Shloka 23
Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds
कृत्तिकादीनि नक्षत्राणीन्दो: पत्न्यस्तु भारत । दक्षशापात् सोऽनपत्यस्तासु यक्ष्मग्रहार्दित: ॥ २३ ॥
kṛttikādīni nakṣatrāṇ- īndoḥ patnyas tu bhārata dakṣa-śāpāt so ’napatyas tāsu yakṣma-grahārditaḥ
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, der Beste der Bhāratas: Die Sternbilder wie Kṛttikā waren allesamt Gemahlinnen des Mondgottes. Doch durch den Fluch des Prajāpati Dakṣa wurde der Mond von einer zehrenden Krankheit (yakṣmā) befallen und blieb ohne Nachkommenschaft; daher konnte er mit keiner seiner Gemahlinnen Kinder zeugen.
Because the moon-god was very much attached to Rohiṇī, he neglected all his other wives. Therefore, seeing the bereavement of these daughters, Prajāpati Dakṣa became angry and cursed him.
FAQs
This verse states that the lunar mansions beginning with Kṛttikā are described as the wives of the Moon (Soma/Candra).
The verse points to Dakṣa’s curse as the cause of the Moon’s suffering—he became afflicted by yakṣmā and thus became unable to produce offspring through the nakṣatras.
Even exalted beings face consequences for wrongdoing; the Bhagavatam’s lesson is to act responsibly, avoid offense, and seek purification when faults arise.