Daksha Beheaded
After the departure of Lord Vishnu, the demigods and others that had taken part in Daksha’s sacrifice were totally vanquished by the devotees of Lord Shiva. Virabhadra cut off Bhrigu’s beard and moustache and then knocked out Pusha’s teeth. Indeed, the associates of Lord Shiva, being infuriated, created havoc as Daksha fearfully hid himself under the sacrificial altar.
When he understood this, Virabhadra went and caught hold of Daksha. After cutting off his head, he threw it as an offering into the sacrificial fire. While all this was going on, the demigods and others fled the scene.
After returning to his abode, Lord Brahma, who was sorry for what had happened to his son (Daksha), began to think, “What can be done now?” After carefully thinking over the wicked behavior of Daksha, Lord Brahma finally decided to go to Kailasa. Riding upon his swan carrier and accompanied by the chiefs of the demigods, Lord Brahma arrived at Mount Kailasa and saw Lord Shiva sitting with only Nandi as his companion.
After falling flat onto the ground to offer obeisances, Lord Brahma begged for pardon and offered prayers glorifying Lord Shiva in which he expressed how he was aggrieved because of his son, Daksha.
Lord Shiva replied, “The destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice was not carried out by me. There is no doubt that he was killed as a result of his own actions. One should never do something that will give pain to others. The pain that one afflicts upon others will no doubt be experienced by oneself, later on.”
Daksha Revived With The Head Of A Goat
Thereafter, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva went to Kanakhala, where the sacrificial arena was situated. When he saw Lord Shiva come, Virabhadra bowed down to offer obeisances, as did the other ganas (associates of Mahadeva). They then stood before Shambhu with folded hands.
Lord Shiva laughingly said, “O hero, what has been done by you? Bring Daksha here at once.”
Virabhadra went and brought Daksha’s headless trunk, placing it in front of Lord Shiva. Mahadeva asked, “Who removed Daksha’s head? Although he his life.”
was a foolish fellow, I shall now give him back Virabhadra explained, “I threw Daksha’s head into the sacrificial fire. All that remains here is the deformed head of a bearded goat.”
Lord Shiva then placed the goat’s head upon Daksha’s headless trunk so that he came back to life. Upon seeing Rudra in front of him, Daksha felt terribly ashamed. He bowed down to Mahadeva and after standing up, he glorified him with many prayers.
Thereafter, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma returned to their respective abodes.
Source: Stories from the Skanda Purana | Told by Purnaprajna Dasa
