The Destruction of the Sacrifice

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.20.1)

वायुरुवाच । ततो विष्णुप्रधानानां सुराणाममितौजसाम् । ददर्श च महत्सत्रं चित्रध्वजपरिच्छदम्

vāyuruvāca | tato viṣṇupradhānānāṁ surāṇāmamitaujasām | dadarśa ca mahatsatraṁ citradhvajaparicchadam

Vayu said: Then he beheld that great sacrificial session of the gods, led by Vishnu, of immeasurable splendor, adorned with wondrous banners.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.20.2)

सुदर्भऋतुसंस्तीर्णं सुसमिद्धहुताशनम् । काञ्चनैर्यज्ञभाण्डैश्च भ्राजिष्णुभिरलङ्कृतम्

sudarbhaṛtusaṁstīrṇaṁ susamiddhahutāśanam | kāñcanairyajñabhāṇḍaiśca bhrājiṣṇubhiralaṅkṛtam

It was strewn with fine kusha grass and seasonal offerings, its fire well-kindled, and adorned with gleaming golden sacrificial vessels.

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.20.3)

ऋषिभिर्यज्ञपटुभिर्यथावत्कर्मकर्तृभिः । विधिना वेददृष्टेन स्वनुष्ठितबहुक्रमम्

ṛṣibhiryajñapaṭubhiryathāvatkarmakartṛbhiḥ | vidhinā vedadṛṣṭena svanuṣṭhitabahukramam

Its many stages were being duly performed, in proper order, by sages skilled in sacrifice, carrying out the rites exactly as prescribed by Vedic ordinance.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.20.4)

देवाङ्गनासहस्राढ्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम् । वेणुवीणारवैर्जुष्टं वेदघोषैश्च बृंहितम्

devāṅganāsahasrāḍhyamapsarogaṇasevitam | veṇuvīṇāravairjuṣṭaṁ vedaghoṣaiśca bṛṁhitam

It was rich with thousands of divine women, attended by hosts of apsarases, filled with the sounds of flute and vina, and resounding with Vedic chants.

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.20.5)

दृष्ट्वा दक्षाध्वरं वीरो वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् । सिंहनादं तदा चक्रे गम्भीरो जलदो यथा

dṛṣṭvā dakṣādhvaraṁ vīro vīrabhadraḥ pratāpavān | siṁhanādaṁ tadā cakre gambhīro jalado yathā

Seeing Daksha's sacrifice, the valorous and mighty Virabhadra then let out a lion's roar, deep as a thundercloud.

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.20.6)

ततः किलकिलाशब्द आकाशं पूरयन्निव । गणेश्वरैः कृतो जज्ञे महान्न्यक्कृतसागरः

tataḥ kilakilāśabda ākāśaṁ pūrayanniva | gaṇeśvaraiḥ kṛto jajñe mahānnyakkṛtasāgaraḥ

Then, from the lords of the ganas, arose a mighty clamor as though filling the whole sky, so tremendous that it eclipsed even the roar of the ocean.

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.20.7)

तेन शब्देन महता ग्रस्ताः सर्वे दिवौकसः । दुद्रुवुः परितो भीताः स्रस्तवस्त्रविभूषणाः

tena śabdena mahatā grastāḥ sarve divaukasaḥ | dudruvuḥ parito bhītāḥ srastavastravibhūṣaṇāḥ

Seized by that tremendous sound, all the dwellers of heaven, terrified, fled in every direction, their garments and ornaments falling loose.

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.20.8)

किंस्विद्भग्नो महामेरुः किंस्वित्सन्दीर्यते मही । किमिदं किमिदं वेति जजल्पुस्त्रिदशा भृशम्

kiṁsvidbhagno mahāmeruḥ kiṁsvitsandīryate mahī | kimidaṁ kimidaṁ veti jajalpustridaśā bhṛśam

"Has great Meru shattered? Is the earth splitting apart? What is this, what is this?" — thus the gods babbled, greatly agitated.

