The Destruction of Daksha's Sacrifice

Verse 1 (skanda.7.199.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि तस्य दक्षिणतः स्थितम्। सरस्वत्यास्तटे रम्ये देवं तत्र कृतस्मरम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi tasya dakṣiṇataḥ sthitam| sarasvatyāstaṭe ramye devaṁ tatra kṛtasmaram

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to that god known as Kritasmara, situated to the south of that place, on the delightful bank of the Sarasvati.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.199.2)

स्वयंभूतं महादेवि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। तस्योत्पत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा जातं महीतले

svayaṁbhūtaṁ mahādevi sarvapāpapraṇāśanam| tasyotpattiṁ pravakṣyāmi yathā jātaṁ mahītale

O great Goddess, it is self-manifest and destroys all sin; I shall now relate its origin, how it came to be upon the earth.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.199.3)

पुरा कामो मया दग्धो यदा तत्र वरानने। तदा रतिः समागम्य विललाप सुदुःखिता

purā kāmo mayā dagdho yadā tatra varānane| tadā ratiḥ samāgamya vilalāpa suduḥkhitā

O fair-faced one, long ago, when I burned Kama to ashes there, Rati came to that place and, overwhelmed with grief, lamented bitterly.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.199.4)

तां तु शोकातुरां दृष्ट्वा तत्राहं करुणान्वितः। अवोचं मा रुदिष्वेति तव भर्ता पुनः शुभे। समुत्थास्यति कालेन मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः

tāṁ tu śokāturāṁ dṛṣṭvā tatrāhaṁ karuṇānvitaḥ| avocaṁ mā rudiṣveti tava bhartā punaḥ śubhe| samutthāsyati kālena matprasādānna saṁśayaḥ

Seeing her overwhelmed with grief, I was filled with compassion, and I said: 'Do not weep, O fair one; by my grace your husband shall, in time, rise again — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 5 (skanda.7.199.5)

देव्युवाच। किमर्थं स पुरा दग्धः कामदेवस्त्वया विभो। कथमाप पुनर्जन्म विस्तरात्कथयस्व मे

devyuvāca| kimarthaṁ sa purā dagdhaḥ kāmadevastvayā vibho| kathamāpa punarjanma vistarātkathayasva me

The Goddess said: O mighty Lord, for what reason did you once burn Kamadeva to ashes? How did he obtain rebirth? Tell me this in detail.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.199.6)

ईश्वर उवाच। दक्षः प्रजापतिः पूर्वं बभूव त्वत्पिता प्रिये। शतं सुतानां जज्ञेऽस्य गौरीणां दीर्घचक्षुषाम्

īśvara uvāca| dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvaṁ babhūva tvatpitā priye| śataṁ sutānāṁ jajñe'sya gaurīṇāṁ dīrghacakṣuṣām

Ishvara said: O beloved, in former times Daksha Prajapati was your father; to him were born a hundred fair, large-eyed daughters.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.199.7)

ददौ त्वां प्रथमं मह्यं सतीनामेति कीर्तिताम्। ददौ दश च धर्माय श्रद्धा मेधा धृतिः क्षमा

dadau tvāṁ prathamaṁ mahyaṁ satīnāmeti kīrtitām| dadau daśa ca dharmāya śraddhā medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

First he gave you to me, renowned as foremost among chaste wives; and he gave ten daughters to Dharma — Shraddha, Medha, Dhriti, Kshama,

Verse 8 (skanda.7.199.8)

अनसूया शुचिर्लज्जा स्मृतिः शक्तिः श्रुतिस्तथा। द्वे भार्ये कामदेवाय रतिः प्रीतिस्तथैव च

anasūyā śucirlajjā smṛtiḥ śaktiḥ śrutistathā| dve bhārye kāmadevāya ratiḥ prītistathaiva ca

Anasuya, Shuchi, Lajja, Smriti, Shakti, and Shruti; and to Kamadeva he gave two wives — Rati and Priti.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.199.9)

