Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 11
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
एष मे शिष्यतां प्राप्तो यन्मे दुहितुरग्रहीत् । पाणिं विप्राग्निमुखत: सावित्र्या इव साधुवत् ॥ ११ ॥
eṣa me śiṣyatāṁ prāpto yan me duhitur agrahīt pāṇiṁ viprāgni-mukhataḥ sāvitryā iva sādhuvat
Indem er vor dem heiligen Feuer und den Brahmanen die Hand meiner Tochter zur Ehe nahm, hat er sich gleichsam als mein Untergebener anerkannt. Er heiratete meine Tochter, der Gāyatrī gleich, und tat dabei so, als sei er ein rechtschaffener Mann.
Dakṣa’s statement that Lord Śiva pretended to be an honest person means that Śiva was dishonest because in spite of accepting the position of Dakṣa’s son-in-law, he was not respectful to Dakṣa.
FAQs
This verse highlights that accepting a bride’s hand before brāhmaṇas and the sacred fire is considered proper dharmic conduct, validating the marriage as a sacred saṁskāra.
Dakṣa equates adherence to ritual propriety with qualification; by marrying in a sanctioned Vedic manner, the person demonstrates discipline and respect for dharma, which Dakṣa considers a prerequisite for discipleship.
It encourages honoring sacred commitments with integrity—making life decisions responsibly, respecting spiritual principles, and treating marriage and duties as vows rather than casual arrangements.