Vayu Purana

यक्षाणामीश्वरः श्रीमान् कैलासनिलयः प्रभुः। उपासते महात्मानं उशना च महामुनिः. सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास्ते चैव परमर्षयः ।। ३०.

The illustrious Lord, master of the Yakṣas and resident of Kailāsa, was worshipped by the great-souled Uśanā, the great sage, and by the eminent sages led by Sanatkumāra.

अङ्गिरःप्रमुखाश्चैव तथा देवर्षयोऽपरे। विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वस्तथा नारदपर्वतौ ।। ३०.

Also present were the divine sages led by Aṅgiras, and others, as well as the Gandharva Viśvāvasu, and Nārada and Parvata.

अप्सरोगणसङ्घाश्च समाजग्मुरनेकशः। ववौ शिवः सुखो वायुर्नानागन्धवहः शुचिः ।। ३०.

Hosts of Apsarases gathered there in great numbers; a gentle, fragrant, and pure breeze of Śiva blew.

सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेताः पुष्पवन्तो द्रुमा स्तथा। तथा विद्याधराश्चैव सिद्धाश्चैव तपोधनाः ।। ३०.

The trees there are adorned with blossoms in every season, always bearing flowers; likewise, Vidyādharas and Siddhas, rich in austerities, are present as well.

महादेवं पशुपतिं पर्युपासन्ति तत्र वै। भूतानि च तथान्यानि नानारूपधराण्यथ ।। ३०.

There, indeed, they worship Mahādeva, Lord of Creatures, and various other beings of many forms are also present.

राक्षसाश्च महारौद्राः पिशाचाश्च महाबलाः। बहुरूपधरा हृष्टा नानाप्रहरणोद्यताः ।। ३०.

There are fierce Rākṣasas, terrifying in form, and powerful Piśācas, taking on many shapes, delighted and armed with diverse weapons.

देवस्यानुचरास्तत्र तस्थुर्वैश्वानरोपमाः। नन्दीश्वरश्च भगवान् देवस्यानुम ते स्थितः ।। ३०.

The attendants of the god stood there, resembling blazing fire; and the blessed Nandīśvara, by the god’s command, was also present.

प्रगृह्य ज्वलितं शूलं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा। गङ्गा च सरितां श्वेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थजलोद्भवा। पर्युपासत तन्देवरूपिणी द्विजसत्तमाः ।। ३०.

Holding a blazing trident, shining with his own radiance, and Ganga, the best of rivers, born from the waters of all sacred fords, in divine form, worshipped him, O best of twice-born.

एवं स भगवांस्तत्र दीप्यमानः सुरर्षिभिः। देवैश्च सुमहाबागैर्महादेवो व्यवस्थितः ।। ३०.

Thus, the blessed one stood there, shining among the gods and sages, and among the gods of great might, Mahādeva was established.

पुरा हिमवतः पृष्ठे दक्षो वै यज्ञमारभत्। गङ्गाद्वारे शुभे देशे ऋषिसिद्धनिषेविते ।। ३०.

Long ago, on the slopes of the Himalaya, Dakṣa began a sacrifice at Gaṅgādvāra, a sacred place frequented by sages and perfected beings.

ततस्तस्य मखे देवाः शतक्रतुपुरोगमाः। गमनाय समागम्य बुद्धिमापेदिरे तदा ।। ३०.

Then, at that sacrifice, the gods, led by Indra, assembled together and deliberated about going there.

स्वैर्विमानैर्महात्मानो ज्वलद्भिर्ज्वलनप्रभाः। देवस्यानुमनेऽगच्छन् गङ्गाद्वार इति श्रुतिः ।। ३०.

With their own radiant flying vehicles, shining with fiery brilliance, the great-souled gods went, with the god’s permission, to Gaṅgādvāra, as is heard in tradition.

गन्धर्वाप्सरसाकीर्णं नानाद्रुमलतावृतम्। ऋषिसङ्घैः परिवृतं दक्षं धर्मभृतां वरम् ।। ३०.

Dakṣa, best among upholders of dharma, was surrounded by hosts of sages, and the place was filled with Gandharvas, Apsarases, and covered with various trees and vines.

पृथिव्यामन्तरिक्षे वा ये च स्वर्लोकवासिनः। सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा उपतस्थुः प्रजापतिम् ।। ३०.

All those who dwell on earth, in the sky, or in the heavenly worlds, approached Prajāpati with joined palms, offering their respects.

आदित्या वसवो रुद्राः साध्याः सह मरुद्गणैः। जिष्णुना सहिताः सर्वे आगता यज्ञभागिनः ।। ३०.

