He was of vast bulk, vast strength, a mighty male and lord, the destroyer of the
universe, and like a large fig tree in circumference; shining like a hundred moons
at once; fierce as the fire of love; having four heads, sharp white teeth, and of
mighty fierceness, vigour, activity, and courage; glowing with the blaze of a
thousand fiery suns at the end of the world; like a thousand undimmed moons; in
bulk like Himádri, Kailása, or Sumnu, or Mundara, with all its gleaming herbs;
bright as the sun of destruction at end of ages; of irresistible prowess and
beautiful aspect; irascible, with lowering eyes, and a countenance burning like
fire; clothed in the hide of the elephant and lion, and girt round with snakes;
wearing a turban on his head, a moon on his brow: sometimes savage,
sometimes mild; having a chaplet of many flowers on his head, anointed with
various unguents, adorned with different ornaments and many sorts of jewels,
wearing a garland of heavenly Karnikara flowers, and rolling his eyes with rage.
Sometimes he danced; sometimes he laughed aloud; sometimes he stood wrapt
in meditation; sometimes he trampled upon the earth; sometimes he sang;
sometimes he wept repeatedly. And he was endowed with the faculties of
wisdom, dispassion, power, penance, truth, endurance, fortitude, dominion, and
self-knowledge.
This being then knelt down upon the ground, and raising his hands respectfully
to his head, said to Mahádeva: “Sovereign of the gods, command what it is that I
must do for thee;” to which Maheswara replied: “Spoil the sacrifice of Daksha.”
Then the mighty Virabhadra, having heard the pleasure of his lord, bowed down
his head to the feet of Prajápati, and starting like a lion loosed from bonds,
despoiled the sacrifice of Daksha; knowing that he had been created by the
displeasure of Devi. She, too, in her wrath, as the fearful goddess Rudrakáli,
accompanied him, with all her train, to witness his deeds. Virabhadra, the fierce,
abiding in the region of ghosts, is the minister of the anger of Devi. And he then
created, from the pores of his skin, powerful demigods, the mighty attendants
upon Rudra, of equal valour and strength, who started by hundreds and by
thousands into existence. A loud and confused clamour straightway filled all the
expanse of ether, and inspired the denizens of heaven with dread. The mountains
tottered, and earth shook; the winds roared, and the depths of the sea were
disturbed; the fires lost their radiance, and the sun grew pale; the planets of the
firmament shone not, neither did the stars give light; the Rishis ceased their
hymns, and gods and demons were mute; and thick darkness eclipsed the chariot
of the skies.
Then from the gloom emerged fearful and numerous forms, shouting the cry of