is a reversal of order—this horse sacrifice is not proper, though the sacrificer is Daksha himself, son of Brahma and lord of creatures.

धर्मादयस्सदस्याश्च रक्षिता गरुडध्वजः भागांश्च प्रतिगृह्णंति साक्षादिंद्रादयः सुराः

The upholders of righteousness and the assembly members were protected by the one with the Garuda banner, and the gods led by Indra directly received their shares.

तथापि यजमानस्य यज्ञस्य च सहर्त्विजः सद्य एव शिरश्छेदस्साधु संपद्यते फलम्

Yet, for the sacrificer and the priests together with the sacrifice, immediate beheading became the result—an unworthy outcome.

तस्मान्नावेदनिर्दिष्टं न चेश्वरबहिष्कृतम्

Therefore, what is not prescribed by the Veda, nor sanctioned by the Lord, should not be performed.

कृत्वापि सुमहत्पुण्यमिष्ट्वा यज्ञशतैरपि न तत्फलमवाप्नोति भक्तिहीनो महेश्वरे

Even performing great merit and sacrificing hundreds of yajñas, one without devotion to the Great Lord does not attain that fruit.

कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं भक्त्या यजति यश्शिवम् मुच्यते पातकैः सर्वैर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Even if one has committed great sin, if he worships Shiva with devotion, he is freed from all sins—there is no doubt about this.

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन वृथा दानं वृथा तपः वृथा यज्ञो वृथा होमः शिवनिन्दारतस्य तु

Why say more? Charity, austerity, sacrifice, and oblation are all in vain for one who delights in reviling Shiva.

ततः सनारायणकास्सरुद्राः सलोकपालास्समरे सुरौघाः गणेंद्रचापच्युतबाणविद्धाः प्रदुद्रुवुर्गाढरुजाभिभूताः

Then, the hosts of gods—along with Narayana, Rudras, and the guardians of the worlds—struck by the arrows loosed from the bow of the lord of the hosts, fled the battle, overwhelmed by intense pain.

चेलुः क्वचित्केचन शीर्णकेशाः सेदुः क्वचित्केचन दीर्घगात्राः पेतुः क्वचित्केचन भिन्नवक्त्रा नेशुः क्वचित्केचन देववीराः

Some divine heroes wandered with hair disheveled, some staggered with limbs outstretched, some fell with faces shattered, and some could no longer move.

केचिच्च तत्र त्रिदशा विपन्ना विस्रस्तवस्त्राभरणास्त्रशस्त्राः निपेतुरुद्भासितदीनमुद्रा मदं च दर्पं च बलं च हित्वा

There, some of the gods perished, their garments, ornaments, weapons, and armor scattered, collapsing with expressions of utter distress, having abandoned pride, arrogance, and strength.

सस्मुत्पथप्रस्थितमप्रधृष्यो विक्षिप्य दक्षाध्वरमक्षतास्त्रैः बभौ गणेशस्स गणेश्वराणां मध्ये स्थितः सिंह इवर्षभाणाम्

Having routed the path and scattered Daksha's sacrifice with unbroken weapons, the lord of the hosts stood among the leaders of the hosts, shining like a lion among bulls.

इति सञ्छिन्नभिन्नांगा देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः क्षणात्कष्टां दशामेत्य त्रेसुः स्तोकावशेषिता

Thus, with their bodies shattered and broken, the gods led by Vishnu, in a moment reached a dire state, trembling, with only a few remaining.

त्रस्तांस्तान्समरे वीरान् देवानन्यांश्च वै गणाः प्रमथाः परमक्रुद्धा वीरभद्रप्रणोदिताः

The Pramatha hosts, incited by Virabhadra and filled with supreme fury, pursued those terrified heroes—the gods and others—on the battlefield.

प्रगृह्य च तथा दोषं निगडैरायसैर्दृढैः बबन्धुः पाणिपादेषु कंधरेषूदरेषु च

Seizing them, they bound their hands, feet, necks, and bellies with strong iron fetters.