Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 2
विदुर उवाच भवे शीलवतां श्रेष्ठे दक्षो दुहितृवत्सल: । विद्वेषमकरोत्कस्मादनादृत्यात्मजां सतीम् ॥ १ ॥
vidura uvaca bhave silavatam sresthe dakso duhitr-vatsalah vidvesam akarot kasmad anadrtyatmajam satim
Vidura inquired: Why was Daksa, who was so affectionate towards his daughter, envious of Lord Siva, who is the best among the gentle? Why did he neglect his daughter Sati?
कस्तं चराचरगुरुं निर्वैरं शान्तविग्रहम् । आत्मारामं कथं द्वेष्टि जगतो दैवतं महत् ॥ २ ॥
kas tam caracara-gurum nirvairam santa-vigraham atmaramam katham dvesti jagato daivatam mahat
Lord Siva, the spiritual master of the entire world, is free from enmity, is a peaceful personality, and is always satisfied in himself. He is the greatest among the demigods. How is it possible that Daksa could be inimical towards such an auspicious personality?
एतदाख्याहि मे ब्रह्मन्जामातु: श्वशुरस्य च । विद्वेषस्तु यत: प्राणांस्तत्यजे दुस्त्यजान्सती ॥ ३ ॥
etad akhyahi me brahman jamatuh svasurasya ca vidvesas tu yatah pranams tatyaje dustyajan sati
My dear Maitreya, to part with one’s life is very difficult.
मैत्रेय उवाच पुरा विश्वसृजां सत्रे समेता: परमर्षय: । तथामरगणा: सर्वे सानुगा मुनयोऽग्नय: ॥ ४ ॥
maitreya uvaca pura visva-srjam satre sametah paramarsayah tathamara-ganah sarve sanuga munayo ’gnayah
The sage Maitreya said: In a former time, the leaders of the universal creation performed a great sacrifice in which all the great sages, philosophers, demigods and fire-gods assembled with their followers.
तत्र प्रविष्टमृषयो दृष्ट्वार्कमिव रोचिषा । भ्राजमानं वितिमिरं कुर्वन्तं तन्महत्सद: ॥ ५ ॥
tatra pravistam rsayo drstvarkam iva rocisa bhrajamanam vitimiram kurvantam tan mahat sadah
When Daksa, the leader of the Prajapatis, entered that assembly, his personal bodily luster as bright as the effulgence of the sun, the entire assembly was illuminated, and all the assembled personalities became insignificant in his presence.
उदतिष्ठन्सदस्यास्ते स्वधिष्ण्येभ्य: सहाग्नय: । ऋते विरिञ्चां शर्वं च तद्भासाक्षिप्तचेतस: ॥ ६ ॥
udatisthan sadasyas te sva-dhisnyebhyah sahagnayah rte virincam sarvam ca tad-bhasaksipta-cetasah
Influenced by his personal bodily luster, all the fire-gods and other participants in that great assembly, with the exceptions of Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, gave up their own sitting places and stood in respect for Daksa.
सदसस्पतिभिर्दक्षो भगवान्साधु सत्कृत: । अजं लोकगुरुं नत्वा निषसाद तदाज्ञया ॥ ७ ॥
sadasas-patibhir dakso bhagavan sadhu sat-krtah ajam loka-gurum natva nisasada tad-ajnaya
Daksa was adequately welcomed by the president of the great assembly, Lord Brahma. After offering Lord Brahma respect, Daksa, by the order of Brahma, properly took his seat.
प्राङ्निषण्णं मृडं दृष्ट्वा नामृष्यत्तदनादृत: । उवाच वामं चक्षुर्भ्यामभिवीक्ष्य दहन्निव ॥ ८ ॥
pran-nisannam mrdam drstva namrsyat tad-anadrtah uvaca vamam caksurbhyam abhiviksya dahann iva
Before taking his seat, however, Daksa was very much offended to see Lord Siva sitting and not showing him any respect. At that time, Daksa became greatly angry, and, his eyes glowing, he began to speak very strongly against Lord Siva.
श्रूयतां ब्रह्मर्षयो मे सहदेवा: सहाग्नय: । साधूनां ब्रुवतो वृत्तं नाज्ञानान्न च मत्सरात् ॥ ९ ॥
sruyatam brahmarsayo me saha-devah sahagnayah sadhunam bruvato vrttam najnanan na ca matsarat
All sages, brahmanas and fire-gods present, please hear me with attention, for I speak about the manners of gentle persons. I do not speak out of ignorance or envy.