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.20.9)

मृगेन्द्राणां यथा नादं गजेन्द्रा गहने वने । श्रुत्वा तथाविधं केचित्तत्यजुर्जीवितं भयात्

mṛgendrāṇāṁ yathā nādaṁ gajendrā gahane vane | śrutvā tathāvidhaṁ kecittatyajurjīvitaṁ bhayāt

As lordly elephants, in a dense forest, are seized with fear upon hearing the roar of lions, so too, upon hearing that sound, some gave up their lives from fear.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.20.10)

पर्वताश्च व्यशीर्यन्त चकम्पे च वसुन्धरा । मरुतश्च व्यघूर्णन्त चुक्षुभे मकरालयः

parvatāśca vyaśīryanta cakampe ca vasundharā | marutaśca vyaghūrṇanta cukṣubhe makarālayaḥ

Mountains began to crumble, the earth trembled, the winds whirled in turmoil, and the ocean, abode of sea-monsters, was thrown into agitation.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.20.11)

अग्नयो नैव दीप्यन्ते न च दीप्यति भास्करः । ग्रहाश्च न प्रकाशन्ते नक्षत्राणि च तारकाः

agnayo naiva dīpyante na ca dīpyati bhāskaraḥ | grahāśca na prakāśante nakṣatrāṇi ca tārakāḥ

The fires ceased to blaze, the sun itself gave no light, and the planets, the lunar mansions, and the stars shone no more.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.20.12)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु यज्ञवाटं तदुज्ज्वलम् । सम्प्राप भगवान्भद्रो भद्रैश्च सह भद्रया

etasminneva kāle tu yajñavāṭaṁ tadujjvalam | samprāpa bhagavānbhadro bhadraiśca saha bhadrayā

At this very time, the lord Bhadra, together with his auspicious hosts and with Bhadra, arrived at that blazing sacrificial enclosure.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.20.13)

तं दृष्ट्वा भीतभीतोऽपि दक्षो दृढ इव स्थितः । क्रुद्धवद् वचनं प्राह को भवान् किमिहेच्छसि

taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhītabhīto'pi dakṣo dṛḍha iva sthitaḥ | kruddhavad vacanaṁ prāha ko bhavān kimihecchasi

Seeing him, Daksha, though thoroughly terrified, stood as if resolute, and spoke in a wrathful tone: Who are you? What do you seek here?

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.20.14)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षस्य च दुरात्मनः । वीरभद्रो महातेजा मेघगम्भीरनिःस्वनः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dakṣasya ca durātmanaḥ | vīrabhadro mahātejā meghagambhīraniḥsvanaḥ

Hearing that speech of the wicked-souled Daksha, the greatly resplendent Virabhadra, whose voice was deep as thunderclouds —

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.20.15)

स्मयन्निव तमालोक्य दक्षं देवांश्च ऋत्विजः । अर्थगर्भमसम्भ्रान्तमवोचदुचितं वचः

smayanniva tamālokya dakṣaṁ devāṁśca ṛtvijaḥ | arthagarbhamasambhrāntamavocaducitaṁ vacaḥ

— looked, as if smiling, upon Daksha, the gods, and the officiating priests, and spoke words that were meaningful, unshaken, and fitting.

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.20.16)

वीरभद्र उवाच । वयं ह्यनुचराः सर्वे शर्वस्यामिततेजसः । भागाभिलिप्सया प्राप्ता भागो नः सम्प्रदीयताम्

vīrabhadra uvāca | vayaṁ hyanucarāḥ sarve śarvasyāmitatejasaḥ | bhāgābhilipsayā prāptā bhāgo naḥ sampradīyatām

Virabhadra said: We are all the followers of Sharva, of immeasurable splendor; we have come here desiring our own portion — let our share be given to us.

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.20.17)

अथ चेदध्वरेऽस्माकं न भागः परिकल्पितः । कथ्यतां कारणं तत्र युध्यतां वा मयामरैः

atha cedadhvare'smākaṁ na bhāgaḥ parikalpitaḥ | kathyatāṁ kāraṇaṁ tatra yudhyatāṁ vā mayāmaraiḥ

And if no portion has been allotted to us at this sacrifice, then let the reason be declared; otherwise, let the gods do battle with me.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.20.18)

इत्युक्तास्ते गणेन्द्रेण देवा दक्षपुरोगमाः । ऊचुर्मन्त्राः प्रमाणं नो न वयं प्रभवस्त्विति

ityuktāste gaṇendreṇa devā dakṣapurogamāḥ | ūcurmantrāḥ pramāṇaṁ no na vayaṁ prabhavastviti

Thus addressed by that lord of the ganas, the gods, with Daksha at their head, said: The mantras alone are our authority; we ourselves are not the deciders of this.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.20.19)

मन्त्रा ऊचुस्सुरा यूयं मोहोपहतचेतसः । येन प्रथमभागार्हं न यजध्वं महेश्वरम्

mantrā ūcussurā yūyaṁ mohopahatacetasaḥ | yena prathamabhāgārhaṁ na yajadhvaṁ maheśvaram

Then the mantras themselves spoke: O gods, your minds are overcome by delusion, since you have not worshiped Maheshvara, who is entitled to the first portion.

