Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 5

Frustration of the Sacrifice of Dakṣa

4.5.1

मैत्रेय उवाच भवो भवान्या निधनं प्रजापते- रसत्कृताया अवगम्य नारदात् । स्वपार्षदसैन्यं च तदध्वरर्भुभि- र्विद्रावितं क्रोधमपारमादधे ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvaca bhavo bhavanya nidhanam prajapater asat-krtaya avagamya naradat sva-parsada-sainyam ca tad-adhvararbhubhir vidravitam krodham aparam adadhe

Maitreya said: When Lord Siva heard from Narada that Sati, his wife, was now dead because of Prajapati Daksa’s insult to her and that his soldiers had been driven away by the Rbhu demigods, he became greatly angry.

4.5.2

क्रुद्ध: सुदष्टौष्ठपुट: स धूर्जटि- र्जटां तडिद्वह्निसटोग्ररोचिषम् । उत्कृत्य रुद्र: सहसोत्थितो हसन् गम्भीरनादो विससर्ज तां भुवि ॥ २ ॥

kruddhah sudastaustha-putah sa dhur-jatir jatam tadid-vahni-satogra-rocisam utkrtya rudrah sahasotthito hasan gambhira-nado visasarja tam bhuvi

Thus Lord Siva, being extremely angry, pressed his lips with his teeth and immediately snatched from his head a strand of hair which blazed like electricity or fire. He stood up at once, laughing like a madman, and dashed the hair to the ground.

4.5.3

ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यद‍ृक् । करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज: कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥ ३ ॥

tato ’tikayas tanuva sprsan divam sahasra-bahur ghana-ruk tri-surya-drk karala-damstro jvalad-agni-murdhajah kapala-mali vividhodyatayudhah

A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was thereby created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he was garlanded with the heads of men.

4.5.4

तं किं करोमीति गृणन्तमाह बद्धाञ्जलिं भगवान् भूतनाथ: । दक्षं सयज्ञं जहि मद्भटानां त्वमग्रणी रुद्र भटांशको मे ॥ ४ ॥

tam kim karomiti grnantam aha baddhanjalim bhagavan bhuta-nathah daksam sa-yajnam jahi mad-bhatanam tvam agrani rudra bhatamsako me

When that gigantic demon asked with folded hands, What shall I do, my lord Lord Siva, who is known as Bhutanatha, directly ordered, Because you are born from my body, you are the chief of all my associates. Therefore, kill Daksa and his soldiers at the sacrifice

4.5.5

आज्ञप्त एवं कुपितेन मन्युना स देवदेवं परिचक्रमे विभुम् । मेने तदात्मानमसङ्गरंहसा महीयसां तात सह: सहिष्णुम् ॥ ५ ॥

ajnapta evam kupitena manyuna sa deva-devam paricakrame vibhum mene-tadatmanam asanga-ramhasa mahiyasam tata sahah sahisnum

Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, that black person was the personified anger of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he was prepared to execute the orders of Lord Siva. Thus, considering himself capable of coping with any power offered against him, he circumambulated Lord Siva.

4.5.6

अन्वीयमान: स तु रुद्रपार्षदै- र्भृशं नदद्‌भिर्व्यनदत्सुभैरवम् । उद्यम्य शूलं जगदन्तकान्तकं सम्प्राद्रवद् घोषणभूषणाङ्‌घ्रि: ॥ ६ ॥

anviyamanah sa tu rudra-parsadair bhrsam nadadbhir vyanadat subhairavam udyamya sulam jagad-antakantakam sampradravad ghosana-bhusananghrih

Many other soldiers of Lord Siva followed the fierce personality in a tumultuous uproar. He carried a great trident, fearful enough to kill even death, and on his legs he wore bangles which seemed to roar.

