Vidhatri's Delusion

Brahma said

At my command the brahmanas lit a fire, made offerings and placed Parvati on Ishvara's lap. To hymns of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas Shiva made offerings in the fire. Kali's brother Mainaka poured parched grain into her cupped hands. Son, after this, following worldly custom, Kali and Shiva happily walked round the fire.

At that time Girija's husband did a wonderful thing, devarshi; hear it, and out of affection I will tell it. I was confounded by Shiva's maya. I glanced at Devi's feet and saw her beautiful toenails shaped like the crescent moon. Divine sage, the moment I saw them my mind was sorely stirred and desire overcame me. Deluded by Smara, I stared at her limbs again and again, and as I looked my semen oozed out and fell on the ground. When it came out, I, the grandfather, was ashamed. Sage, I pressed it with my feet and tried to keep it secret. Narada, but Mahadeva knew and was greatly angry. At once he wanted to kill Vidhatri, deluded by Kama. Narada, great lamentation arose everywhere and everyone trembled. Even the preserver of the universe was afraid. Sage, Vishnu and the other immortals tried to pacify Shambhu as he prepared to kill, blazing with rage and energy.

The devas said

Lord of the gods, pervader of the universe, Paramesha, Sadashiva, lord of the universe, Jagannatha, be pacified. Your atman is behind every feeling. You, Ishvara, are the cause; you are changeless, imperishable, eternal, without a second, indestructible, supreme. You are the beginning, middle and end. I and everything else have flowed from you. You are truth, the brahman, consciousness. Those firm in vows who desire liberation serve your lotus feet. Sages worship you and shed fear and attachment. You are the brahman, complete, amrita, free of sorrow, without qualities and supreme, bliss alone, without anxiety. There is no change in your atman. You are the cause of the universe, of its creation, preservation and destruction, and you are beyond it. You are lord of atmans, always impartial, one, existence and nonexistence, without duality. Whether it is gold or an object made of gold, the essential substance is the same. In ignorance people think there is something apart from you. So the best remedy is to meditate on you without form. Mahesha, we are blessed the moment we see you. Shambhu, you give bliss to those firm in devotion; show us compassion. You are the original atman, without origin, beyond Prakriti, Purusha, Vishveshvara Jagannatha, changeless and greater than the greatest. You whose form is the universe, this Brahma the grandfather is your rajas form. Lord, by your favour Purushottama Vishnu is your sattva form, and Rudra, the fire of destruction, your tamas form. You are the paramatman beyond the gunas, Sadashiva Mahesha, Maheshvara pervading everything. You are manifest, Mahat, the elements and the rest, the tanmatras, the senses. Maheshvara, your form is established in the universe. Mahadeva, Paresha, ocean of compassion, Shankara, lord of the gods, divinity, favour us. Purushottama, favour us. The seven oceans are your garments, the directions your mighty arms, the firmament your head, the sky your navel, the wind your nose; the sun, moon and fire are your eyes, the clouds your hair, the nakshatras, stars and planets your ornaments. Lord of the gods, how can I praise you? You are Parameshvara, Shankara, beyond reach of words or thoughts, five-faced. Rudra, you have fifty crore forms. You are lord of the three, the greatest, the truth in learning. I bow to you. You cannot be pointed out; you are eternal. Your form blazes like lightning, your complexion is like fire. Divinity Shankara, I bow to you. Your radiance is that of a crore lightning flashes; you are most beautiful, with eight forms in eight corners. You have taken a form and are established in this world. I bow to you.

Brahma said

Hearing them, Parameshvara was pleased. Kind to his devotees, he at once freed Brahma from fear. Son, then all the gods there, Vishnu and the others, and the sages smiled and joined in great festivities. Son, I had pressed down my semen again and again, and it turned into many brilliant drops, from which thousands of rishis were born, the valakhilyas, blazing in their own energy. Sage, those rishis presented themselves before me, full of joy, and cried "Father! Father!" Narada, moved by Ishvara's will you spoke angrily to the valakhilyas and sternly rebuked them.

Narada said

Go, all of you, to Mount Gandhamadana. You must not stay here; there is no need of you here. Lords among sages, go there and torment yourselves in austerity. Become Surya's disciples. I tell you this at Shiva's command.

Brahma said

So addressed, the valakhilyas bowed at once to Shankara and went to Mount Gandhamadana. Lord among sages, because of Vishnu and the others, and because of what Paramesha urged the great-souled ones to do, I could breathe again and lost my fear. Sarvesha Shankara is kind to his devotees, gets every task done and destroys false pride. Knowing that, I praised him: "Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, ocean of compassion, you alone are creator, preserver and destroyer. All things moving and still stand by your will like tethered bulls. I have understood this especially." Saying this I joined my hands and bowed. Vishnu and the others also praised Maheshvara. Seeing that I was miserable, purified and bowed, and hearing Vishnu and the rest, Maheshvara was pleased and gave me the great boon of freedom from fear. Sage, everyone was very happy and I rejoiced.