The Sacrifice Performed by Daksha

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.7.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच इत्यजेनानुनीतेन भवेन परितुष्यता । अभ्यधायि महाबाहो प्रहस्य श्रूयतामिति ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca ity ajenānunītena bhavena parituṣyatā abhyadhāyi mahā-bāho prahasya śrūyatām iti

Sri Maitreya said: O mighty-armed Vidura, thus pacified by the words of the unborn Brahma, Bhagavan Bhava (Shiva), well satisfied, smiled and spoke, saying, "Hear me."

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.7.2)

महादेव उवाच नाघं प्रजेश बालानां वर्णये नानुचिन्तये । देवमायाभिभूतानां दण्डस्तत्र धृतो मया ॥ २ ॥

mahādeva uvāca nāghaṁ prajeśa bālānāṁ varṇaye nānucintaye deva-māyābhibhūtānāṁ daṇḍas tatra dhṛto mayā

Sri Mahadeva said: O lord of creatures, I do not dwell upon, nor do I consider it truly a sin, the fault of these gods, who are as children, overpowered by the divine maya; I administered that punishment only as a correction.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.7.3)

प्रजापतेर्दग्धशीर्ष्णो भवत्वजमुखं शिरः । मित्रस्य चक्षुषेक्षेत भागं स्वं बर्हिषो भगः ॥ ३ ॥

prajāpater dagdha-śīrṣṇo bhavatv aja-mukhaṁ śiraḥ mitrasya cakṣuṣekṣeta bhāgaṁ svaṁ barhiṣo bhagaḥ

Since the Prajapati's own head has been burnt, let him now bear a goat's head instead; and let Bhaga behold his own portion of the sacrifice through the eyes of Mitra.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.7.4)

पूषा तु यजमानस्य दद्भिर्जक्षतु पिष्टभुक् । देवाः प्रकृतसर्वाङ्गा ये म उच्छेषणं ददुः ॥ ४ ॥

pūṣā tu yajamānasya dadbhir jakṣatu piṣṭa-bhuk devāḥ prakṛta-sarvāṅgā ye ma uccheṣaṇaṁ daduḥ

Let Pushan chew his food using the teeth of the sacrificer, and subsist on ground flour; but as for those gods who allotted to me my rightful remainder-share of the sacrifice, let their bodies be restored to full form.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.7.5)

बाहुभ्यामश्विनोः पूष्णो हस्ताभ्यां कृतबाहवः । भवन्त्वध्वर्यवश्चान्ये बस्तश्मश्रुर्भृगुर्भवेत् ॥ ५ ॥

bāhubhyām aśvinoḥ pūṣṇo hastābhyāṁ kṛta-bāhavaḥ bhavantv adhvaryavaś cānye basta-śmaśrur bhṛgur bhavet

Those whose arms were severed shall now have arms formed from the arms of the Ashvins; the officiating priests too shall have such arms formed from the hands of Pushan; and let Bhrigu now have the beard of a goat.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.7.6)

मैत्रेय उवाच तदा सर्वाणि भूतानि श्रुत्वा मीढुष्टमोदितम् । परितुष्टात्मभिस्तात साधु साध्वित्यथाब्रुवन् ॥ ६ ॥

maitreya uvāca tadā sarvāṇi bhūtāni śrutvā mīḍhuṣṭamoditam parituṣṭātmabhis tāta sādhu sādhv ity athābruvan

Sri Maitreya said: O dear one, on hearing these words spoken by Mideshtama (Shiva, foremost of bestowers of boons), all beings present, their hearts well satisfied, cried out, "Excellent, excellent!"

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.7.7)

ततो मीढ्वांसमामन्त्र्य शुनासीराः सहर्षिभिः । भूयस्तद्देवयजनं समीढ्वद्वेधसो ययुः ॥ ७ ॥

tato mīḍhvāṁsam āmantrya śunāsīrāḥ saharṣibhiḥ bhūyas tad deva-yajanaṁ sa-mīḍhvad-vedhaso yayuḥ

Then, having invited Mideshvan (Shiva) along with Indra and the sages, and together with Brahma the creator, they all set out once more for that place of divine sacrifice.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.7.8)

विधाय कार्त्स्न्येन च तद्यदाह भगवान् भवः । सन्दधुः कस्य कायेन सवनीयपशोः शिरः ॥ ८ ॥

vidhāya kārtsnyena ca tad yad āha bhagavān bhavaḥ sandadhuḥ kasya kāyena savanīya-paśoḥ śiraḥ

Having carried out fully and exactly what Bhagavan Bhava had directed, they joined the head of the sacrificial animal to the body of Daksha.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.7.9)

सन्धीयमाने शिरसि दक्षो रुद्राभिवीक्षितः । सद्यः सुप्त इवोत्तस्थौ ददृशे चाग्रतो मृडम् ॥ ९ ॥

sandhīyamāne śirasi dakṣo rudrābhivīkṣitaḥ sadyaḥ supta ivottasthau dadṛśe cāgrato mṛḍam

As the head was being joined to his body, Daksha, gazed upon by Rudra, rose at once as if awakening from sleep, and beheld Mrida (Shiva) standing there before him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.7.10)

तदा वृषध्वजद्वेषकलिलात्मा प्रजापतिः । शिवावलोकादभवच्छरद्ध्रद इवामलः ॥ १० ॥

tadā vṛṣadhvaja-dveṣa- kalilātmā prajāpatiḥ śivāvalokād abhavac charad-dhrada ivāmalaḥ