एकां स्वाहां ददौ वह्नेः पितॄणां च ततः स्वधाम्। सप्तविंशच्छशाङ्काय अश्विन्याद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः

ekāṁ svāhāṁ dadau vahneḥ pitṝṇāṁ ca tataḥ svadhām| saptaviṁśacchaśāṅkāya aśvinyādyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

One, Svaha, he gave to Agni; and then Svadha to the ancestral fathers; twenty-seven, beginning with Ashvini, are declared to have been given to the Moon.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.199.10)

तवापि विदिता देवि रेवत्यन्तास्तथा जने। कश्यपाय ददौ देवि स तु कन्यास्त्रयोदश

tavāpi viditā devi revatyantāstathā jane| kaśyapāya dadau devi sa tu kanyāstrayodaśa

O Goddess, those daughters ending with Revati are known to you as well among people; O Goddess, to Kashyapa he gave thirteen daughters.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.199.11)

अदितिश्च दितिश्चैव विनता कद्रुरेव च। सिंहिका सुप्रभा चैव उलूकी या वरानने

aditiśca ditiścaiva vinatā kadrureva ca| siṁhikā suprabhā caiva ulūkī yā varānane

Aditi and Diti, Vinata and Kadru, Simhika and Suprabha, and Uluki — O fair-faced one,

Verse 12 (skanda.7.199.12)

अनुविद्धा सिता चैव ईर्ष्या हिंसा तथा परा। माया निष्कृतिसंयुक्ता दक्षः पूर्वं महामतिः

anuviddhā sitā caiva īrṣyā hiṁsā tathā parā| māyā niṣkṛtisaṁyuktā dakṣaḥ pūrvaṁ mahāmatiḥ

Anuviddha and Sita, Irshya and Himsa, and further Maya and Nishkriti — all these, great-wise Daksha of old,

Verse 13 (skanda.7.199.13)

गौरी च सुप्रभा चैव वार्त्ता साध्वी सुमालिका। वरुणाय ददौ पञ्च तदाऽसौ पर्वतात्मजे

gaurī ca suprabhā caiva vārttā sādhvī sumālikā| varuṇāya dadau pañca tadā'sau parvatātmaje

O mountain-born one, Gauri, Suprabha, Vartta, Sadhvi, and Sumalika — these five daughters he then gave to Varuna.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.199.14)

भद्रा च मदिरा चैव विद्या धन्या धना शुभा। ददौ पञ्च कुबेराय पत्न्यर्थं पर्वतात्मजे

bhadrā ca madirā caiva vidyā dhanyā dhanā śubhā| dadau pañca kuberāya patnyarthaṁ parvatātmaje

O mountain-born one, Bhadra and Madira, Vidya, Dhanya, and Dhana — these five auspicious daughters he gave to Kubera as wives.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.199.15)

जया च विजया चैव मधुस्पन्दा इरावती। सुप्रिया जनका कान्ता सुभद्रा धार्मिका शुभा

jayā ca vijayā caiva madhuspandā irāvatī| supriyā janakā kāntā subhadrā dhārmikā śubhā

Jaya and Vijaya, Madhuspanda, Iravati, Supriya, Janaka, Kanta, Subhadra, Dharmika, and Shubha —

Verse 16 (skanda.7.199.16)

रुद्राणां प्रददौ कन्या दशानां धर्मवित्तदा। प्रभावती सुभद्रा च विमला निर्मलाऽनृता

rudrāṇāṁ pradadau kanyā daśānāṁ dharmavittadā| prabhāvatī subhadrā ca vimalā nirmalā'nṛtā

These ten daughters, Daksha, knower of Dharma, gave then to the ten Rudras; Prabhavati, Subhadra, Vimala, Nirmala, Anrita,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.199.17)

तीव्रा दक्षारुणा विद्या धारपाला च वर्चसा। आदित्यानां ददौ दक्षः कन्याद्वादशकं प्रिये

tīvrā dakṣāruṇā vidyā dhārapālā ca varcasā| ādityānāṁ dadau dakṣaḥ kanyādvādaśakaṁ priye

Tivra, Dakshaaruna, Vidya, Dharapala, and Varchasa — O beloved, these twelve daughters Daksha gave to the Adityas.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.199.18)