अयं तु लोकपालानां यशोघ्नो निरपत्रप: । सद्भिराचरित: पन्था येन स्तब्धेन दूषित: ॥ १० ॥
ayam tu loka-palanam yaso-ghno nirapatrapah sadbhir acaritah pantha yena stabdhena dusitah
Siva has spoiled the name and fame of the governors of the universe and has polluted the path of gentle manners. Because he is shameless, he does not know how to act.
एष मे शिष्यतां प्राप्तो यन्मे दुहितुरग्रहीत् । पाणिं विप्राग्निमुखत: सावित्र्या इव साधुवत् ॥ ११ ॥
esa me sisyatam prapto yan me duhitur agrahit panim vipragni-mukhatah savitrya iva sadhuvat
He has already accepted himself as my subordinate by marrying my daughter in the presence of fire and brahmanas. He has married my daughter, who is equal to Gayatri, and has pretended to be just like an honest person.
गृहीत्वा मृगशावाक्ष्या: पाणिं मर्कटलोचन: । प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादार्हे वाचाप्यकृत नोचितम् ॥ १२ ॥
grhitva mrga-savaksyah panim markata-locanah pratyutthanabhivadarhe vacapy akrta nocitam
He has eyes like a monkey’s, yet he has married my daughter, whose eyes are just like those of a deer cub. Nevertheless he did not stand up to receive me, nor did he think it fit to welcome me with sweet words.
लुप्तक्रियायाशुचये मानिने भिन्नसेतवे । अनिच्छन्नप्यदां बालां शूद्रायेवोशतीं गिरम् ॥ १३ ॥
lupta-kriyayasucaye manine bhinna-setave anicchann apy adam balam sudrayevosatim giram
I had no desire to give my daughter to this person, who has broken all rules of civility. Because of not observing the required rules and regulations, he is impure, but I was obliged to hand over my daughter to him just as one teaches the messages of the Vedas to a sudra.
प्रेतावासेषु घोरेषु प्रेतैर्भूतगणैर्वृत: । अटत्युन्मत्तवन्नग्नो व्युप्तकेशो हसन् रुदन् ॥ १४ ॥ चिताभस्मकृतस्नान: प्रेतस्रङ्न्रस्थिभूषण: । शिवापदेशो ह्यशिवो मत्तो मत्तजनप्रिय: । पति: प्रमथनाथानां तमोमात्रात्मकात्मनाम् ॥ १५ ॥
pretavasesu ghoresu pretair bhuta-ganair vrtah ataty unmattavan nagno vyupta-keso hasan rudan cita-bhasma-krta-snanah preta-sran-nrasthi-bhusanah sivapadeso hy asivo matto matta-jana-priyah patih pramatha-nathanam tamo-matratmakatmanam
He lives in filthy places like crematoriums, and his companions are the ghosts and demons. Naked like a madman, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying, he smears crematorium ashes all over his body. He does not bathe regularly, and he ornaments his body with a garland of skulls and bones. Therefore only in name is he siva, or auspicious; actually, he is the most mad and inauspicious creature. Thus he is very dear to crazy beings in the gross mode of ignorance, and he is their leader.
तस्मा उन्मादनाथाय नष्टशौचाय दुर्हृदे । दत्ता बत मया साध्वी चोदिते परमेष्ठिना ॥ १६ ॥
tasma unmada-nathaya nasta-saucaya durhrde datta bata maya sadhvi codite paramesthina
On the request of Lord Brahma I handed over my chaste daughter to him, although he is devoid of all cleanliness and his heart is filled with nasty things.
मैत्रेय उवाच विनिन्द्यैवं स गिरिशमप्रतीपमवस्थितम् । दक्षोऽथाप उपस्पृश्य क्रुद्ध: शप्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ १७ ॥
maitreya uvaca vinindyaivam sa girisam apratipam avasthitam dakso ’thapa upasprsya kruddhah saptum pracakrame
The sage Maitreya continued: Thus Daksa, seeing Lord Siva sitting as if against him, washed his hands and mouth and cursed him in the following words.
अयं तु देवयजन इन्द्रोपेन्द्रादिभिर्भव: । सह भागं न लभतां देवैर्देवगणाधम: ॥ १८ ॥
ayam tu deva-yajana indropendradibhir bhavah saha bhagam na labhatam devair deva-ganadhamah
The demigods are eligible to share in the oblations of sacrifice, but Lord Siva, who is the lowest of all the demigods, should not have a share.