At that moment Prajapati, whose heart had been clouded by enmity toward Vrishadhvaja (Shiva), was, by that single glance of Shiva's grace, cleansed at once — as a lake becomes clear again with the coming of autumn.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.7.11)

भवस्तवाय कृतधीर्नाशक्नोदनुरागतः । औत्कण्ठ्याद्बाष्पकलया सम्परेतां सुतां स्मरन् ॥ ११ ॥

bhava-stavāya kṛta-dhīr nāśaknod anurāgataḥ autkaṇṭhyād bāṣpa-kalayā samparetāṁ sutāṁ smaran

Though his heart was set on offering praise to Bhava (Shiva), Daksha, overcome by love and remembering with deep longing his departed daughter, found himself choked with tears and unable to speak.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.7.12)

कृच्छ्रात्संस्तभ्य च मनः प्रेमविह्वलितः सुधीः । शशंस निर्व्यलीकेन भावेनेशं प्रजापतिः ॥ १२ ॥

kṛcchrāt saṁstabhya ca manaḥ prema-vihvalitaḥ sudhīḥ śaśaṁsa nirvyalīkena bhāveneśaṁ prajāpatiḥ

With great effort steadying his mind, though overwhelmed by love, the wise Prajapati at last, with sincere and unfeigned devotion, offered his praise to the Lord.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.7.13)

दक्ष उवाच भूयाननुग्रह अहो भवता कृतो मे दण्डस्त्वया मयि भृतो यदपि प्रलब्धः । न ब्रह्मबन्धुषु च वां भगवन्नवज्ञा तुभ्यं हरेश्च कुत एव धृतव्रतेषु ॥ १३ ॥

dakṣa uvāca bhūyān anugraha aho bhavatā kṛto me daṇḍas tvayā mayi bhṛto yad api pralabdhaḥ na brahma-bandhuṣu ca vāṁ bhagavann avajñā tubhyaṁ hareś ca kuta eva dhṛta-vrateṣu

Daksha said: O truly, you have shown me the greatest favor — for even the punishment you laid upon me was itself an act of mercy. O Bhagavan, neither you nor Bhagavan Hari ever show contempt even toward unworthy so-called brahmanas — how then could you show it toward those who are true to their vows?

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.7.14)

विद्यातपोव्रतधरान् मुखतः स्म विप्रान् ब्रह्मात्मतत्त्वमवितुं प्रथमं त्वमस्राक् । तद्ब्राह्मणान् परम सर्वविपत्सु पासि पालः पशूनिव विभो प्रगृहीतदण्डः ॥ १४ ॥

vidyā-tapo-vrata-dharān mukhataḥ sma viprān brahmātma-tattvam avituṁ prathamaṁ tvam asrāk tad brāhmaṇān parama sarva-vipatsu pāsi pālaḥ paśūn iva vibho pragṛhīta-daṇḍaḥ

O supreme lord, you were the very first to be created from the mouth of Brahma, so that you might protect the brahmanas devoted to learning, austerity and sacred vows, who uphold the truth of Brahman; and thus, O mighty one, staff always in hand, you protect the brahmanas in every calamity, just as a cowherd protects his cattle.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.7.15)

योऽसौ मयाविदिततत्त्वदृशा सभायां क्षिप्तो दुरुक्तिविशिखैर्विगणय्य तन्माम् । अर्वाक् पतन्तमर्हत्तमनिन्दयापाद् दृष्टयार्द्रया स भगवान्स्वकृतेन तुष्येत् ॥ १५ ॥

yo ’sau mayāvidita-tattva-dṛśā sabhāyāṁ kṣipto durukti-viśikhair vigaṇayya tan mām arvāk patantam arhattama-nindayāpād dṛṣṭyārdrayā sa bhagavān sva-kṛtena tuṣyet

I, not knowing your true glory, hurled at you in that assembly the arrows of harsh words; yet you took no account of it, and, though I was falling downward for having insulted the most worshipable of all, you saved me instead with a glance moist with compassion — may that Bhagavan now be pleased simply by his own gracious act, since I have no way to satisfy him myself.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.7.16)

मैत्रेय उवाच क्षमाप्यैवं स मीढ्वांसं ब्रह्मणा चानुमन्त्रितः । कर्म सन्तानयामास सोपाध्यायर्त्विगादिभिः ॥ १६ ॥

maitreya uvāca kṣamāpyaivaṁ sa mīḍhvāṁsaṁ brahmaṇā cānumantritaḥ karma santānayām āsa sopādhyāyartvig-ādibhiḥ

Sri Maitreya said: Having thus obtained the forgiveness of Mideshvan (Shiva), and being counseled further by Brahma, Daksha resumed the sacrificial rite, together with the preceptors, priests and others.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.7.17)

वैष्णवं यज्ञसन्तत्यै त्रिकपालं द्विजोत्तमाः । पुरोडाशं निरवपन् वीरसंसर्गशुद्धये ॥ १७ ॥

vaiṣṇavaṁ yajña-santatyai tri-kapālaṁ dvijottamāḥ puroḍāśaṁ niravapan vīra-saṁsarga-śuddhaye

In order to resume the sacrifice and purify it of the contamination caused by Virabhadra's presence, the foremost of the brahmanas offered a three-portioned cake in oblation to Bhagavan Vishnu.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.7.18)