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.20.20)

मन्त्रोक्ता अपि ते देवाः सर्वे सम्मूढचेतसः । भद्राय न ददुर्भागं तत्प्रहाणमभीप्सवः

mantroktā api te devāḥ sarve sammūḍhacetasaḥ | bhadrāya na dadurbhāgaṁ tatprahāṇamabhīpsavaḥ

Even when told this by the mantras themselves, those gods, their minds utterly deluded, as though longing for their own destruction, did not give a portion to Bhadra.

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.20.21)

यदा तथ्यं च पथ्यं च स्ववाक्यं तद्वृथाऽभवत् । तदा ततो ययुर्मन्त्रा ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्

yadā tathyaṁ ca pathyaṁ ca svavākyaṁ tadvṛthā'bhavat | tadā tato yayurmantrā brahmalokaṁ sanātanam

When their own true and beneficial word thus went unheeded, the mantras then departed from that place to the eternal world of Brahma.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.20.22)

अथोवाच गणाध्यक्षो देवान् विष्णुपुरोगमान् । मन्त्राः प्रमाणं न कृता युष्माभिर्बलगर्वितैः

athovāca gaṇādhyakṣo devān viṣṇupurogamān | mantrāḥ pramāṇaṁ na kṛtā yuṣmābhirbalagarvitaiḥ

Then the chief of the ganas said to the gods, headed by Vishnu: You, intoxicated with pride in your own strength, have not even accepted the mantras' own word as authority.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.20.23)

यस्मादस्मिन् मखे देवैरित्थं वयमसत्कृताः । तस्माद्वो जीवितैस्सार्द्धमपनेष्यामि गर्वितम्

yasmādasmin makhe devairitthaṁ vayamasatkṛtāḥ | tasmādvo jīvitaissārddhamapaneṣyāmi garvitam

Since in this sacrifice we have been thus dishonored by the gods, therefore I shall strip away your pride, along with your very lives.

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.20.24)

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् क्रुद्धो व्यदहन्नेत्रवह्निना । यज्ञवाटं महाकूटं यथा तिस्रः पुरो हरः

ityuktvā bhagavān kruddho vyadahannetravahninā | yajñavāṭaṁ mahākūṭaṁ yathā tisraḥ puro haraḥ

Having said this, the wrathful lord burned that vast sacrificial enclosure with the fire of his eye, just as Hara once burned the three cities.

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.20.25)

ततो गणेश्वराः सर्वे पर्वतोदग्रविग्रहाः । यूपानुत्पाट्य होतॄणां कण्ठेष्वाबध्य रज्जुभिः

tato gaṇeśvarāḥ sarve parvatodagravigrahāḥ | yūpānutpāṭya hotṝṇāṁ kaṇṭheṣvābadhya rajjubhiḥ

Then all the lords of the ganas, their bodies towering as mountains, tore up the sacrificial posts and bound them with ropes about the necks of the officiating priests.

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.20.26)

यज्ञपात्राणि चित्राणि भित्त्वा सञ्चूर्ण्य वारिणि । गृहीत्वा चैव यज्ञाङ्गं गङ्गास्रोतसि चिक्षिपुः

yajñapātrāṇi citrāṇi bhittvā sañcūrṇya vāriṇi | gṛhītvā caiva yajñāṅgaṁ gaṅgāsrotasi cikṣipuḥ

Shattering the wondrous sacrificial vessels and grinding them to powder into the water, and seizing the very components of the sacrifice, they cast them into the stream of the Ganga.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.20.27)

तत्र दिव्यान्नपानानां राशयः पर्वतोपमाः । क्षीरनद्योऽमृतस्रावाः सुस्निग्धदधिकर्दमाः

tatra divyānnapānānāṁ rāśayaḥ parvatopamāḥ | kṣīranadyo'mṛtasrāvāḥ susnigdhadadhikardamāḥ

There were mounds of divine food and drink piled like mountains, rivers of milk flowing with nectar, and marshes thick with rich, unctuous curds.