योगनिद्राभिभूतस्य संसर्पा सरमा गुहा। माला चंपा तथा ज्योत्स्ना स विश्वेभ्यश्च एव च

yoganidrābhibhūtasya saṁsarpā saramā guhā| mālā campā tathā jyotsnā sa viśvebhyaśca eva ca

Samsarpa, Sarama, Guha, Mala, Champa, and Jyotsna — these he gave to the Vishvedevas,

Verse 19 (skanda.7.199.19)

अश्विभ्यां द्वे तथा कन्ये सुवेषा भूषणा शुभा। एका कन्या तथा वायोर्दत्ता एताः प्रकीर्तिताः

aśvibhyāṁ dve tathā kanye suveṣā bhūṣaṇā śubhā| ekā kanyā tathā vāyordattā etāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

To the two Ashvins were given two daughters, Suvesha and the auspicious Bhushana; and one daughter was given to Vayu — thus have these been declared.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.199.20)

सावित्रीं ब्रह्मणे प्रादाल्लक्ष्मीं विष्णोर्महात्मनः। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स ईजे दक्षिणावता

sāvitrīṁ brahmaṇe prādāllakṣmīṁ viṣṇormahātmanaḥ| kasyacittvatha kālasya sa īje dakṣiṇāvatā

Savitri he gave to Brahma, and Lakshmi to the great-souled Vishnu. Then, after some time, Daksha performed a sacrifice abounding in sacrificial gifts.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.199.21)

यज्ञेन पर्वतसुते हिमवन्ते महागिरौ। यज्ञवाटो ह्यभूत्तस्य सर्वकामसमृद्धिमान्

yajñena parvatasute himavante mahāgirau| yajñavāṭo hyabhūttasya sarvakāmasamṛddhimān

O daughter of the mountain, this sacrifice took place upon the great mountain Himavan; his sacrificial enclosure was abundant with every desired thing.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.199.22)

तस्मिन्यज्ञे समायाता आदित्या वसव स्तथा। विश्वेदेवाश्च मरुतो लोकपालाश्च सर्वशः

tasminyajñe samāyātā ādityā vasava stathā| viśvedevāśca maruto lokapālāśca sarvaśaḥ

To that sacrifice came the Adityas and the Vasus, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, and all the guardians of the quarters.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.199.23)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुः सहस्राक्षो वारुणो यम एव च। धनदश्च कुमारश्च तथा नद्यश्च सागराः

brahmā viṣṇuḥ sahasrākṣo vāruṇo yama eva ca| dhanadaśca kumāraśca tathā nadyaśca sāgarāḥ

Brahma, Vishnu, thousand-eyed Indra, Varuna, and Yama; Kubera and Kumara, and the rivers and oceans as well.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.199.24)

वाप्यः कूपास्तथा चैव तडागाः पल्वलानि च। सुपर्णश्चाथ ये नागाः सर्वे मूर्ता व्यवस्थिताः

vāpyaḥ kūpāstathā caiva taḍāgāḥ palvalāni ca| suparṇaścātha ye nāgāḥ sarve mūrtā vyavasthitāḥ

Step-wells and wells, tanks and pools; Garuda, and the serpent-lords too, all took embodied form and stood present there.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.199.25)

दानवाप्सरसश्चैव यक्षाः किन्नरगुह्यकाः। सानुगास्ते सभार्याश्च वेदवेदांगपारगाः

dānavāpsarasaścaiva yakṣāḥ kinnaraguhyakāḥ| sānugāste sabhāryāśca vedavedāṁgapāragāḥ

The Danavas and Apsarases, the Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Guhyakas — all came together with their retinues and wives, versed in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.199.26)

महर्षयो महाभागास्तथा देवर्षयश्च ये। ते भार्यासहितास्तत्र वसंति च वरानने

maharṣayo mahābhāgāstathā devarṣayaśca ye| te bhāryāsahitāstatra vasaṁti ca varānane

The great sages of exalted merit, and the divine seers as well — they all, together with their wives, took up residence there, O fair one.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.199.27)

