Conflict between Shiva and Daksha

Brahma said

In ancient times all the great-souled sages happened to begin a great sacrifice at Prayaga. All the siddhas, Sanaka and other celestial rishis, gods, Prajapatis and learned knowers of the brahman gathered there. I went too, with my companions, and the nigama and agama texts accompanied me in radiant embodied forms. The wonderful assembly held great festivities and debated knowledge as the many texts describe it. Then the lord Rudra, who brings benefit to the three worlds, arrived for the sake of welfare, with Bhavani and the ganas. Seeing Shiva, all the gods, siddhas and sages bowed devotedly and praised him, as I did. At his bidding they happily took their places, satisfied at having seen him and calling it their good fortune.

Then Lord Daksha, chief of the Prajapatis, arrived of his own accord, very happy and radiant. He bowed to me and sat at my word. He thought himself the revered lord of the universe, proud, knowing the truth only outwardly. All the gods and rishis praised Daksha and bowed to him, honouring the one of superior energy, with joined hands. But the supreme lord Maheshvara, who rules himself and plays in many ways, did not budge from his seat or bow to Daksha. Seeing Hara not bow, my son was displeased in his mind, and Daksha Prajapati was suddenly angry with Rudra. Full of pride, he cast a cruel glance at the great lord, and with everyone listening, bereft of knowledge, he spoke loudly: "All these gods and asuras bowed to me, and so did the noble brahmanas and rishis. Who is this wicked person who takes himself for great-minded? He is surrounded by pretas and pishachas, shameless, living in cremation grounds. Why has he not bowed to me? He has no rites. He is served by bhutas and pishachas, intoxicated, without norms, always condemning good policy, a heretic and evil person, wicked in conduct, like an insolent man who sneers on seeing a brahmana. Though old, he is always engaged in union with his wife. So I will prepare to curse him now." Having said this, the crooked man, full of rage, addressed Rudra: "Noble brahmanas and gods, listen. This person deserves to be killed by me. I will expel Rudra from sacrifices. He is beyond varnas, of a disgusting form, and with the gods he does not deserve a share. He lives in cremation grounds and has no nobility of birth." Hearing him, Bhrigu and many others who held the same view of Rudra as a wicked person reprimanded him.

Nandi heard these words and his eyes rolled in rage. Meaning to curse Daksha, the gana at once spoke to him. Nandishvara said: "Deceitful, extremely foolish Daksha, your intelligence is evil. If my lord Mahesha is kept from a sacrifice, how will it be completed? The moment he is remembered all sacrifices succeed and the tirthas are made pure. How can you curse that Hara? Evil-minded Daksha, in your fickleness as a brahmana you try in vain to curse him. Wicked one, you have laughed in vain at the great lord Rudra, who creates this universe, preserves it and at the end destroys it. Worst of brahmanas, how have you cursed Rudra Mahesha?" Censured by Nandi, Prajapati Daksha cursed him in rage: "All Rudra's ganas will be expelled from the Vedic rites. Great sages and followers of the Vedic path will abandon you. You will be addicted to heretical views, lack virtuous conduct, drink liquor, wear matted hair, and smear yourselves with ashes and bones." So Daksha cursed Shiva's servants. Hearing it, Nandi, dear to Shiva, was filled with great rage and at once replied to the insolent, crooked Daksha. Energetic Nandi, Shilada's son, said: "Deceitful Daksha of evil intelligence, you cursed Shiva's servants in vain. In your brahmana fickleness you do not know Shiva's tattva. Bhrigu and the others are wicked in intelligence and foolish, and laughed at the great lord Mahesha. Taking themselves for brahmanas, they are insolent. Brahmanas like them who turn from Rudra are deceitful. By the power of Rudra's energy I curse them. You will speak of the Vedas but know their meaning only outwardly. These brahmanas will always say nothing else exists. They will be addicted to desire and pursue heaven, full of rage, avarice and insolence. Shameless, they will always be beggars. Putting the Vedic path in front, they will act as priests for shudras. They will be poor and always take gifts, all of them receiving from the wicked and going to hell. Daksha, some of them will always become brahma-rakshasas. Anyone who hates and abandons Shiva, taking Parameshvara for an ordinary god, will be evil in intelligence and never know the truth. They will always pursue mysterious dharma in their homes, wishing for happiness and carnal pleasure. They will debate the eternal Vedas and lay down norms for rituals. Daksha's pleasant face will vanish. He will become an animal and forget the path of the atman, always deviating from karma. He will soon have a goat's head." After Ishvara was cursed by Daksha and the brahmanas by Nandi in anger, great cries of lament rose. Hearing it, I, maker of the Vedas and knower of Shiva's tattva, repeatedly rebuked Bhrigu and the other brahmanas in grave words.

Hearing Nandi, Ishvara laughed and said to him, in sweet words that kindled understanding: "Nandi, wise one, hear. You should not act in anger. In your confusion you thought I had been cursed, and cursed the brahmana lineage in vain. I am directly present in the syllables of the Vedic mantras; the suktas are full of me. The atman is present in all suktas and all embodied beings, so one who knows the atman must never curse in anger. With wicked intelligence no one must ever curse the Vedas. I have not been cursed now; understand the truth. Be calm, wise one, and enlighten Sanaka and the others. I am the sacrifice. I am its rites, all its limbs and its atman. I am devoted to sacrifices and I am also outside them. Who is this? Who are you? Who are they? In truth I am everything. You forgot this understanding and cursed the brahmanas in vain. Use knowledge of the truth to draw the essence out of this prapancha. Understand this, and drop your anger." So Shambhu kindled understanding in Nandikeshvara; he gained great discrimination, grew serene and lost his rage. Shiva quickly enlightened his own gana, whom he loved more than his life, and with him cheerfully returned to his own abode. Daksha was still full of rage. Surrounded by brahmanas he went back to his own house with his heart full of hatred for Shiva. He remembered how in great anger he had cursed Rudra. Foolish in intelligence, giving up devotion, he greatly criticised those who worshipped Shiva. So I have told you of Daksha's wicked intelligence toward Shambhu, the paramatman. Son, hear what he did next with it.