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.20.28)

उच्चावचानि मांसानि भक्ष्याणि सुरभीणि च । रसवन्ति च पानानि लेह्यचोष्याणि तानि वै

uccāvacāni māṁsāni bhakṣyāṇi surabhīṇi ca | rasavanti ca pānāni lehyacoṣyāṇi tāni vai

There were meats of every kind, fragrant, along with victuals, savory drinks, and delicacies fit for licking and sucking.

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.20.29)

वीरास्तद्भुञ्जते वक्त्रैर्विलुम्पन्ति क्षिपन्ति च । वज्रैश्चक्रैर्महाशूलैः शक्तिभिः पाशपट्टिशैः

vīrāstadbhuñjate vaktrairvilumpanti kṣipanti ca | vajraiścakrairmahāśūlaiḥ śaktibhiḥ pāśapaṭṭiśaiḥ

The heroes devoured all these with their mouths, tore at them, and flung them about; and with thunderbolts, discuses, great tridents, spears, nooses, and battle-axes —

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.20.30)

मुसलैरसिभिष्टङ्कैर्भिन्दिपालैः परश्वधैः । उद्धतांस्त्रिदशान्सर्वांल्लोकपालपुरस्सरान्

musalairasibhiṣṭaṅkairbhindipālaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ | uddhatāṁstridaśānsarvāṁllokapālapurassarān

and with clubs, swords, chisel-axes, javelins, and battle-axes, those mighty heroes, born from Virabhadra's own limbs, struck at all the gods, arrogant, led by the guardians of the quarters —

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.20.31)

बिभिदुर्बलिनो वीरा वीरभद्राङ्गसम्भवाः । छिन्धि भिन्धि क्षिप क्षिप्रं मार्यतां दार्यतामिति

bibhidurbalino vīrā vīrabhadrāṅgasambhavāḥ | chindhi bhindhi kṣipa kṣipraṁ māryatāṁ dāryatāmiti

— cutting them down, crying out: "Cut! Pierce! Throw! Kill at once! Rend asunder!"

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.20.32)

हरस्व प्रहरस्वेति पाटयोत्पाटयेति च । संरम्भप्रभवाः क्रूराः शब्दाः श्रवणशङ्कवः

harasva praharasveti pāṭayotpāṭayeti ca | saṁrambhaprabhavāḥ krūrāḥ śabdāḥ śravaṇaśaṅkavaḥ

"Seize! Strike! Rend! Uproot!" — such were the fierce cries, born of fury, that pierced the ears like spikes,

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.20.33)

यत्र तत्र गणेशानां जज्ञिरे समरोचिताः । विवृत्तनयनाः केचिद् दष्टदंष्ट्रोष्ठतालवः

yatra tatra gaṇeśānāṁ jajñire samarocitāḥ | vivṛttanayanāḥ kecid daṣṭadaṁṣṭroṣṭhatālavaḥ

arising everywhere from the war-eager lords of the ganas; some had rolling eyes, biting their lips and palates with their own fangs.

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.20.34)

आश्रमस्थान् समाकृष्य मारयन्ति तपोधनान् । स्रुवानपहरन्तश्च क्षिपन्तोऽग्निं जलेषु च

āśramasthān samākṛṣya mārayanti tapodhanān | sruvānapaharantaśca kṣipanto'gniṁ jaleṣu ca

They dragged the ascetics dwelling in their hermitages and slew them; they snatched away the sacrificial ladles and cast the fire into the waters.

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.20.35)

कलशानपि भिन्दन्तश्छिन्दन्तो मणिवेदिकाः । गायन्तश्च नदन्तश्च हसन्तश्च मुहुर्मुहुः । रक्तासवं पिबन्तश्च ननृतुर्गणपुङ्गवाः

kalaśānapi bhindantaśchindanto maṇivedikāḥ | gāyantaśca nadantaśca hasantaśca muhurmuhuḥ | raktāsavaṁ pibantaśca nanṛturgaṇapuṅgavāḥ

Those foremost of the ganas shattered water-jars, destroyed the jeweled altars, and again and again sang, roared, and laughed, drinking blood as though it were wine, and danced.