अध्वर्युणात्तहविषा यजमानो विशाम्पते । धिया विशुद्धया दध्यौ तथा प्रादुरभूद्धरिः ॥ १८ ॥

adhvaryuṇātta-haviṣā yajamāno viśāmpate dhiyā viśuddhayā dadhyau tathā prādurabhūd dhariḥ

O lord of men, as the sacrificer, with purified mind, meditated while the adhvaryu priest held the oblation ready, Bhagavan Hari Himself then appeared there.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.7.19)

तदा स्वप्रभया तेषां द्योतयन्त्या दिशो दश । मुष्णंस्तेज उपानीतस्तार्क्ष्येण स्तोत्रवाजिना ॥ १९ ॥

tadā sva-prabhayā teṣāṁ dyotayantyā diśo daśa muṣṇaṁs teja upānītas tārkṣyeṇa stotra-vājinā

Borne there upon the swift-winged Garuda, He illuminated all ten directions with His own effulgence, and outshone in that instant the splendor of all those present.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.7.20)

श्यामो हिरण्यरशनोऽर्ककिरीटजुष्टो नीलालकभ्रमरमण्डितकुण्डलास्यः । शङ्खाब्जचक्रशरचापगदासिचर्म- व्यग्रैर्हिरण्मयभुजैरिव कर्णिकारः ॥ २० ॥

śyāmo hiraṇya-raśano ’rka-kirīṭa-juṣṭo nīlālaka-bhramara-maṇḍita-kuṇḍalāsyaḥ śaṅkhābja-cakra-śara-cāpa-gadāsi-carma- vyagrair hiraṇmaya-bhujair iva karṇikāraḥ

Dark of hue, girded with a golden waistband, crowned with a helmet radiant as the sun, His face adorned with earrings and bee-black curling locks, His many golden arms holding conch, lotus, discus, arrow, bow, mace, sword and shield — He appeared like a karnikara tree in full blossom.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.7.21)

वक्षस्यधिश्रितवधूर्वनमाल्युदार हासावलोककलया रमयंश्च विश्वम् । पार्श्वभ्रमद्वयजनचामरराजहंसः श्वेतातपत्रशशिनोपरि रज्यमानः ॥ २१ ॥

vakṣasy adhiśrita-vadhūr vana-māly udāra- hāsāvaloka-kalayā ramayaṁś ca viśvam pārśva-bhramad-vyajana-cāmara-rāja-haṁsaḥ śvetātapatra-śaśinopari rajyamānaḥ

With the goddess of fortune resting upon His chest, wearing a garland of forest flowers, delighting the whole universe with the gracious play of His smile and glance, with royal-swan-white fans and chamaras waving at His sides, and above Him a white parasol shining like the moon —

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.7.22)

तमुपागतमालक्ष्य सर्वे सुरगणादयः । प्रणेमुः सहसोत्थाय ब्रह्मेन्द्रत्र्यक्षनायकाः ॥ २२ ॥

tam upāgatam ālakṣya sarve sura-gaṇādayaḥ praṇemuḥ sahasotthāya brahmendra-tryakṣa-nāyakāḥ

— seeing Him thus arrived, all the assembled gods, headed by Brahma, Indra and the three-eyed Shiva, rose up at once and bowed down before Him.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.7.23)

तत्तेजसा हतरुचः सन्नजिह्वाः ससाध्वसाः । मूर्ध्ना धृताञ्जलिपुटा उपतस्थुरधोक्षजम् ॥ २३ ॥

tat-tejasā hata-rucaḥ sanna-jihvāḥ sa-sādhvasāḥ mūrdhnā dhṛtāñjali-puṭā upatasthur adhokṣajam

Their own splendor eclipsed by His radiance, their voices stilled, filled with reverent awe, they stood before Adhokshaja (Vishnu) with joined palms raised to their foreheads.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.7.24)

अप्यर्वाग्वृत्तयो यस्य महि त्वात्मभुवादयः । यथामति गृणन्ति स्म कृतानुग्रहविग्रहम् ॥ २४ ॥

apy arvāg-vṛttayo yasya mahi tv ātmabhuv-ādayaḥ yathā-mati gṛṇanti sma kṛtānugraha-vigraham

Though their minds function only within finite bounds and cannot fathom His true greatness, Atmabhu (Brahma) and the others began, each according to his own capacity, to praise that form which He had graciously assumed.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.7.25)

दक्षो गृहीतार्हणसादनोत्तमं यज्ञेश्वरं विश्वसृजां परं गुरुम् । सुनन्दनन्दाद्यनुगैर्वृतं मुदा गृणन् प्रपेदे प्रयतः कृताञ्जलिः ॥ २५ ॥

dakṣo gṛhītārhaṇa-sādanottamaṁ yajñeśvaraṁ viśva-sṛjāṁ paraṁ gurum sunanda-nandādy-anugair vṛtaṁ mudā gṛṇan prapede prayataḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

Daksha, seeing the offering of his worship accepted and the finest seat presented, approached with joined palms and pure heart the Lord of all sacrifice, the supreme guru of all the creators, surrounded joyfully by attendants like Sunanda and Nanda, and praised Him as he took refuge in Him.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.7.26)

दक्ष उवाच शुद्धं स्वधाम्न्युपरताखिलबुद्ध्यवस्थं चिन्मात्रमेकमभयं प्रतिषिध्य मायाम् । तिष्ठंस्तयैव पुरुषत्वमुपेत्य तस्या- मास्ते भवानपरिशुद्ध इवात्मतन्त्रः ॥ २६ ॥

dakṣa uvāca śuddhaṁ sva-dhāmny uparatākhila-buddhy-avasthaṁ cin-mātram ekam abhayaṁ pratiṣidhya māyām tiṣṭhaṁs tayaiva puruṣatvam upetya tasyām āste bhavān apariśuddha ivātma-tantraḥ

