Veerabhadra, the personification of Shiva's anger, arrived at the sacrificial arena with a vast army. He destroyed the yajna, punished the gods who were silent during the insult, and finally decapitated Daksha.

Shiva arrived at the scene, picked up the body of Sati, and performed the Tandava (dance of destruction). To calm Him, Lord Vishnu used His Sudarshana Chakra to cut Sati's body into 51 pieces, which fell across the earth to become the Shakti Peethas. Shiva eventually forgave Daksha, replacing his head with that of a goat, showing that even in His anger, Mahadeva is 'Ashutosh'—one who is easily satisfied and merciful.