Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Vīrabhadra Destroys Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
Dakṣa-yajña-vināśa
भृगुं बबन्ध मणिमान् वीरभद्र: प्रजापतिम् । चण्डेश: पूषणं देवं भगं नन्दीश्वरोऽग्रहीत् ॥ १७ ॥
bhṛguṁ babandha maṇimān vīrabhadraḥ prajāpatim caṇḍeśaḥ pūṣaṇaṁ devaṁ bhagaṁ nandīśvaro ’grahīt
Maṇimān, one of the followers of Lord Śiva, arrested Bhṛgu Muni, and Vīrabhadra, the black demon, arrested Prajāpati Dakṣa. Another follower, who was named Caṇḍeśa, arrested Pūṣā. Nandīśvara arrested the demigod Bhaga.
FAQs
This verse describes how Śiva’s chief attendants, led by Vīrabhadra, captured key participants of Dakṣa’s sacrifice—showing that a yajña performed with pride and offense invites ruin rather than auspiciousness.
They were among the prominent figures supporting Dakṣa’s sacrificial assembly where Lord Śiva was insulted; the verse narrates their capture as part of the retaliation carried out by Śiva’s followers under Vīrabhadra.
It warns that arrogance and disrespect toward saintly persons or sincere devotees can bring severe consequences; humility and honoring the divine in others protects one’s work from becoming spiritually empty.