Daksha said: You are pure, established in your own abode, beyond all conditions of the intellect, one, entirely conscious, and free of fear — yet, having set aside your maya, you assume, through that very maya, the form of a person, and appear within it, as though not entirely pure, though you remain wholly self-governed and independent.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.7.27)

ऋत्विज ऊचुः तत्त्वं न ते वयमनञ्जन रुद्रशापात् कर्मण्यवग्रहधियो भगवन्विदामः । धर्मोपलक्षणमिदं त्रिवृदध्वराख्यं ज्ञातं यदर्थमधिदैवमदो व्यवस्थाः ॥ २७ ॥

ṛtvija ūcuḥ tattvaṁ na te vayam anañjana rudra-śāpāt karmaṇy avagraha-dhiyo bhagavan vidāmaḥ dharmopalakṣaṇam idaṁ trivṛd adhvarākhyaṁ jñātaṁ yad-artham adhidaivam ado vyavasthāḥ

The priests said: O Bhagavan, untouched by any impurity, because of the curse of Rudra's followers our minds became fixed only on ritual action, and so we could not know your true nature; we knew only this threefold sacrifice as a mark of dharma, without understanding the divine arrangement for whose sake it exists.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.7.28)

सदस्या ऊचुः उत्पत्त्यध्वन्यशरण उरुक्लेशदुर्गेऽन्तकोग्र व्यालान्विष्टे विषयमृगतृष्यात्मगेहोरुभारः । द्वन्द्वश्वभ्रे खलमृगभये शोकदावेऽज्ञसार्थः पादौकस्ते शरणद कदा याति कामोपसृष्टः ॥ २८ ॥

sadasyā ūcuḥ utpatty-adhvany aśaraṇa uru-kleśa-durge ’ntakogra- vyālānviṣṭe viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣy ātma-gehoru-bhāraḥ dvandva-śvabhre khala-mṛga-bhaye śoka-dāve ’jña-sārthaḥ pādaukas te śaraṇada kadā yāti kāmopasṛṣṭaḥ

The members of the assembly said: On this shelterless road of repeated birth, in this forbidding fortress of manifold suffering, infested by death's fierce serpents, burdened by the mirage-thirst of sense-objects and the heavy weight of home and family, amid pitfalls of dualities, terrors of wicked beasts, and the forest-fire of grief — when, O giver of shelter, will this company of the ignorant, driven by desire, ever reach the refuge of your feet?

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.7.29)

रुद्र उवाच तव वरद वराङ्घ्रावाशिषेहाखिलार्थे ह्यपि मुनिभिरसक्तैरादरेणार्हणीये । यदि रचितधियं माविद्यलोकोऽपविद्धं जपति न गणये तत्त्वत्परानुग्रहेण ॥ २९ ॥

rudra uvāca tava varada varāṅghrāv āśiṣehākhilārthe hy api munibhir asaktair ādareṇārhaṇīye yadi racita-dhiyaṁ māvidya-loko ’paviddhaṁ japati na gaṇaye tat tvat-parānugraheṇa

Sri Rudra said: O bestower of every blessing, whose supreme feet, fulfillers of every desire, are honored with such reverence even by sages who are free of all attachment — if my mind, fixed at your feet, is nevertheless denounced by ignorant people as impure, I pay no heed to it, and this too is by your gracious favor toward me.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.7.30)

भृगुरुवाच यन्मायया गहनयापहृतात्मबोधा ब्रह्मादयस्तनुभृतस्तमसि स्वपन्तः । नात्मन् श्रितं तव विदन्त्यधुनापि तत्त्वं सोऽयं प्रसीदतु भवान्प्रणतात्मबन्धुः ॥ ३० ॥

bhṛgur uvāca yan māyayā gahanayāpahṛtātma-bodhā brahmādayas tanu-bhṛtas tamasi svapantaḥ nātman-śritaṁ tava vidanty adhunāpi tattvaṁ so ’yaṁ prasīdatu bhavān praṇatātma-bandhuḥ

Sri Bhrigu said: By your profound maya, all embodied beings, from Brahma downward, have their self-knowledge taken away, and sleep in darkness; even now they do not know the truth of you dwelling within the self. May you, the friend of every surrendered soul, be pleased with us.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.7.31)

ब्रह्मोवाच नैतत्स्वरूपं भवतोऽसौ पदार्थ भेदग्रहैः पुरुषो यावदीक्षेत् । ज्ञानस्य चार्थस्य गुणस्य चाश्रयो मायामयाद्वयतिरिक्तो मतस्त्वम् ॥ ३१ ॥

brahmovāca naitat svarūpaṁ bhavato ’sau padārtha- bheda-grahaiḥ puruṣo yāvad īkṣet jñānasya cārthasya guṇasya cāśrayo māyāmayād vyatirikto matas tvam

Sri Brahma said: A person who perceives through the differentiated grasp of material objects cannot ever perceive this your true form; you, though the very source of knowledge, its objects, and the qualities involved, are held to be entirely distinct from all that is made of maya.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.7.32)