4.5.7

अथर्त्विजो यजमान: सदस्या: ककुभ्युदीच्यां प्रसमीक्ष्य रेणुम् । तम: किमेतत्कुत एतद्रजोऽभू- दिति द्विजा द्विजपत्‍न्यश्च दध्यु: ॥ ७ ॥

athartvijo yajamanah sadasyah kakubhy udicyam prasamiksya renum tamah kim etat kuta etad rajo ’bhud iti dvija dvija-patnyas ca dadhyuh

At that time, all the persons assembled in the sacrificial arena—the priests, the chief of the sacrificial performance, and the brahmanas and their wives—wondered where the darkness was coming from. Later they could understand that it was a dust storm, and all of them were full of anxiety.

4.5.8

वाता न वान्ति न हि सन्ति दस्यव: प्राचीनबर्हिर्जीवति होग्रदण्ड: । गावो न काल्यन्त इदं कुतो रजो लोकोऽधुना किं प्रलयाय कल्पते ॥ ८ ॥

vata na vanti na hi santi dasyavah pracina-barhir jivati hogra-dandah gavo na kalyanta idam kuto rajo loko ’dhuna kim pralayaya kalpate

Conjecturing on the origin of the storm, they said: There is no wind blowing, and no cows are passing, nor is it possible that this dust storm could be raised by plunderers, for there is still the strong King Barhi, who would punish them. Where is this dust storm blowing from? Is the dissolution of the plane now to occur?

4.5.9

प्रसूतिमिश्रा: स्त्रिय उद्विग्नचित्ता ऊचुर्विपाको वृजिनस्यैव तस्य । यत्पश्यन्तीनां दुहितृणां प्रजेश: सुतां सतीमवदध्यावनागाम् ॥ ९ ॥

prasuti-misrah striya udvigna-citta ucur vipako vrjinasyaiva tasya yat pasyantinam duhitrnam prajesah sutam satim avadadhyav anagam

Prasuti, the wife of Daksa, along with the other women assembled, became very anxious and said: This danger has been created by Daksa because of the death of Sati, who, even though completely innocent, quit her body as her sisters looked on.

4.5.10

यस्त्वन्तकाले व्युप्तजटाकलाप: स्वशूलसूच्यर्पितदिग्गजेन्द्र: । वितत्य नृत्यत्युदितास्त्रदोर्ध्वजान् उच्चाट्टहासस्तनयित्नुभिन्नदिक् ॥ १० ॥

yas tv anta-kale vyupta-jata-kalapah sva-sula-sucy-arpita-dig-gajendrah vitatya nrtyaty uditastra-dor-dhvajan uccatta-hasa-stanayitnu-bhinna-dik

At the time of dissolution, Lord Siva’s hair is scattered, and he pierces the rulers of the different directions with his trident. He laughs and dances proudly, scattering their hands like flags, as thunder scatters the clouds all over the world.

4.5.11

अमर्षयित्वा तमसह्यतेजसं मन्युप्लुतं दुर्निरीक्ष्यं भ्रुकुट्या । करालदंष्ट्राभिरुदस्तभागणं स्यात्स्वस्ति किं कोपयतो विधातु: ॥ ११ ॥

amarsayitva tam asahya-tejasam manyu-plutam durniriksyam bhru-kutya karala-damstrabhir udasta-bhaganam syat svasti kim kopayato vidhatuh

The gigantic black man bared his fearful teeth. By the movements of his brows he scattered the luminaries all over the sky, and he covered them with his strong, piercing effulgence. Because of the misbehavior of Daksa, even Lord Brahma, Daksa’s father, could not have been saved from the great exhibition of anger.

4.5.12

बह्वेवमुद्विग्नद‍ृशोच्यमाने जनेन दक्षस्य मुहुर्महात्मन: । उत्पेतुरुत्पाततमा: सहस्रशो भयावहा दिवि भूमौ च पर्यक् ॥ १२ ॥

bahv evam udvigna-drsocyamane janena daksasya muhur mahatmanah utpetur utpatatamah sahasraso bhayavaha divi bhumau ca paryak

While all the people talked amongst themselves, Daksa saw dangerous omens from all sides, from the earth and from the sky.

