rts, and many excellent varieties of drink, and
several other kinds of food that might be licked and sucked, began to be
eaten by that army of spirits with diverse mouths. And they began to cast
off and scatter those varieties of food in all directions. In consequence
of Rudra's wrath, every one of those gigantic Beings looked like the
all-destructive Yuga-fire. Agitating the celestial troops they caused
them to tremble with fear and fly away in all directions. Those fierce
spirits sported with one another, and seizing the celestial damsels
shoved and hurled them on all sides. Of fierce deeds, those Beings,
impelled by Rudra's wrath, very soon burnt that Sacrifice although it was
protected with great care by all the deities. Loud were the roars they
uttered which struck every living creature with dread. Having torn off
the head of Sacrifice they indulged in glee and shouts. Then the gods
headed by Brahman, and that progenitor of creatures, viz., Daksha,
joining their hands in reverence, addressed that mighty Being, saying,
"Tell us, who thou art."

"'Virabhadra said, "I am neither Rudra nor his spouse, the goddess Uma.
Nor have I come here for partaking of the fare (provided in this
Sacrifice). Knowing the fact of Uma's wrath, the puissant Lord who is the
soul of all creatures has given way to wrath. I have not come here for
seeing these foremost of Brahmanas. I have not come here urged by
curiosity. Know that I have come here for destroying this Sacrifice of
yours. I am known by the name of Virabhadra and I have sprung from the
wrath of Rudra. This lady (who is my companion), and who is called
Bhadrakali, hath sprung from the wrath of the goddess. We have both been
despatched by that god of gods, and we have accordingly come here. O
foremost of Brahmanas, seek the protection of that Lord of the deities,
the spouse of Uma. It is preferable to incur even the wrath of that
foremost of gods than to obtain boons from any other Deity." Hearing the
words of Virabhadra, Daksha, that foremost of all righteous persons,
bowed down unto Maheswara and sought to gratify him by uttering the
following hymn, "I throw myself at the feet of the effulgent Isana, who
is Eternal, Immutable, and Indestructible; who is the foremost of all
gods, who is endued with high soul, who is the Lord of all the universe."
[Here follow five and half slokas which appear to be interpolations]. His
praises having thus been hymned, the great god, Mahadeva, su