A Voice from the Firmament

Brahma said

Then a voice came from the sky, speaking the truth so that Daksha and the others heard.

The voice said

Daksha, evildoer, addicted to insolent conduct, utterly foolish, what have you done? This deed will bring disaster. You did not act on the words of Dadhichi, king of Shiva's devotees, which were the measure for every happiness and good fortune. Foolish one, you did not. The brahmana left your sacrifice after laying a terrible curse on you, and even then you understood nothing. Why did you not treat your own daughter with great affection? Auspicious Sati came to your house of her own accord. Weak in knowledge, why did you not honour Sati and Bhava? You were deluded and proud because you are Brahma's son. Sati must always be worshipped. She destroys all sins. She is the mother of the worlds, brings welfare and is half of Shankara's body. She grants every kind of good fortune. Maheshvari gives everything auspicious to her own devotees. If Sati is worshipped constantly she destroys the fear of samsara. Devi gives what the mind desires and takes away every calamity. Worshipped constantly, she gives fame and prosperity. She is supreme Parameshani and grants objects of pleasure and liberation. Sati is the mother of the universe and protects it. She is the primordial Shakti and at the end of the kalpa she destroys the universe. She is Vishnu's enchanting mother, called the mother of Brahma, Indra, the moon, fire, the sun and the gods. Sati gives the fruits of austerities, dharma and gifts. Mahadevi is Shambhu's Shakti, slayer of the wicked, greater than the greatest. Such is Devi Sati, and you gave no share to the one whose beloved wife she is. In your folly you have acted wickedly.

Shambhu is Paramesha, lord of everything and greater than the greatest, worthy of worship by Brahma, Vishnu and the others, and he grants every welfare. To see him, siddhas torment themselves in austerity and yogis practise yoga. The sight of Shankara is said to give great fruits: boundless wealth and grain, and success in sacrifices. Lord Shiva is the creator of the universe, lord of every kind of knowledge, its supreme and primordial lord, the most auspicious of all that is auspicious. Crooked one, you have shown disrespect to his Shakti, so your sacrifice will be destroyed. When one who should be worshipped is not worshipped, the result is inauspicious. Shiva should have been worshipped and you did not worship him. Every day Shesha gladly carries the dust of his feet on his thousand hoods, and Sati is that Shiva's Shakti. Vishnu worshipped his lotus feet with constant love and meditated on them, and so gained his status as Vishnu; Sati is the beloved of that Shambhu. Brahma did the same and gained his status as Brahma. Indra and the other guardians of the worlds did the same and gained their positions. Shiva is father of the universe and Sati Shakti its mother. Foolish one, not having honoured her, how will you gain what is good for you? Because you did not devotedly worship Bhavani and Shankara, misfortune and calamity will cross your path. How could you hope for welfare without worshipping Shiva Shambhu? What is this unbreakable pride? It will now be destroyed. Sarvesha has turned from you, so what can the gods do for you? I see no way they can help you. If they try to help you now they will perish like moths in a fire. Your face will burn and your sacrifice will be destroyed. Anyone who helps you will also be burned quickly. Any immortal who seeks to help this evil-souled man will meet the inauspicious now; that is a pledge. So let all the immortals leave this pavilion; otherwise they will be destroyed in every way. Let all the others, sages and nagas, also leave, or they too will be destroyed. Hari, leave this pavilion quickly or you will be destroyed. Vidhatri, leave quickly or you will be destroyed.

Brahma said

The voice from the sky, which brings every welfare, spoke so to everyone present in the sacrificial ground. Hearing it, Hari, the other gods, the sages and the rest were filled with wonder.