4.5.13

तावत्स रुद्रानुचरैर्महामखो नानायुधैर्वामनकैरुदायुधै: । पिङ्गै: पिशङ्गैर्मकरोदराननै: पर्याद्रवद्‌भिर्विदुरान्वरुध्यत ॥ १३ ॥

tavat sa rudranucarair maha-makho nanayudhair vamanakair udayudhaih pingaih pisangair makarodarananaih paryadravadbhir viduranvarudhyata

My dear Vidura, all the followers of Lord Siva surrounded the arena of sacrifice. They were of short stature and were equipped with various kinds of weapons; their bodies appeared to be like those of sharks, blackish and yellowish. They ran all around the sacrificial arena and thus began to create disturbances.

4.5.14

केचिद्बभञ्जु: प्राग्वंशं पत्नीशालां तथापरे । सद आग्नीध्रशालां च तद्विहारं महानसम् ॥ १४ ॥

kecid babhanjuh prag-vamsam patni-salam tathapare sada agnidhra-salam ca tad-viharam mahanasam

Some of the soldiers pulled down the pillars which were supporting the pandal of sacrifice, some of them entered the female quarters, some began destroying the sacrificial arena, and some entered the kitchen and the residential quarters.

4.5.15

रुरुजुर्यज्ञपात्राणि तथैकेऽग्नीननाशयन् । कुण्डेष्वमूत्रयन् केचिद्‌बिभिदुर्वेदिमेखला: ॥ १५ ॥

rurujur yajna-patrani tathaike ’gnin anasayan kundesv amutrayan kecid bibhidur vedi-mekhalah

They broke all the pots made for use in the sacrifice, and some of them began to extinguish the sacrificial fire. Some tore down the boundary line of the sacrificial arena, and some passed urine on the arena.

4.5.16

अबाधन्त मुनीनन्ये एके पत्नीरतर्जयन् । अपरे जगृहुर्देवान् प्रत्यासन्नान् पलायितान् ॥ १६ ॥

abadhanta munin anye eke patnir atarjayan apare jagrhur devan pratyasannan palayitan

Some blocked the way of the fleeing sages, some threatened the women assembled there, and some arrested the demigods who were fleeing the pandal.

4.5.17

भृगुं बबन्ध मणिमान् वीरभद्र: प्रजापतिम् । चण्डेश: पूषणं देवं भगं नन्दीश्वरोऽग्रहीत् ॥ १७ ॥

bhrgum babandha maniman virabhadrah prajapatim candesah pusanam devam bhagam nandisvaro ’grahit

Maniman, one of the followers of Lord Siva, arrested Bhrgu Muni, and Virabhadra, the black demon, arrested Prajapati Daksa. Another follower, who was named Candesa, arrested Pusa. Nandisvara arrested the demigod Bhaga.

4.5.18

सर्व एवर्त्विजो दृष्ट्वा सदस्या: सदिवौकस: । तैरर्द्यमाना: सुभृशं ग्रावभिर्नैकधाद्रवन् ॥ १८ ॥

sarva evartvijo drstva sadasyah sa-divaukasah tair ardyamanah subhrsam gravabhir naikadhadravan

There was a continuous shower of stones, and all the priests and other members assembled at the sacrifice were put into immense misery. For fear of their lives, they dispersed in different directions.

4.5.19

जुह्वत: स्रुवहस्तस्य श्मश्रूणि भगवान् भव: । भृगोर्लुलुञ्चे सदसि योऽहसच्छ्‌मश्रु दर्शयन् ॥ १९ ॥

juhvatah sruva-hastasya smasruni bhagavan bhavah bhrgor lulunce sadasi yo ’hasac chmasru darsayan

Virabhadra tore off the mustache of Bhrgu, who was offering the sacrificial oblations with his hands in the fire.