इन्द्र उवाच इदमप्यच्युत विश्वभावनं वपुरानन्दकरं मनोदृशाम् । सुरविद्विट्क्षपणैरुदायुधै र्भुजदण्डैरुपपन्नमष्टभिः ॥ ३२ ॥

indra uvāca idam apy acyuta viśva-bhāvanaṁ vapur ānanda-karaṁ mano-dṛśām sura-vidviṭ-kṣapaṇair udāyudhair bhuja-daṇḍair upapannam aṣṭabhiḥ

Sri Indra said: O Achyuta, this form of yours too, which creates blessing for the whole universe and delights the mind and eyes of all, is equipped with eight uplifted mighty arms bearing weapons ready to destroy the enemies of the gods.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.4.7.33)

पत्न्य ऊचुः यज्ञोऽयं तव यजनाय केन सृष्टो विध्वस्तः पशुपतिनाद्य दक्षकोपात् । तं नस्त्वं शवशयनाभशान्तमेधं यज्ञात्मन्नलिनरुचा दृशा पुनीहि ॥ ३३ ॥

patnya ūcuḥ yajño ’yaṁ tava yajanāya kena sṛṣṭo vidhvastaḥ paśupatinādya dakṣa-kopāt taṁ nas tvaṁ śava-śayanābha-śānta-medhaṁ yajñātman nalina-rucā dṛśā punīhi

The wives (of the priests) said: This sacrifice, arranged for your own worship, has today been destroyed by Pashupati (Shiva) out of anger at Daksha; O soul of sacrifice, now purify for us these once-flourishing but now corpse-like, silenced sacrificial rites with the glance of your lotus-like eyes.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.4.7.34)

ऋषय ऊचुः अनन्वितं ते भगवन् विचेष्टितं यदात्मना चरसि हि कर्म नाज्यसे । विभूतये यत उपसेदुरीश्वरीं न मन्यते स्वयमनुवर्ततीं भवान् ॥ ३४ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ ananvitaṁ te bhagavan viceṣṭitaṁ yad ātmanā carasi hi karma nājyase vibhūtaye yata upasedur īśvarīṁ na manyate svayam anuvartatīṁ bhavān

The sages said: O Bhagavan, your activities are without any comparable equal — you engage in action through your own energies, yet remain wholly untouched by it; even the goddess of opulence, whom others approach for her favor, you do not regard, though she herself remains ever devoted to you.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.4.7.35)

सिद्धा ऊचुः अयं त्वत्कथामृष्टपीयूषनद्यां मनोवारणः क्लेशदावाग्निदग्धः । तृषार्तोऽवगाढो न सस्मार दावं न निष्क्रामति ब्रह्मसम्पन्नवन्नः ॥ ३५ ॥

siddhā ūcuḥ ayaṁ tvat-kathā-mṛṣṭa-pīyūṣa-nadyāṁ mano-vāraṇaḥ kleśa-dāvāgni-dagdhaḥ tṛṣārto ’vagāḍho na sasmāra dāvaṁ na niṣkrāmati brahma-sampannavan naḥ

The Siddhas said: This mind of ours, an elephant scorched by the forest-fire of suffering and tormented by thirst, having plunged into the nectar-river of your sacred stories, forgets that fire entirely, and, as though it had attained Brahman itself, has no wish ever to come out again.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.4.7.36)

यजमान्युवाच स्वागतं ते प्रसीदेश तुभ्यं नमः श्रीनिवास श्रिया कान्तया त्राहि नः । त्वामृतेऽधीश नाङ्गैर्मखः शोभते शीर्षहीनः कबन्धो यथा पुरुषः ॥ ३६ ॥

yajamāny uvāca svāgataṁ te prasīdeśa tubhyaṁ namaḥ śrīnivāsa śriyā kāntayā trāhi naḥ tvām ṛte ’dhīśa nāṅgair makhaḥ śobhate śīrṣa-hīnaḥ ka-bandho yathā puruṣaḥ

The wife of the sacrificer said: Welcome to you, O Lord; be pleased with us; obeisances to you, O abode of Shri; protect us together with your beloved consort Lakshmi. Without you, O supreme ruler, this sacrifice with all its limbs cannot shine, just as a headless trunk cannot be called a true man.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.4.7.37)

लोकपाला ऊचुः दृष्टः किं नो दृग्भिरसद्ग्रहैस्त्वं प्रत्यग्द्रष्टा दृश्यते येन विश्वम् । माया ह्येषा भवदीया हि भूमन् यस्त्वं षष्ठः पञ्चभिर्भासि भूतैः ॥ ३७ ॥

lokapālā ūcuḥ dṛṣṭaḥ kiṁ no dṛgbhir asad-grahais tvaṁ pratyag-draṣṭā dṛśyate yena viśvam māyā hy eṣā bhavadīyā hi bhūman yas tvaṁ ṣaṣṭhaḥ pañcabhir bhāsi bhūtaiḥ

The guardians of the worlds said: Have we truly seen you with these eyes, which grasp only unreal things, when it is by You, the inner witness, that this whole universe is seen? O infinite one, this is but your own maya — that you, the sixth, should appear as though composed merely of the five material elements.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.4.7.38)

योगेश्वरा ऊचु प्रेयान्न तेऽन्योऽस्त्यमुतस्त्वयि प्रभो विश्वात्मनीक्षेन्न पृथग्य आत्मनः । अथापि भक्त्येश तयोपधावता- मनन्यवृत्त्यानुगृहाण वत्सल ॥ ३८ ॥

yogeśvarā ūcuḥ preyān na te ’nyo ’sty amutas tvayi prabho viśvātmanīkṣen na pṛthag ya ātmanaḥ athāpi bhaktyeśa tayopadhāvatām ananya-vṛttyānugṛhāṇa vatsala

