Siva Pacified and Daksa Reinstated

Chapter 6, 7

When the defeated members of the sacrifice approached Brahma, he identified their offence as the cause of their downfall, and suggested that they immediately seek forgiveness. Brahma kindly accompanied them to Kailash, where Lord Siva warmly greeted and honoured them. Brahma glorified Siva, and requested his compassion upon the conditioned souls, who easily become overpowered by illusion (maya). He requested Siva to take his share of the sacrifice and revive the injured participants, including Daksa. This would allow the sacrifice to be completed.

Siva explained that he himself did not take the offences seriously but punished them for the purpose of correction. He then gave back vitality to those who were injured, and everyone returned to the sacrificial arena. After following Siva’s direction, Daksa’s body was joined to a goat’s head and he came back to life. Seeing Siva, his heart was cleansed of all envy, he lamented the death of his daughter and begged pardon for his misbehaviour.

Siva was pacified, the sacrifice resumed, and when Daksa offered clarified butter into the fire, Lord Vishnu appeared in His Narayana form. Everyone offered obeisances and prayers to the Lord, who explained the philosophy of oneness and difference between the Lord and the demigods / living entities. Maitreya finally explained how Sati had been reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Menaka (wife of the Himalayas), and would remarry Siva.