4.5.20

भगस्य नेत्रे भगवान् पातितस्य रुषा भुवि । उज्जहार सदस्थोऽक्ष्णा य: शपन्तमसूसुचत् ॥ २० ॥

bhagasya netre bhagavan patitasya rusa bhuvi ujjahara sada-stho ’ksna yah sapantam asusucat

Virabhadra immediately caught Bhaga, who had been moving his eyebrows during Bhrgu’s cursing of Lord Siva, and out of great anger thrust him to the ground and forcibly put out his eyes.

4.5.21

पूष्णो ह्यपातयद्दन्तान् कालिङ्गस्य यथा बल: । शप्यमाने गरिमणि योऽहसद्दर्शयन्दत: ॥ २१ ॥

pusno hy apatayad dantan kalingasya yatha balah sapyamane garimani yo ’hasad darsayan datah

Just as Baladeva knocked out the teeth of Dantavakra, the King of Kalinga, during the gambling match at the marriage ceremony of Aniruddha, Virabhadra knocked out the teeth of both Daksa, who had shown them while cursing Lord Siva, and Pusa, who by smiling sympathetically had also shown his teeth.

4.5.22

आक्रम्योरसि दक्षस्य शितधारेण हेतिना । छिन्दन्नपि तदुद्धर्तुं नाशक्नोत् त्र्यम्बकस्तदा ॥ २२ ॥

akramyorasi daksasya sita-dharena hetina chindann api tad uddhartum nasaknot tryambakas tada

Then Virabhadra, the giantlike personality, sat on the chest of Daksa and tried to separate his head from his body with sharp weapons, but was unsuccessful.

4.5.23

शस्त्रैरस्त्रान्वितैरेवमनिर्भिन्नत्वचं हर: । विस्मयं परमापन्नो दध्यौ पशुपतिश्चिरम् ॥ २३ ॥

sastrair astranvitair evam anirbhinna-tvacam harah vismayam param apanno dadhyau pasupatis ciram

He tried to cut the head of Daksa with hymns as well as weapons, but still it was hard to cut even the surface of the skin of Daksa’s head. Thus Virabhadra was exceedingly bewildered.

4.5.24

दृष्ट्वा संज्ञपनं योगं पशूनां स पतिर्मखे । यजमानपशो: कस्य कायात्तेनाहरच्छिर: ॥ २४ ॥

drstva samjnapanam yogam pasunam sa patir makhe yajamana-pasoh kasya kayat tenaharac chirah

Then Virabhadra saw the wooden device in the sacrificial arena by which the animals were to have been killed. He took the opportunity of this facility to behead Daksa.

4.5.25

साधुवादस्तदा तेषां कर्म तत्तस्य पश्यताम् । भूतप्रेतपिशाचानां अन्येषां तद्विपर्यय: ॥ २५ ॥

sadhu-vadas tada tesam karma tat tasya pasyatam bhuta-preta-pisacanam anyesam tad-viparyayah

Upon seeing the action of Virabhadra, the party of Lord Siva was pleased and cried out joyfully, and all the bhutas, ghosts and demons that had come made a tumultuous sound. On the other hand, the brahmanas in charge of the sacrifice cried out in grief at the death of Daksa.

4.5.26

जुहावैतच्छिरस्तस्मिन्दक्षिणाग्नावमर्षित: । तद्देवयजनं दग्ध्वा प्रातिष्ठद् गुह्यकालयम् ॥ २६ ॥

juhavaitac chiras tasmin daksinagnav amarsitah tad-deva-yajanam dagdhva pratisthad guhyakalayam

Virabhadra then took the head and with great anger threw it into the southern side of the sacrificial fire, offering it as an oblation. In this way the followers of Lord Siva devastated all the arrangements for sacrifice. After setting fire to the whole arena, they departed for their master’s abode, Kailasa.