The masters of yoga said: O lord, none is dearer to you than one who, seeing you as the Self of the universe, does not regard himself as different from you; yet, O affectionate one, be pleased to bestow your grace also upon those who approach you with single-minded devotion, as your servants.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.4.7.39)

जगदुद्भवस्थितिलयेषु दैवतो बहुभिद्यमानगुणयात्ममायया । रचितात्मभेदमतये स्वसंस्थया विनिवर्तितभ्रमगुणात्मने नमः ॥ ३९ ॥

jagad-udbhava-sthiti-layeṣu daivato bahu-bhidyamāna-guṇayātma-māyayā racitātma-bheda-mataye sva-saṁsthayā vinivartita-bhrama-guṇātmane namaḥ

Obeisances to that divine one, who through his own maya, dividing itself into many gunas, appears variously at the world's creation, maintenance and dissolution — creating in others the illusion of separateness from himself, yet who, through his own true nature, remains ever free from the delusion of these material qualities.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.4.7.40)

ब्रह्मोवाच नमस्ते श्रितसत्त्वाय धर्मादीनां च सूतये । निर्गुणाय च यत्काष्ठां नाहं वेदापरेऽपि च ॥ ४० ॥

brahmovāca namas te śrita-sattvāya dharmādīnāṁ ca sūtaye nirguṇāya ca yat-kāṣṭhāṁ nāhaṁ vedāpare ’pi ca

[The personified Vedas said:] Obeisances to you, who take shelter in pure goodness, who are the source of dharma and all other virtues, and who remain beyond material qualities — even I, along with others, do not know the ultimate limit of your greatness.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.4.7.41)

अग्निरुवाच यत्तेजसाहं सुसमिद्धतेजा हव्यं वहे स्वध्वर आज्यसिक्तम् । तं यज्ञियं पञ्चविधं च पञ्चभिः स्विष्टं यजुर्भिः प्रणतोऽस्मि यज्ञम् ॥ ४१ ॥

agnir uvāca yat-tejasāhaṁ susamiddha-tejā havyaṁ vahe svadhvara ājya-siktam taṁ yajñiyaṁ pañca-vidhaṁ ca pañcabhiḥ sviṣṭaṁ yajurbhiḥ praṇato ’smi yajñam

Sri Agni said: By whose splendor I, blazing brightly, carry the ghee-soaked oblations offered in the sacrifice — to that fivefold sacrificial being, well-worshiped through the five kinds of Yajur hymns, to that very sacrifice personified, I bow down.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.4.7.42)

देवा ऊचुः पुरा कल्पापाये स्वकृतमुदरीकृत्य विकृतं त्वमेवाद्यस्तस्मिन् सलिल उरगेन्द्राधिशयने । पुमान्शेषे सिद्धैर्हृदि विमृशिताध्यात्मपदविः स एवाद्याक्ष्णोर्यः पथि चरसि भृत्यानवसि नः ॥ ४२ ॥

devā ūcuḥ purā kalpāpāye sva-kṛtam udarī-kṛtya vikṛtaṁ tvam evādyas tasmin salila uragendrādhiśayane pumān śeṣe siddhair hṛdi vimṛśitādhyātma-padaviḥ sa evādyākṣṇor yaḥ pathi carasi bhṛtyān avasi naḥ

The gods said: In ancient times, at the end of a kalpa, having withdrawn your own creation into yourself, you alone, the primeval Person, rested upon the ocean of dissolution on the bed of the serpent-king, sought within the heart by the perfected sages through spiritual contemplation — that same you now walk visibly before our very eyes; protect us, your servants.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.4.7.43)

गन्धर्वा ऊचुः अंशांशास्ते देव मरीच्यादय एते ब्रह्मेन्द्राद्या देवगणा रुद्रपुरोगाः । क्रीडाभाण्डं विश्वमिदं यस्य विभूमन् तस्मै नित्यं नाथ नमस्ते करवाम ॥ ४३ ॥

gandharvā ūcuḥ aṁśāṁśās te deva marīcy-ādaya ete brahmendrādyā deva-gaṇā rudra-purogāḥ krīḍā-bhāṇḍaṁ viśvam idaṁ yasya vibhūman tasmai nityaṁ nātha namas te karavāma

The Gandharvas said: O lord, these — Marichi and the other sages, Brahma, Indra and the hosts of gods with Rudra at their head — are but fractions of your fractional expansions; O infinite one, for whom this entire universe is merely a plaything, to you, our eternal master, we offer our constant obeisances.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.4.7.44)

विद्याधरा ऊचुः त्वन्माययार्थमभिपद्य कलेवरेऽस्मिन् कृत्वा ममाहमिति दुर्मतिरुत्पथैः स्वैः । क्षिप्तोऽप्यसद्विषयलालस आत्ममोहं युष्मत्कथामृतनिषेवक उद्वयुदस्येत् ॥ ४४ ॥

vidyādharā ūcuḥ tvan-māyayārtham abhipadya kalevare ’smin kṛtvā mamāham iti durmatir utpathaiḥ svaiḥ kṣipto ’py asad-viṣaya-lālasa ātma-mohaṁ yuṣmat-kathāmṛta-niṣevaka udvyudasyet

