Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
दक्षो गृहीतार्हणसादनोत्तमं यज्ञेश्वरं विश्वसृजां परं गुरुम् । सुनन्दनन्दाद्यनुगैर्वृतं मुदा गृणन् प्रपेदे प्रयत: कृताञ्जलि: ॥ २५ ॥
dakṣo gṛhītārhaṇa-sādanottamaṁ yajñeśvaraṁ viśva-sṛjāṁ paraṁ gurum sunanda-nandādy-anugair vṛtaṁ mudā gṛṇan prapede prayataḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ
When Lord Viṣṇu accepted the oblations offered in the sacrifice, Dakṣa, the Prajāpati, began with great pleasure to offer respectful prayers unto Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the master of all sacrifices and preceptor of all the Prajāpatis, and He is served even by such personalities as Nanda and Sunanda.
Yajñeśvara means “the Lord of sacrifice,” referring to Lord Viṣṇu, the supreme controller and enjoyer of all yajñas, whom Dakṣa approaches here with prayers and folded hands.
In the narrative of Canto 4, Dakṣa’s offense and the disruption of sacrifice lead him toward repentance; he approaches Viṣṇu—the supreme authority over sacrifice and the guru of the cosmic administrators—to seek restoration through humility and prayer.
When pride causes conflict, the remedy is sincere humility: approach the Supreme with respect, self-control, and prayer—symbolized here by Dakṣa’s folded hands and composed demeanor.