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.20.36)

निर्मथ्य सेन्द्रानमरान् गणेन्द्रा वृषेन्द्रनागेन्द्रमृगेन्द्रसाराः । चक्रुर्बहून्यप्रतिमभावाः सहर्षरोमाणि विचेष्टितानि

nirmathya sendrānamarān gaṇendrā vṛṣendranāgendramṛgendrasārāḥ | cakrurbahūnyapratimabhāvāḥ saharṣaromāṇi viceṣṭitāni

Those lords of the ganas, whose might equaled the finest of bulls, elephants, and lions, having churned up the gods together with Indra, performed many acts, unparalleled and hair-raising, in their exultation.

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.20.37)

नन्दन्ति केचित्प्रहरन्ति केचित् धावन्ति केचित्प्रलपन्ति केचित्

nandanti kecitpraharanti kecit dhāvanti kecitpralapanti kecit

Some rejoiced, some struck blows, some ran about, some raved.

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.20.38)

नृत्यन्ति केचिद्विहसन्ति केचित् वल्गन्ति केचित्प्रमथा बलेन

nṛtyanti kecidvihasanti kecit valganti kecitpramathā balena

Some danced, some laughed uproariously; among those mighty Pramathas, some leapt about in their strength.

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.20.39)

केचिज्जिघृक्षन्ति घनान्स तोयान् केचिद्ग्रहीतुं रविमुत्पतन्ति । केचित्प्रसर्तुं पवनेन सार्द्धमिच्छन्ति भीमाः प्रमथा वियत्स्थाः

kecijjighṛkṣanti ghanānsa toyān kecidgrahītuṁ ravimutpatanti | kecitprasartuṁ pavanena sārddhamicchanti bhīmāḥ pramathā viyatsthāḥ

Those terrifying Pramathas, ranging through the sky — some wished to seize the water-laden clouds, some leapt up to catch the sun, and some desired to race along together with the wind itself.

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.20.40)

आक्षिप्य केचिच्च वरायुधानि महाभुजङ्गानिव वैनतेयाः । भ्रमन्ति देवानपि विद्रवन्तः खमण्डले पर्वतकूटकल्पाः

ākṣipya kecicca varāyudhāni mahābhujaṅgāniva vainateyāḥ | bhramanti devānapi vidravantaḥ khamaṇḍale parvatakūṭakalpāḥ

Some, snatching up their excellent weapons as the sons of Vinata seize great serpents, roamed the vault of the sky, huge as mountain peaks, pursuing even the fleeing gods.

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.20.41)

उत्पाट्य चोत्पाट्य गृहाणि केचित् सजालवातायनवेदिकानि । विक्षिप्य विक्षिप्य जलस्य मध्ये कालाम्बुदाभाः प्रमथा निनेदुः

utpāṭya cotpāṭya gṛhāṇi kecit sajālavātāyanavedikāni | vikṣipya vikṣipya jalasya madhye kālāmbudābhāḥ pramathā nineduḥ

Some, those Pramathas dark as storm clouds, tore up houses, complete with their latticed windows and platforms, again and again, and flung them into the midst of the waters, roaring as they did so.

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.20.42)

उद्वर्तितद्वारकपाटकुड्यं विध्वस्तशालावलभीगवाक्षम् । अहो बताभज्यत यज्ञवाटमनाप्तवद्वाक्यमिवायथार्थम्

udvartitadvārakapāṭakuḍyaṁ vidhvastaśālāvalabhīgavākṣam | aho batābhajyata yajñavāṭamanāptavadvākyamivāyathārtham

Doors, door-panels, and walls were torn up, halls, roof-ridges, and windows shattered — alas! that sacrificial enclosure broke apart, just as the untrue word of an unreliable person falls apart.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.20.43)

हा नाथ तातेति पितुः सुतेति भ्रातर्ममाम्बेति च मातुलेति । उत्पाट्यमानेषु गृहेषु नार्यो ह्यनाथशब्दान्बहुशः प्रचक्रुः

hā nātha tāteti pituḥ suteti bhrātarmamāmbeti ca mātuleti | utpāṭyamāneṣu gṛheṣu nāryo hyanāthaśabdānbahuśaḥ pracakruḥ

As the houses were torn asunder, the women repeatedly cried out with helpless, orphaned wails — "Alas, my lord!", "O father!", "O son!", "O brother!", "O my mother!", "O uncle!"