The Humbling of Brahma

Nandikeshvara said

Mahadeva then created an extraordinary being from the middle of his own eyebrows. This was Bhairava, made to destroy Brahma's pride. In that arena he bowed to his lord Shiva and asked, "Lord, what should I do? Command me quickly." "Child, this Vidhatri is himself the first god in this universe. Doubtless you should worship him with your swift, sharp sword." With one hand Bhairava seized the tuft of hair on the fifth head, which had insolently spoken those false words. As he got ready to cut off this head, the shining sword shook in his hands. Your father trembled like a plantain leaf or a creeper in the wind. His fine garments and ornaments were scattered, his upper cloth loosened, his hair dishevelled, and he fell at Bhairava's lotus feet. Son, Achyuta saw the state Vidhatri was in. Full of compassion he fell at our master's lotus feet and wet them with tears. Like a child speaking to his father in faltering words, he joined his hands and said: "Isha, long ago it was by your own effort that he gained these five heads as a mark. So please pardon him now. Show him favour and restrain your rage toward Vidhatri."

Entreated so by Achyuta, in the presence of the gods, Isha was calmed. He told Bhairava not to punish Brahma. Then the god spoke to the deceitful Vidhatri, whose shoulders were bowed: "Brahma, wanting worship and lordship, you used deceit. From now on you will not be worshipped in the worlds, nor will you have your own place, festivals and other things." Brahma answered: "Lord, great power, please favour me. Giver of boons, I think that saving my head is a boon. Illustrious friend, origin of the universe, I bow to you, who put up with all kinds of sins. Shambhu, you who wield the mountain as a bow." Ishvara said: "If there is no king there will be fear, and this whole universe will be destroyed. So, unborn child, you will bear the burden of punishing the worlds with your staff. I will also give you another boon, very hard to gain; accept it. In all sacred ceremonies, homes and sacrifices you will be the guru. Even if a sacrifice is completed with all its parts and fees, without you it will be useless."

Then the god spoke to the deceitful ketaki, guilty of false witness: "Ketaki, you are deceitful. Go far away. From now on I will no longer regard you as a beloved flower to worship me with." When the god said this, all the gods rejected it and drove it from their presence. Ketaki said: "Protector, I bow to you. Because of your command my birth will be wasted. Father, please pardon my sin and make my existence successful. When one remembers you, sins done knowingly or unknowingly are destroyed. Now that I have seen you, how can the sin of speaking a falsehood remain in me?" In the midst of the assembly the illustrious one was praised so by the ketaki flower, which bowed before him. Ishvara said: "Since I speak the truth, it is not fitting that I should wear you. But my followers will wear you, and so your birth will not be in vain. You may also be placed in any canopies raised above me." So the illustrious one showed favour to the ketaki flower, to Vidhatri and to Madhava. Praised by all the gods, he shone in the midst of that assembly hall.