कपालमालाभरणश्चिताभस्म बिभर्ति यः। अपवित्रतया शंभुर्नाहूतस्तु तथाविधः

kapālamālābharaṇaścitābhasma bibharti yaḥ| apavitratayā śaṁbhurnāhūtastu tathāvidhaḥ

But Shambhu — who wears a garland of skulls and bears the ash of the cremation-ground upon his body — being of such a form, was, on the pretext of impurity, not invited.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.199.28)

यतस्ततः समायाताः कैलासे पर्वतोत्तमे। अश्विन्याद्या भगिन्यस्तास्त्वां प्रतीदं वचोऽबुवन्

yatastataḥ samāyātāḥ kailāse parvatottame| aśvinyādyā bhaginyastāstvāṁ pratīdaṁ vaco'buvan

So, having come there from every direction, on Mount Kailasa, those sisters — Ashvini and the rest — spoke these words to you:

Verse 29 (skanda.7.199.29)

किं तुष्टेव च कल्याणि तिष्ठसि त्वं सुमध्यमे। वयं च प्रस्थिताः सर्वाः पितुर्यज्ञे सभर्तृकाः

kiṁ tuṣṭeva ca kalyāṇi tiṣṭhasi tvaṁ sumadhyame| vayaṁ ca prasthitāḥ sarvāḥ pituryajñe sabhartṛkāḥ

O gracious one, O slender-waisted one, why do you sit here as though content? All of us, together with our husbands, are setting out for our father's sacrifice.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.199.30)

वयमाकारितास्तेन सुताः सर्वा यशस्विनि। न त्वामाहूतवान्दक्षस्त्रपते शंकराद्यतः

vayamākāritāstena sutāḥ sarvā yaśasvini| na tvāmāhūtavāndakṣastrapate śaṅkarādyataḥ

O renowned one, all of us daughters have been summoned by him; but you, O bashful one, Daksha has not invited, on account of Shankara.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.199.31)

तासां वचनमाकर्ण्य सती प्राह क्रुधान्विता। हा धिग्दक्ष दुराचार किं वदिष्ये महेश्वरम्

tāsāṁ vacanamākarṇya satī prāha krudhānvitā| hā dhigdakṣa durācāra kiṁ vadiṣye maheśvaram

Hearing their words, Sati, overcome with anger, exclaimed: 'Alas! Shame upon wicked Daksha! What shall I now say to Maheshvara?'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.199.32)

कथं संदर्शये वक्त्रमित्युक्त्वाऽऽत्मानमात्मना। विससर्ज तपोयोगात्सस्मारान्यन्न किञ्चन

kathaṁ saṁdarśaye vaktramityuktvātmānamātmanā| visasarja tapoyogātsasmārānyanna kiñcana

'How shall I show him my face?' — having said this, through the power of her ascetic union she gave up her own body, without a further thought for anything else.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.199.33)

अथ दृष्ट्वा महादेवः सतीं प्राणैर्विना स्थिताम्। अवमानात्तथाऽऽत्मानं त्यक्त्वा मत्वा कपालिनम्

atha dṛṣṭvā mahādevaḥ satīṁ prāṇairvinā sthitām| avamānāttathātmānaṁ tyaktvā matvā kapālinam

Then, seeing Sati lying lifeless, Mahadeva understood that, out of humiliation, she had given up her own body, her last thought fixed upon the Skull-bearer himself.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.199.34)

गणान्संप्रेषयामास यज्ञविध्वंसनाय च। ते गताश्च गणा रौद्राः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

gaṇānsaṁpreṣayāmāsa yajñavidhvaṁsanāya ca| te gatāśca gaṇā raudrāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

He sent forth his hosts to destroy the sacrifice; those fierce hosts of Rudra went forth in their hundreds and thousands.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.199.35)

विकृता विकृताकारा असंख्याता महाबलाः। रुद्रेण प्रेरितान्दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रपुरोगमान्

vikṛtā vikṛtākārā asaṁkhyātā mahābalāḥ| rudreṇa preritāndṛṣṭvā vīrabhadrapurogamān