The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sādhyas, along with the hosts of Maruts, all arrived together with Jishnu, as participants in the sacrifice.

ऊष्मपाः सोमपाश्चैव आज्यपा धूमपास्तथा। अश्विनौ पितरश्चैव आगता ब्रह्मणा सह ।। ३०.

The Ūṣmapās, Somapās, Ājyapās, Dhūmapās, the Aśvins, and the Pitṛs also came, together with Brahmā.

एते चान्ये च बहवो भूतग्रामास्तथैव च। जरायुजाण्डजाश्चैव स्वेदजोद्भिज्जकास्तथा ।। ३०.

These and many other hosts of beings, those born from womb, egg, sweat, or sprouting, likewise assembled there.

आहूता मन्त्रतः सर्वे देवाश्च सह पत्निभिः। विराजन्ते विमानस्था दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः ।। ३०.

All the gods, summoned by mantras, together with their wives, shone forth, standing in their flying vehicles, blazing like fires.

तान् दष्ट्वा मन्युमाविष्टो दधीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अपूज्यपूजने चैव पूज्यानां चाप्यपूजने। नरः पापमवाप्नोति महद्वै नात्र संशयः ।। ३०.

Seeing them, Dadhīci, seized by anger, spoke these words: 'One who honors the unworthy or fails to honor the worthy incurs great sin—of this there is no doubt.'

एवमुक्त्वा तु विप्रर्षिः पुनर्दक्षमभाषत। पूज्यन्तु पशुभर्त्तारं कस्मान्नाह्वयसे प्रभुम् ।। ३०.

Having spoken thus, the sage addressed Dakṣa again: 'Why do you not invite the Lord, the herdsman of beings, to be honored?'

सन्ति मे बहवो रुद्राः शूलहस्ताः कपर्द्दिनः। एकादशावस्थगता नान्यं वेझि महेश्वरम् ।। ३०.

I have many Rudras, bearers of tridents, with matted locks, existing in eleven forms; know no other as the great Lord.

सर्वे निमन्त्रिता देवा येन ईशो निमन्त्रितः। यथाहं शङ्करादूर्द्ध्वं नान्यं पश्यामि दैवतम्। तथा दक्षस्य विपुलो यज्ञोऽयं न भविष्यति ।। ३०.

All the gods have been invited, including the Lord himself; but just as I see no deity above Śaṅkara, so too, this grand sacrifice of Dakṣa will not succeed.

एतन्मखे शूर सुवर्णपात्रे हविः समस्तं विधिमन्त्रपूतम्। विष्णोर्नयाम्यप्रतिमस्य सर्वं प्रभोर्विभो ह्याहवनीयनित्यम् ।। ३०.

In this sacrifice, O hero, I will take all the offerings, purified by proper mantras, in a golden vessel, and present them to Viṣṇu, the incomparable Lord, who is always worthy of the āhavanīya fire.

गतास्तु देवता ज्ञात्वा शैलराजसुता तदा। उवाच वचनं साध्वी देवं पशुपतिं तदा ।। ३०.

When the goddesses had departed, the daughter of the mountain king, knowing this, spoke these words to the Lord Paśupati.

भगवन् व्क गता ह्येते देवा- शक्रपुरोगमाः । बूहि तत्त्वेन तत्त्वज्ञ संशयो मे महानयम् ।। ३०.

O Lord, all these gods, led by Indra, have gone; tell me truly, O knower of truth, for I have a great doubt about this.

दक्षो नाम महाभागो प्रजानां पतिरूत्तमः। हयमेधेन यजते तत्र यान्ति दिवौकसः ।। ३०.

Dakṣa, the highly fortunate and supreme lord of creatures, is performing a horse sacrifice, and the gods are going there.

यज्ञमेतं महाभाग किमर्थं न गतोऽसि वै। केन वा प्रतिषेधेन गमनं प्रतिषिध्यते ।। ३०.

O greatly fortunate one, for what reason have you not gone to this sacrifice? By what prohibition is your going prevented?

सुरैरेव महाभागे सर्वमेतदनुष्ठितम्। यज्ञेषु मम सर्वेषु न भाग उपकल्पितः ।। ३०.

O greatly fortunate one, all this has been performed by the gods; in all my sacrifices, no share has been allotted to me.

पूर्वोपायोपपन्नेन मार्गेण वरवर्णिनि। न मे सुराः प्रयच्छन्ति भागं यज्ञस्य धीमतः ।। ३०.

O beautiful one, by the previous established custom, the gods do not grant me a share of the sacrifice, though I am wise.