Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

उदतिष्ठन्सदस्यास्ते स्वधिष्ण्येभ्य: सहाग्नय: । ऋते विरिञ्चां शर्वं च तद्भासाक्षिप्तचेतस: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

udatiṣṭhan sadasyās te sva-dhiṣṇyebhyaḥ sahāgnayaḥ ṛte viriñcāṁ śarvaṁ ca tad-bhāsākṣipta-cetasaḥ

Translation

Influenced by his personal bodily luster, all the fire-gods and other participants in that great assembly, with the exceptions of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, gave up their own sitting places and stood in respect for Dakṣa.

Synonyms

• उदतिष्ठन्: they rose up
• उदतिष्ठन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; छन्दसि/पद्यम् रूपम् (for उदतिष्ठन् < उदतिष्ठन्/उदतिष्ठन्)

• सदस्याः: members of the assembly
• सदस्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्वधिष्ण्येभ्यः: from their own seats
• स्वधिष्ण्येभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-धिष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th, ablative), बहुवचन; स्व + धिष्ण्य (own seats/places)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (preposition/adverb: 'together with')

• अग्नयः: the fires (fire-gods)
• अग्नयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ऋते: except
• ऋते: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (excepting)

• विरिञ्चाम्: Viriñca (Brahmā)
• विरिञ्चाम्: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शर्वम्: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वम्: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तद्भासा: by his radiance
• तद्भासा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-भासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd, instrumental), एकवचन; तद् (his/that) + भासा (splendour)

• आक्षिप्तचेतसः: with minds attracted (by that radiance)
• आक्षिप्तचेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-क्षिप्त-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; आक्षिप्त (√क्षिप् क्त, 'drawn/attracted') + चेतस् (mind)

Characters & Entities

• Viriñca (Brahmā)
• Śarva (Śiva)

FAQs

Why did the members of Daksha’s assembly stand up in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.2.6?

They rose from their seats—along with the sacred fires—because they were struck and impressed by the powerful effulgence present in the assembly, a social and ritual sign of respect.

Why did Brahmā and Lord Śiva not stand up in the assembly (Bhagavatam 4.2.6)?

The verse states that Brahmā and Śiva were exceptions; their minds were not overpowered by that display of radiance, indicating their steadiness and distinct position beyond ordinary social pressure.

What is the practical lesson from Bhagavatam 4.2.6 for modern life?

Do not be swept away by external glamour or social momentum; cultivate steadiness and discernment, offering respect appropriately without losing inner composure.