Monstrous and misshapen, innumerable and of immense strength, impelled by Rudra, with Virabhadra at their head, they arrived.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.199.36)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे वसवः सह भास्करैः। विश्वेदेवाश्च साध्याश्च धनुर्हस्ता महाबलाः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve vasavaḥ saha bhāskaraiḥ| viśvedevāśca sādhyāśca dhanurhastā mahābalāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, the Vasus together with the Suns, the Vishvedevas and the Sadhyas, mighty ones, took up their bows in hand.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.199.37)

युद्धाय च विनिष्क्रान्ता मुञ्चन्तः सायकाञ्छितान्। ते समेत्य ततोऽन्योन्यं प्रमथा विबुधैः सह

yuddhāya ca viniṣkrāntā muñcantaḥ sāyakāñchitān| te sametya tato'nyonyaṁ pramathā vibudhaiḥ saha

They marched out to battle, loosing their sharpened arrows; those hosts of Pramathas and the gods then joined together in combat with one another.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.199.38)

मुमुचुः शरवर्षाणि वारिधारां यथा घनाः। तेषां हस्ती गणेनाथ शूलेन हृदि भेदितः

mumucuḥ śaravarṣāṇi vāridhārāṁ yathā ghanāḥ| teṣāṁ hastī gaṇenātha śūlena hṛdi bheditaḥ

They rained down showers of arrows as clouds pour forth streams of water; their elephant was pierced through the heart by a Pramatha's trident.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.199.39)

स तु तेन प्रहारेण विसंज्ञो निषसाद ह। अथ मुष्ट्या हतः कुम्भे नाग ऐरावणस्तदा

sa tu tena prahāreṇa visaṁjño niṣasāda ha| atha muṣṭyā hataḥ kumbhe nāga airāvaṇastadā

By that blow, it fell down senseless; then the serpent-lord Airavana was struck upon the frontal boss with a fist-blow.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.199.40)

सहसा स हतस्तेन वारणो भैरवान्रवान्। विनदञ्जवमास्थाय यज्ञवाटमुपाद्रवत्

sahasā sa hatastena vāraṇo bhairavānravān| vinadañjavamāsthāya yajñavāṭamupādravat

Struck suddenly by that blow, the great elephant, roaring with terrible cries, rushed with full speed toward the sacrificial enclosure.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.199.41)

विश्वेदेवा निरुच्छ्वासाः कृता रौद्रैर्महाशरैः। चकर्ष स धनुष्येण वसुमान्बलवतरः

viśvedevā niruchvāsāḥ kṛtā raudrairmahāśaraiḥ| cakarṣa sa dhanuṣyeṇa vasumānbalavataraḥ

The Vishvedevas were left breathless by Rudra's mighty arrows; and that exceedingly powerful Vasuman kept drawing his bow.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.199.42)

निस्तेजसस्तदादित्याः कृतास्तेन रणाजिरे। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाः कृतास्तेन पराङ्मुखाः

nistejasastadādityāḥ kṛtāstena raṇājire| etasminnantare devāḥ kṛtāstena parāṅmukhāḥ

He made the Adityas lose their splendor on the battlefield; meanwhile, he turned the gods themselves to flight.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.199.43)

ततस्ते शरणं जग्मुर्विष्णुं तत्र च संस्थितम्। ततः कोपसमाविष्टो विष्णुर्देवान्सवासवान्

tataste śaraṇaṁ jagmurviṣṇuṁ tatra ca saṁsthitam| tataḥ kopasamāviṣṭo viṣṇurdevānsavāsavān

Then they took refuge in Vishnu, who was present there; then Vishnu, filled with anger, seeing all the gods together with Indra—

Verse 44 (skanda.7.199.44)

दृष्ट्वा विद्रावितान्सर्वान्मुमोचाशु सुदर्शनम्। तमापतन्तं वेगेन विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम्

dṛṣṭvā vidrāvitānsarvānmumocāśu sudarśanam| tamāpatantaṁ vegena viṣṇoścakraṁ sudarśanam