निषिध्यमान: स सदस्यमुख्यै- र्दक्षो गिरित्राय विसृज्य शापम् । तस्माद्विनिष्क्रम्य विवृद्धमन्यु- र्जगाम कौरव्य निजं निकेतनम् ॥ १९ ॥
nisidhyamanah sa sadasya-mukhyair dakso giritraya visrjya sapam tasmad viniskramya vivrddha-manyur jagama kauravya nijam niketanam
Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, in spite of the requests of all the members of the sacrificial assembly, Daksa, in great anger, cursed Lord Siva and then left the assembly and went back to his home.
विज्ञाय शापं गिरिशानुगाग्रणी- र्नन्दीश्वरो रोषकषायदूषित: । दक्षाय शापं विससर्ज दारुणं ये चान्वमोदंस्तदवाच्यतां द्विजा: ॥ २० ॥
vijnaya sapam girisanugagranir nandisvaro rosa-kasaya-dusitah daksaya sapam visasarja darunam ye canvamodams tad-avacyatam dvijah
Upon understanding that Lord Siva had been cursed, Nandisvara, one of Lord Siva’s principal associates, became greatly angry. His eyes became red, and he prepared to curse Daksa and all the brahmanas present there who had tolerated Daksa’s cursing Siva in harsh words.
य एतन्मर्त्यमुद्दिश्य भगवत्यप्रतिद्रुहि । द्रुह्यत्यज्ञ: पृथग्दृष्टिस्तत्त्वतो विमुखो भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥
ya etan martyam uddisya bhagavaty apratidruhi druhyaty ajnah prthag-drstis tattvato vimukho bhavet
Anyone who has accepted Daksa as the most important personality and neglected Lord Siva because of envy is less intelligent and, because of visualizing in duality, will be bereft of transcendental knowledge.
गृहेषु कूटधर्मेषु सक्तो ग्राम्यसुखेच्छया । कर्मतन्त्रं वितनुते वेदवादविपन्नधी: ॥ २२ ॥
grhesu kuta-dharmesu sakto gramya-sukhecchaya karma-tantram vitanute veda-vada-vipanna-dhih
Pretentiously religious householder life, in which one is attracted to material happiness and thus also attracted to the superficial explanation of the Vedas, robs one of all intelligence and attaches one to fruitive activities as all in all.
बुद्ध्या पराभिध्यायिन्या विस्मृतात्मगति: पशु: । स्त्रीकाम: सोऽस्त्वतितरां दक्षो बस्तमुखोऽचिरात् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhya parabhidhyayinya vismrtatma-gatih pasuh stri-kamah so ’stv atitaram dakso basta-mukho ’cirat
Daksa has accepted the body as all in all. Therefore, since he has forgotten the visnu-pada, or visnu-gati, and is attached to sex life only, within a short time he will have the face of a goat.
विद्याबुद्धिरविद्यायां कर्ममय्यामसौ जड: । संसरन्त्विह ये चामुमनु शर्वावमानिनम् ॥ २४ ॥
vidya-buddhir avidyayam karmamayyam asau jadah samsarantv iha ye camum anu sarvavamaninam
Those who have become as dull as matter by cultivating materialistic education and intelligence are nesciently involved in fruitive activities. Such men have purposely insulted Lord Siva. May they continue in the cycle of repeated birth and death.
गिर: श्रुताया: पुष्पिण्या मधुगन्धेन भूरिणा । मथ्ना चोन्मथितात्मान: सम्मुह्यन्तु हरद्विष: ॥ २५ ॥
girah srutayah puspinya madhu-gandhena bhurina mathna conmathitatmanah sammuhyantu hara-dvisah
May those who are envious of Lord Siva, being attracted by the flowery language of the enchanting Vedic promises, and who have thus become dull, always remain attached to fruitive activities.
सर्वभक्षा द्विजा वृत्त्यै धृतविद्यातपोव्रता: । वित्तदेहेन्द्रियारामा याचका विचरन्त्विह ॥ २६ ॥
sarva-bhaksa dvija vrttyai dhrta-vidya-tapo-vratah vitta-dehendriyarama yacaka vicarantv iha
These brahmanas take to education, austerity and vows only for the purpose of maintaining the body. They shall be devoid of discrimination between what to eat and what not to eat. They will acquire money, begging from door to door, simply for the satisfaction of the body.
