Commencement of the Sacrifice

Brahma said

Some time later Daksha began a great sacrifice. The gods and rishis came and took the consecration. Deluded by Shiva's maya, a throng of spotless maharshis arrived for it: Agastya, Kashyapa, Vamadeva, Bhrigu, Dadhichi, the renowned Vyasa, Bharadvaja, Goutama, Paila, Parashara, Garga, Bhargava, Kakupa, Sita, Sumantu, Trika, Kanka, Vaishampayana and many more. They went happily to my son Daksha's sacrifice with their wives and sons. The host of gods, the prosperous guardians of the worlds and all the other blameless beings went too, each ready to help in some way. I, the world's creator, was honoured with an invitation to come down from Satyaloka, and came with my sons, my companions and the Vedas in bodily form. Vishnu was invited lovingly from Vaikuntha and brought with his attendants. Other deluded beings came as well, and the evil-souled Daksha welcomed every one. Tvashtri built great, costly, radiant and divine mansions, which were allotted to the guests, and each lord was honoured and lodged according to his rank; with Vishnu and me they made the place shine.

The great sacrifice was held at the tirtha of Kanakhala. Bhrigu and others were appointed ritvijas, and Vishnu himself presided with the host of Maruts. I was present to show how the rites of the three should be carried out. The guardians of the worlds served as gatekeepers and guards, armed and with their retinues, which drew curious looks. The sacrifice itself came there in embodied form. The best of the sages, who bear the Vedas, were all present. The sacrificial fire split into thousands of flames so as to take, quickly, the offerings poured at this great festival. Eighty-six thousand ritvijas made the offerings, sixty-four thousand divine rishis were udgatris, Narada and others were adhvaryus and hotris, and the seven sages chanted separately. Daksha himself invited gandharvas, vidyadharas, hosts of siddhas and adityas with their companions, and countless excellent nagas with their followers. There were brahmana rishis, royal rishis and divine rishis, kings with friends, counsellors and troops, the best of the Vasus, and all the groups of lesser deities. Everyone went to the holy sacrifice. Daksha arranged all that was auspicious and took the consecration; after the benedictions were spoken he shone, with his wife beside him.

But the evil-souled Daksha did not invite Shambhu. He decided Shambhu was a Kapali, a skull-bearer, and left him out, though his own beloved daughter Sati was that Kapali's wife. Because Daksha could see no worth in her husband, she too went uninvited. And so the great festival of Daksha's sacrifice began.

Everyone there was busy with the sacrifice's business when Dadhichi, a devotee of Shiva, noticed that Lord Shankara was absent, and his mind was disturbed. He said: "Best of gods and rishis, hear me gladly. Why has Shambhu not come to this great festival? The lords of the gods, the best sages and the guardians of the worlds have all arrived, and yet without the great-souled trident-bearer the sacrifice does not shine. The wise praise him as the one who brings all that is auspicious, the ancient being, Vrishadhvaja, Paresha, blue-throated, and he is not to be seen here. Daksha knows that he turns whatever is inauspicious into auspicious; the ancient supreme one makes everything in the three worlds auspicious. So we ought to invite Paramesha. Let Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Indra, the guardians of the worlds, the siddhas or the brahmanas bring Vishnu's lord here at once. For the sacrifice to be complete in every way, Shankara must be brought. Everything goes where Maheshvara is. So bring Shambhu quickly, together with Dakshayani. Shambhu the paramatman makes all things pure. Lords of the gods, bring the paramatman here with Amba. Remembering his name alone makes everything well, so do all you can to bring Vrishadhvaja. If Shankara is brought this sacrifice will be purified; if not, it will stay incomplete. I tell you truly."

Daksha, hearing him, was filled with rage. Foolish and evil in understanding, he answered quickly, almost laughing: "Vishnu is the support of all the gods and eternal dharma rests in him, and I have invited him properly. What more do the sacrificial rites need? All the Vedas, sacrifices and rites rest in him, and that Vishnu is here. Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, is here with the Vedas, Upanishads and the many agamas. The king of the gods has come with his hosts of gods. All of you rishis, free of sin, are here, serene vessels of everything a sacrifice requires, firm in your vows and knowing the Vedas and their true meanings. With all of you present, what need is there of Rudra? Brahmana, at Brahma's urging I gave my daughter to him. But Hara has no lineage, no father and no mother. He is lord of bhutas, pretas and pishachas, and unbearable. The fool is self-made, immobile, silent and envious, unfit for this rite. That is why I have not brought him. So never say such things again. Your task is to make my great sacrifice succeed." While gods and sages listened, Dadhichi replied with weighty words: "Without Shiva this great event is no sacrifice at all, and above all, your destruction will happen here." With that Dadhichi walked out of Daksha's sacrificial ground and went quickly to his own hermitage. The foremost devotees of Shankara, and those who shared Shiva's devotees' views, also left for their hermitages, after pronouncing instant curses. When they had gone, the evil-minded Daksha laughed and said to the sages who hated Shiva: "The brahmana who loves Shiva, Dadhichi, has gone, and others like him have left my sacrifice. This has made it even more auspicious, and I approve it in every way. Lords of the gods and sages, I tell you truly: they have lost their senses, they are wicked, they speak falsely and deceive, they are outside the Vedas and evil in conduct, and they should be cast out of sacrificial rites. With Vishnu in front, you speak the Vedas, brahmanas and gods, and you will soon make my sacrifice a success." Hearing him, and deluded by Shiva's maya, all the gods and rishis went on with the sacrifice to the gods. So I have told you how the sacrifice was cursed. Now hear lovingly the events that led to its destruction.