—driven back in flight, at once hurled forth his Sudarshana discus. As that Sudarshana discus of Vishnu came hurtling with great speed—

Verse 45 (skanda.7.199.45)

प्रसार्य वक्त्रं सहसा उदरस्थं चकार ह। तस्मिंश्चक्रे तदा ग्रस्ते अमोघे पर्वतात्मजे

prasārya vaktraṁ sahasā udarasthaṁ cakāra ha| tasmiṁścakre tadā graste amoghe parvatātmaje

He suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed it into his belly. O mountain-born one, when that unfailing discus had thus been engulfed—

Verse 46 (skanda.7.199.46)

चुकोप भगवान्विष्णुः शार्ङ्गहस्तोऽभ्यधावत। स हत्वा दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्नंदिं भृङ्गिं शतेन च

cukopa bhagavānviṣṇuḥ śārṅgahasto'bhyadhāvat| sa hatvā daśabhistīkṣṇairnaṁdiṁ bhṛṅgiṁ śatena ca

The lord Vishnu grew furious and charged forth, bow Sharnga in hand; with ten sharp arrows he struck Nandi, and with a hundred he struck Bhringi.

Verse 47 (skanda.7.199.47)

महाकालं सहस्रेण ह्ययुतेन गणाधिपम्। बाणानामयुतैर्भित्त्वा वीरभद्रमुपाद्रवत्

mahākālaṁ sahasreṇa hyayutena gaṇādhipam| bāṇānāmayutairbhittvā vīrabhadramupādravat

Mahakala he pierced with a thousand arrows, and the lord of the Ganas with ten thousand; then, piercing him with ten thousand arrows, he charged upon Virabhadra.

Verse 48 (skanda.7.199.48)

तं हत्वा गदया विष्णुर्विह्वलं रुधिरोक्षितम्। गृहीत्वा पादयोर्भूमौ निजघानातिरोषितः

taṁ hatvā gadayā viṣṇurvihvalaṁ rudhirokṣitam| gṛhītvā pādayorbhūmau nijaghānātiroṣitaḥ

Striking him with his mace, Vishnu left him reeling and drenched in blood; then, seizing him by the feet in towering rage, he dashed him upon the ground.

Verse 49 (skanda.7.199.49)

हन्यमानस्य तस्याथ भूमौ चक्रं सुदर्शनम्। रुधिरोद्गारसंयुक्तं प्रहारमकरोन्न तु

hanyamānasya tasyātha bhūmau cakraṁ sudarśanam| rudhirodgārasaṁyuktaṁ prahāramakaronna tu

As he, thus struck down on the ground, was vomiting blood, the Sudarshana discus, even so, made no further blow upon him.

Verse 50 (skanda.7.199.50)

रुद्रलब्धवरो देवि वीरभद्रो गणेश्वरः। यन्न पञ्चत्वमापन्नो गदया पीडितोऽपि सः

rudralabdhavaro devi vīrabhadro gaṇeśvaraḥ| yanna pañcatvamāpanno gadayā pīḍito'pi saḥ

O Goddess, Virabhadra, lord of the Ganas, held a boon obtained from Rudra; therefore, though battered by the mace, he did not meet death.

Verse 51 (skanda.7.199.51)

पतितं वीक्ष्य तं सर्वे विष्णुतेजोबलार्दिताः। विद्रुताः सर्वतो याता यत्र देवो महेश्वरः

patitaṁ vīkṣya taṁ sarve viṣṇutejobalārditāḥ| vidrutāḥ sarvato yātā yatra devo maheśvaraḥ

Seeing him fallen, all the hosts, overwhelmed by the power and might of Vishnu, fled in every direction and made their way to where the god Maheshvara was.

Verse 52 (skanda.7.199.52)

तस्मै सर्वं तथा वृत्तं समाचख्युः पराभवम्। विक्रमं वीरभद्रस्य ततः क्रुद्धो महेश्वरः

tasmai sarvaṁ tathā vṛttaṁ samācakhyuḥ parābhavam| vikramaṁ vīrabhadrasya tataḥ kruddho maheśvaraḥ

They related to him all that had happened — their own defeat, and Virabhadra's valor too; thereupon Maheshvara grew furious.

