-then hear me, O all-seeing Lord, and speedily devise a plan by which I may die and so with ease avoid this intolerable woe.’

Thus sorrowed Prajapati’s daughter; heavy and grievous was her unutterable pain. Eighty-seven thousand years passed by when the immortal Shiva awoke from his trance.

When Shiva began to repeat Rama’s name, Sati perceived that the Lord of the world was awake and went and did homage to Shiva’s feet. Shiva gave her a seat in his presence,

-and began to recite the delightful stories of Hari. At that time Daksha (Sati’s father) was Prajapati. Brahma saw and considered him to be I every way thoroughly fit and made him the supreme lord of created beings.

When Daksha attained this high office, he became exceedingly arrogant. Never was a creature born in the world whom power did not intoxicate.

Daksha got together all the sages and they began to prepare a great sacrifice; he courteously invited all the gods who receive a portion of the oblations.

Kinnaras, serpents, adepts and Gandharvas, and the whole host of gods with their wives proceeded to the sacrifice; all the gods, except Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesha, made ready their aerial cars and came.