The Vidyadharas said: Even a fool who, deceived by your maya, mistakes this body for the goal of life, thinking "I" and "mine," and who, driven onto wayward paths, remains eager for illusory sense-pleasure, casting himself down — even he, if he becomes a devoted drinker of the nectar of your holy stories, can cast off this delusion regarding the self.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.4.7.45)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः त्वं क्रतुस्त्वं हविस्त्वं हुताशः स्वयंत्वं हि मन्त्रः समिद्दर्भपात्राणि च । त्वं सदस्यर्त्विजो दम्पती देवताअग्निहोत्रं स्वधा सोम आज्यं पशुः ॥ ४५ ॥

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ tvaṁ kratus tvaṁ havis tvaṁ hutāśaḥ svayaṁ tvaṁ hi mantraḥ samid-darbha-pātrāṇi ca tvaṁ sadasyartvijo dampatī devatā agnihotraṁ svadhā soma ājyaṁ paśuḥ

The brahmanas said: You are the sacrifice, you are the oblation, you yourself are the sacrificial fire, you are the mantra, the sacred fuel, the kusha grass, and the vessels. You are the assembly members, the priests, the sacrificer and his wife, the deities worshiped, the fire-offering itself, the ancestral offering, the soma, the ghee, and the sacrificial animal.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.4.7.46)

त्वं पुरा गां रसाया महासूकरो दंष्ट्रया पद्मिनीं वारणेन्द्रो यथा । स्तूयमानो नदल्लीलया योगिभि- र्व्युज्जहर्थ त्रयीगात्र यज्ञक्रतुः ॥ ४६ ॥

tvaṁ purā gāṁ rasāyā mahā-sūkaro daṁṣṭrayā padminīṁ vāraṇendro yathā stūyamāno nadal līlayā yogibhir vyujjahartha trayī-gātra yajña-kratuḥ

O embodiment of the three Vedas, long ago, taking the form of the great boar, you lifted the earth from the cosmic waters upon your tusk, just as a lordly elephant lifts a lotus from a pond, roaring playfully as you were praised by the yogis — for that boar-form was itself the sacrifice personified.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.4.7.47)

स प्रसीद त्वमस्माकमाकाङ्क्षतां दर्शनं ते परिभ्रष्टसत्कर्मणाम् । कीर्त्यमाने नृभिर्नाम्नि यज्ञेश ते यज्ञविघ्नाः क्षयं यान्ति तस्मै नमः ॥ ४७ ॥

sa prasīda tvam asmākam ākāṅkṣatāṁ darśanaṁ te paribhraṣṭa-sat-karmaṇām kīrtyamāne nṛbhir nāmni yajñeśa te yajña-vighnāḥ kṣayaṁ yānti tasmai namaḥ

Be pleased with us, who long for your darshan, having fallen away from proper sacred duty. O lord of sacrifice, when men chant your holy name, every obstacle to sacrifice comes to an end — obeisance to that name of yours.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.4.7.48)

मैत्रेय उवाच इति दक्षः कविर्यज्ञं भद्र रुद्राभिमर्शितम् । कीर्त्यमाने हृषीकेशे सन्निन्ये यज्ञभावने ॥ ४८ ॥

maitreya uvāca iti dakṣaḥ kavir yajñaṁ bhadra rudrābhimarśitam kīrtyamāne hṛṣīkeśe sanninye yajña-bhāvane

Sri Maitreya said: O gentle Vidura, thus, while Hrishikesha, the very origin of sacrifice, was being glorified, the wise Daksha resumed the sacrifice that had been disrupted by Rudra's followers.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.4.7.49)

भगवान् स्वेन भागेन सर्वात्मा सर्वभागभुक् । दक्षं बभाष आभाष्य प्रीयमाण इवानघ ॥ ४९ ॥

bhagavān svena bhāgena sarvātmā sarva-bhāga-bhuk dakṣaṁ babhāṣa ābhāṣya prīyamāṇa ivānagha

O sinless one, Bhagavan, the Self of all and the enjoyer of every share of sacrifice, though satisfied merely with his own portion, addressed Daksha and, seemingly well pleased, spoke to him.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.4.7.50)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अहं ब्रह्मा च शर्वश्च जगतः कारणं परम् । आत्मेश्वर उपद्रष्टा स्वयंदृगविशेषणः ॥ ५० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ahaṁ brahmā ca śarvaś ca jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param ātmeśvara upadraṣṭā svayan-dṛg aviśeṣaṇaḥ

Sri Bhagavan said: I, along with Brahma and Sharva (Shiva), am the supreme cause of the universe. I am the Ishvara of the self, the witness of all, self-luminous, and without any distinction from those two.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.4.7.51)

आत्ममायां समाविश्य सोऽहं गुणमयीं द्विज । सृजन् रक्षन् हरन् विश्वं दध्रे संज्ञां क्रियोचिताम् ॥ ५१ ॥

ātma-māyāṁ samāviśya so ’haṁ guṇamayīṁ dvija sṛjan rakṣan haran viśvaṁ dadhre saṁjñāṁ kriyocitām

O twice-born, entering into my own maya composed of the three gunas, I, in creating, maintaining and dissolving this universe, assume names appropriate to each of those respective functions.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.4.7.52)

तस्मिन् ब्रह्मण्यद्वितीये केवले परमात्मनि । ब्रह्मरुद्रौ च भूतानि भेदेनाज्ञोऽनुपश्यति ॥ ५२ ॥

tasmin brahmaṇy advitīye kevale paramātmani brahma-rudrau ca bhūtāni bhedenājño ’nupaśyati