Verse 53 (skanda.7.199.53)

प्रगृह्य सहसा शूलं प्रस्थितः स्वगणैः सह। यज्ञवाटं तु दक्षस्य पराभवभवं ततः। विक्रमन्वीरभद्रेण यत्र विष्णुः स्वयं स्थितः

pragṛhya sahasā śūlaṁ prasthitaḥ svagaṇaiḥ saha| yajñavāṭaṁ tu dakṣasya parābhavabhavaṁ tataḥ| vikramanvīrabhadreṇa yatra viṣṇuḥ svayaṁ sthitaḥ

Snatching up his trident at once, he set out together with his hosts toward Daksha's sacrificial enclosure — the very site of that defeat — where Vishnu himself stood, fighting alongside Virabhadra.

Verse 54 (skanda.7.199.54)

तमायान्तं समालोक्य कोपयुक्तं महेश्वरम्। संग्रामे सोऽजयं मत्वा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

tamāyāntaṁ samālokya kopayuktaṁ maheśvaram| saṁgrāme so'jayaṁ matvā tatraivāntaradhīyata

Beholding that furious Maheshvara approaching, and deeming him unconquerable in battle, he (Vishnu) vanished from that very place.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.199.55)

मरुद्भिः सार्धमिन्द्रोऽपि वसुभिः सह किन्नरैः। शिवः क्रोधपरीतात्मा ततश्चादर्शनं गतः

marudbhiḥ sārdhamindro'pi vasubhiḥ saha kinnaraiḥ| śivaḥ krodhaparītātmā tataścādarśanaṁ gataḥ

Indra too, together with the Maruts, the Vasus, and the Kinnaras, beholding Shiva overcome with wrath, thereupon vanished from sight.

Verse 56 (skanda.7.199.56)

केवलं ब्राह्मणास्तत्र स्थिताः सदसि भामिनि। ते दृष्ट्वा शंकरं प्राप्तं कोपसंरक्तलोचनम्

kevalaṁ brāhmaṇāstatra sthitāḥ sadasi bhāmini| te dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaraṁ prāptaṁ kopasaṁraktalocanam

O lovely one, only the Brahmins remained seated there in the assembly; they saw Shankara arrive, his eyes red with rage.

Verse 57 (skanda.7.199.57)

होमं चक्रुस्ततो भीता रुद्रमंत्रैः समंततः। अन्ये त्राससमायुक्ताः पलायंते दिशो दश

homaṁ cakrustato bhītā rudramaṁtraiḥ samaṁtataḥ| anye trāsasamāyuktāḥ palāyaṁte diśo daśa

Then, terrified, they performed oblations on every side with the mantras of Rudra; others, seized with fear, fled in the ten directions.

Verse 58 (skanda.7.199.58)

अथागत्य महादेवो दृष्ट्वा तान्ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्। अपश्यमानो विबुधांस्तत्र यज्ञं जघान सः

athāgatya mahādevo dṛṣṭvā tānbrāhmaṇottamān| apaśyamāno vibudhāṁstatra yajñaṁ jaghāna saḥ

Then Mahadeva, arriving there and seeing those excellent Brahmins, but finding none of the gods in sight, thereupon destroyed the sacrifice itself.

Verse 59 (skanda.7.199.59)

स च मृगवपुर्भूत्वा प्रणष्टः शिवभीतितः। पृष्ठतस्तु धनुष्पाणिर्जगाम भगवाञ्छिवः। अद्यापि दृश्यते व्योम्नि तारारूपो महेश्वरि

sa ca mṛgavapurbhūtvā praṇaṣṭaḥ śivabhītitaḥ| pṛṣṭhatastu dhanuṣpāṇirjagāma bhagavāñchivaḥ| adyāpi dṛśyate vyomni tārārūpo maheśvari

It, the personified sacrifice, taking the form of a deer, fled in terror of Shiva, and the lord Shiva, bow in hand, pursued behind it; O Maheshvari, even today it is seen in the sky in the form of a constellation of stars.