upon Mahadeva, the Lord of all
creatures. Many ghostly beings, also, of diverse forms and aspects, and
many dreadful Rakshasas and mighty Pisachas, of diverse aspects, mad with
joy, and armed with diverse kinds of uplifted weapons, forming the train
of Mahadeva, were there, every one of whom resembled a blazing fire in
energy. The illustrious Nandi stood there at the command of the great
god, blazing with his own energy and armed with a lance that resembled a
flame of fire. Ganga also, that foremost of all Rivers and born of all
sacred waters in the universe, waited there in her embodied form, O son
of Kuru's race, upon that illustrious deity. Thus adored by the celestial
Rishis and the gods, the illustrious Mahadeva of immeasurable energy
dwelt on that summit of Meru.

"'"After some time had passed away, the Prajapati Daksha[1400] commenced to
perform a Sacrifice according to the ancient rites (laid down in the
Vedas). Unto the Sacrifice of Daksha, all the deities headed by Sakra,
assembling together, resolved to repair. It hath been heard by us that
the high-souled deities, with the permission of Mahadeva, mounted their
celestial cars resembling the fire or the Sun in splendour, and proceeded
to that spot (on the Himavat) whence the Ganges is said to issue.
Beholding the deities depart, the excellent daughter of the king of
mountains, addressed her divine spouse, viz., the Lord of all creatures,
and said, 'O illustrious one, whither are those deities headed by Sakra
going? O thou that art conversant with the truth, tell me truly, for a
great doubt has filled my mind.'

"'"Maheswara said, 'O lady that art highly blessed, the excellent Prajapati
Daksha is adoring the gods in a Horse-sacrifice. These denizens of heaven
are proceeding even thither.'

"'"Uma said, 'Why, O Mahadeva, dost thou not proceed to that Sacrifice?
What objection is there of thy going to that place?'

"'"Maheswara said, 'O highly blessed lady, the deities in days of yore made
an arrangement in consequence of which no share was assigned to me of
offerings in all Sacrifices. Agreeably to the course that was sanctioned
in consequence of that arrangement, O thou of the fairest complexion, the
deities do not give me, following the old custom, any share of the
sacrificial offerings.'

"'"Uma said, O illustrious one, among all beings thou art the foremost in
puissance. In merit, in energy, in fame, and in prosperity, thou yieldest
to none, and thou a