It is only the ignorant who see Brahma, Rudra and all other beings as separate from that one, non-dual, absolute Supreme Brahman.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.4.7.53)

यथा पुमान्न स्वाङ्गेषु शिरःपाण्यादिषु क्वचित् । पारक्यबुद्धिं कुरुते एवं भूतेषु मत्परः ॥ ५३ ॥

yathā pumān na svāṅgeṣu śiraḥ-pāṇy-ādiṣu kvacit pārakya-buddhiṁ kurute evaṁ bhūteṣu mat-paraḥ

Just as a person never regards the head, hands and other limbs of his own body as belonging to someone else, so too my devotee, devoted to me, never regards any being as separate from himself.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.4.7.54)

त्रयाणामेकभावानां यो न पश्यति वै भिदाम् । सर्वभूतात्मनां ब्रह्मन् स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥ ५४ ॥

trayāṇām eka-bhāvānāṁ yo na paśyati vai bhidām sarva-bhūtātmanāṁ brahman sa śāntim adhigacchati

O brahmana, one who does not perceive any difference among these three — who are, in truth, one — and who sees them as the Self of all beings, attains true peace.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.4.7.55)

मैत्रेय उवाच एवं भगवतादिष्टः प्रजापतिपतिर्हरिम् । अर्चित्वा क्रतुना स्वेन देवानुभयतोऽयजत् ॥ ५५ ॥

maitreya uvāca evaṁ bhagavatādiṣṭaḥ prajāpati-patir harim arcitvā kratunā svena devān ubhayato ’yajat

Sri Maitreya said: Thus instructed by the Lord, Daksha, the lord of all Prajapatis, worshiped Bhagavan Hari with the sacrifice due to him, and then worshiped the other gods on both sides as well.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.4.7.56)

रुद्रं च स्वेन भागेन ह्युपाधावत्समाहितः । कर्मणोदवसानेन सोमपानितरानपि । उदवस्य सहर्त्विग्भिः सस्नाववभृथं ततः ॥ ५६ ॥

rudraṁ ca svena bhāgena hy upādhāvat samāhitaḥ karmaṇodavasānena somapān itarān api udavasya sahartvigbhiḥ sasnāv avabhṛthaṁ tataḥ

With focused mind he worshiped Rudra also with his own due portion, and, upon the completion of the ritual, satisfied the soma-drinking gods and the others as well; then, together with the priests, having completed the closing rites, he bathed in the concluding purificatory bath.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.4.7.57)

तस्मा अप्यनुभावेन स्वेनैवावाप्तराधसे । धर्म एव मतिं दत्त्वा त्रिदशास्ते दिवं ययुः ॥ ५७ ॥

tasmā apy anubhāvena svenaivāvāpta-rādhase dharma eva matiṁ dattvā tridaśās te divaṁ yayuḥ

The gods, blessing him — who through his own devotion had attained such fulfillment — that his mind might remain ever fixed on dharma, then departed for the heavenly realm.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.4.7.58)

एवं दाक्षायणी हित्वा सती पूर्वकलेवरम् । जज्ञे हिमवतः क्षेत्रे मेनायामिति शुश्रुम ॥ ५८ ॥

evaṁ dākṣāyaṇī hitvā satī pūrva-kalevaram jajñe himavataḥ kṣetre menāyām iti śuśruma

Sri Maitreya said: Thus, I have heard, after Dakshayani (Sati) gave up her former body, she was reborn in the domain of Himavan, as the daughter of Mena.

Verse 59 (bhagavata.4.7.59)

तमेव दयितं भूय आवृङ्क्ते पतिमम्बिका । अनन्यभावैकगतिं शक्तिः सुप्तेव पूरुषम् ॥ ५९ ॥

tam eva dayitaṁ bhūya āvṛṅkte patim ambikā ananya-bhāvaika-gatiṁ śaktiḥ supteva pūruṣam

Ambika (the goddess), whose single-minded devotion admits no other refuge, again accepted that same beloved husband — just as Shakti, though as if dormant, ever finds her way back to Purusha.

Verse 60 (bhagavata.4.7.60)

एतद्भगवतः शम्भोः कर्म दक्षाध्वरद्रुहः । श्रुतं भागवताच्छिष्यादुद्धवान्मे बृहस्पतेः ॥ ६० ॥

etad bhagavataḥ śambhoḥ karma dakṣādhvara-druhaḥ śrutaṁ bhāgavatāc chiṣyād uddhavān me bṛhaspateḥ

Sri Maitreya said: This account of the deed of Bhagavan Shambhu, who destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha, I heard from Uddhava, a devotee and disciple of Brihaspati.

Verse 61 (bhagavata.4.7.61)

इदं पवित्रं परमीशचेष्टितं यशस्यमायुष्यमघौघमर्षणम् । यो नित्यदाकर्ण्य नरोऽनुकीर्तयेद् धुनोत्यघं कौरव भक्तिभावतः ॥ ६१ ॥

idaṁ pavitraṁ param īśa-ceṣṭitaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyam aghaugha-marṣaṇam yo nityadākarṇya naro ’nukīrtayed dhunoty aghaṁ kaurava bhakti-bhāvataḥ

O descendant of Kuru, this supremely sacred narrative of the Lord's activities bestows fame and long life, and destroys the mass of one's sins; whoever regularly hears it and, with devotion, recites it to others, shakes off all sin.