Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 12

Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly

Devanagari script

गृहीत्वा मृगशावाक्ष्या: पाणिं मर्कटलोचन: । प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादार्हे वाचाप्यकृत नोचितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhītvā mṛga-śāvākṣyāḥ pāṇiṁ markaṭa-locanaḥ pratyutthānābhivādārhe vācāpy akṛta nocitam

Translation

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.

Synonyms

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम्; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having taken)

• मृगशावाक्ष्याः: of the doe-eyed (woman)
• मृगशावाक्ष्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगशाव + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose eyes are like a fawn’s; genitive: of the doe-eyed woman)

• पाणिम्: hand
• पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masculine, accusative, singular)

• मर्कटलोचनः: monkey-eyed (one)
• मर्कटलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्कट + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose eyes are like a monkey’s)

• प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादार्हे: toward one worthy of rising and greeting
• प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादार्हे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्युत्थान + अभिवाद + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (locative singular: in/with regard to one worthy of rising and salutation)

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (feminine, instrumental, singular: by speech/with words)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: even/also)

• अकृत: not done
• अकृत: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → अकृत (कृदन्त, क्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नञ्-निषेध (not done)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (not)

• उचितम्: proper
• उचितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative, singular: proper/appropriate)

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• Prasūti
• Lord Śiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about disrespecting Lord Shiva or great devotees?

This verse highlights Dakṣa’s failure to offer even basic honor to Lord Śiva, showing that disrespect toward exalted beings is improper and becomes the seed of serious offense (aparādha) and suffering.

Why did Daksha refuse to properly greet Lord Shiva in Canto 4 Chapter 2?

Dakṣa was driven by pride and social prestige; considering himself superior, he withheld the customary rising and salutations due to Lord Śiva, setting the stage for conflict at the sacrifice.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Cultivate humility and basic respect—especially toward saintly persons and sincere practitioners—because arrogance and dismissiveness quickly damage relationships and spiritual progress.