तस्यैवं वदत: शापं श्रुत्वा द्विजकुलाय वै । भृगु: प्रत्यसृजच्छापं ब्रह्मदण्डं दुरत्ययम् ॥ २७ ॥
tasyaivam vadatah sapam srutva dvija-kulaya vai bhrguh pratyasrjac chapam brahma-dandam duratyayam
When all the hereditary brahmanas were thus cursed by Nandisvara, the sage Bhrgu, as a reaction, condemned the followers of Lord Siva with this very strong brahminical curse.
भवव्रतधरा ये च ये च तान्समनुव्रता: । पाषण्डिनस्ते भवन्तु सच्छास्त्रपरिपन्थिन: ॥ २८ ॥
bhava-vrata-dhara ye ca ye ca tan samanuvratah pasandinas te bhavantu sac-chastra-paripanthinah
One who takes a vow to satisfy Lord Siva or who follows such principles will certainly become an atheist and be diverted from transcendental scriptural injunctions.
नष्टशौचा मूढधियो जटाभस्मास्थिधारिण: । विशन्तु शिवदीक्षायां यत्र दैवं सुरासवम् ॥ २९ ॥
nasta-sauca mudha-dhiyo jata-bhasmasthi-dharinah visantu siva-diksayam yatra daivam surasavam
Those who vow to worship Lord Siva are so foolish that they imitate him by keeping long hair on their heads. When initiated into worship of Lord Siva, they prefer to live on wine, flesh and other such things.
ब्रह्म च ब्राह्मणांश्चैव यद्यूयं परिनिन्दथ । सेतुं विधारणं पुंसामत: पाषण्डमाश्रिता: ॥ ३० ॥
brahma ca brahmanams caiva yad yuyam parinindatha setum vidharanam pumsam atah pasandam asritah
Bhrgu Muni continued: Since you blaspheme the Vedas and the brahmanas, who are followers of the Vedic principles, it is understood that you have already taken shelter of the doctrine of atheism.
एष एव हि लोकानां शिव: पन्था: सनातन: । यं पूर्वे चानुसन्तस्थुर्यत्प्रमाणं जनार्दन: ॥ ३१ ॥
esa eva hi lokanam sivah panthah sanatanah yam purve canusantasthur yat-pramanam janardanah
The Vedas give the eternal regulative principles for auspicious advancement in human civilization which have been rigidly followed in the past. The strong evidence of this principle is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is called Janardana, the well-wisher of all living entities.
तद्ब्रह्म परमं शुद्धं सतां वर्त्म सनातनम् । विगर्ह्य यात पाषण्डं दैवं वो यत्र भूतराट् ॥ ३२ ॥
tad brahma paramam suddham satam vartma sanatanam vigarhya yata pasandam daivam vo yatra bhuta-rat
By blaspheming the principles of the Vedas, which are the pure and supreme path of the saintly persons, certainly you followers of Bhutapati, Lord Siva, will descend to the standard of atheism without a doubt.
मैत्रेय उवाच तस्यैवं वदत: शापं भृगो: स भगवान् भव: । निश्चक्राम तत: किञ्चिद्विमना इव सानुग: ॥ ३३ ॥
maitreya uvaca tasyaivam vadatah sapam bhrgoh sa bhagavan bhavah niscakrama tatah kincid vimana iva sanugah
The sage Maitreya said: When such cursing and countercursing was going on between Lord Siva’s followers and the parties of Daksa and Bhrgu, Lord Siva became very morose. Not saying anything, he left the arena of the sacrifice, followed by his disciples.
तेऽपि विश्वसृज: सत्रं सहस्रपरिवत्सरान् । संविधाय महेष्वास यत्रेज्य ऋषभो हरि: ॥ ३४ ॥
te ’pi visva-srjah satram sahasra-parivatsaran samvidhaya mahesvasa yatrejya rsabho harih
The sage Maitreya continued: O Vidura, all the progenitors of the universal population thus executed a sacrifice for thousands of years, for sacrifice is the best way to worship the Supreme Lord, Hari, the Personality of Godhead.
आप्लुत्यावभृथं यत्र गङ्गा यमुनयान्विता । विरजेनात्मना सर्वे स्वं स्वं धाम ययुस्तत: ॥ ३५ ॥
aplutyavabhrtham yatra ganga yamunayanvita virajenatmana sarve svam svam dhama yayus tatah
My dear Vidura, carrier of bows and arrows, all the demigods who were performing the sacrifice took their bath at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna after completing the yajna performance. Such a bath is called avabhrtha-snana. After thus becoming purified in heart, they departed for their respective abodes.
