Daksha, the father of Sati or Bhavani and father-in-law of the great god
Siva, institutes a great sacrifice.
The gods and sages assemble on the occasion, Daksha accords them a
cordial reception. He bows down to the feet of the gods, and puts the
dust from under them upon his head. He then proceeds to the place of
sacrifice, reading or reciting the usual formulæ. He orders the
attendants to distribute rice to the Brahmans, for the purpose of
invoking their benedictions. They receive the rice, scatter it and
pronounce the _Swasti Vachana_, or benedictory text. He offers oblation
to fire.
Dadhichi now comes to the sacrifice, when a dispute ensues between him
and the sacrificer, upon the impropriety of omitting to invite Siva; and
the dispute becoming rather hot, Daksha orders his guest to be turned
out. The gods partake of Dadhichi's indignation at the disrespectful
mention of Siva, and rise to depart. Daksha orders his servants to guard
the door and prevent their going forth: the gods, however, force their
way.
The sages then also withdraw, on which Daksha goes out, exclaiming, "I
will give double presents to those who remain." Nareda goes to Kailas
with the news. He enters playing the _Vina_ and singing hymns in honour
of the great god. Nareda's communication to Siva and Bhavani is very
brief.
Siva asks, "Now, Nareda, whence come you?" Nareda replies, "Your godship
is omniscient, you know all that has happened, but have asked me through
a wish to hear it from my lips. We were all invited to Daksha's
sacrifice. Dadhichi, finding that you were not invited, took Daksha to
task pretty sharply, and walked off, upon which I come to pay you my
respects." Having said this and prostrated himself on the ground, the
sage, with his lute hanging upon his neck, departed.
Sati now asks leave to go and see her father.
Siva replies, "It is quite contrary to etiquette, to go without an
invitation." She answers, "I need not stand on ceremony with my father."
Siva observes, "How! would you impose upon me with falsehoods? Daksha is
not your father, nor is his wife your mother, you are the father of all
things, the mother of the universe. Those versed in the _Vedas_ declare
you male and female too."
In the end, she is allowed to follow her own inclinations.
She comes to her father, and vainly endeavours to impress him with
respect for her husband. She quits him to throw herself into the
sacrificial fire.
Nareda then appears and tells Daksha to prepare for the consequences of
his folly. Virabhadra, Siva's attendant, then enters and plays some
antics. Shaking the earth with his tread, and filling space with his
extended arms, he rolls his eyes in wrath. Some of the gods he casts on
the ground and tramples on them; he knocks out the teeth of some with
his fists, plucks out the beards of some, and cuts off the ears, arms,
and noses of others; he smites some, and he tosses others into the
sacrificial fire. He decapitates the cause of his master's indignation,
the haughty Daksha.