Shloka 18
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
अयं तु देवयजन इन्द्रोपेन्द्रादिभिर्भव: । सह भागं न लभतां देवैर्देवगणाधम: ॥ १८ ॥
ayaṁ tu deva-yajana indropendrādibhir bhavaḥ saha bhāgaṁ na labhatāṁ devair deva-gaṇādhamaḥ
This sacrifice is meant for Indra, Upendra, and the other devas; Bhava (Śiva), said to be the lowest among the demigods, should receive no share of the oblations.
Because of this curse, Śiva was deprived of his share in the oblations of Vedic sacrifices. It was due to the curse of Dakṣa, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments in this connection, that Lord Śiva was saved from the calamity of taking part with other demigods, who were all materialistic. Lord Śiva is the greatest devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is not fitting for him to eat or sit with materialistic persons like the demigods. Thus the curse of Dakṣa was indirectly a blessing, for Śiva would not have to eat or sit with other demigods, who were too materialistic. There is a practical example set for us by Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, who used to sit on the side of a latrine to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Many materialistic persons used to come and bother him and disturb his daily routine of chanting, so to avoid their company he used to sit by the side of a latrine, where materialistic persons would not go because of the filth and the obnoxious smell. However, Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja was so great that he was accepted as the spiritual master of such a great personality as His Divine Grace Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja. The conclusion is that Lord Śiva behaved in his own way to avoid materialistic persons who might disturb him in his prosecution of devotional service.
FAQs
In this verse Dakṣa, out of pride and envy, insults Bhava (Śiva) and claims he should not receive a sacrificial share, revealing Dakṣa’s offensive mentality that later leads to conflict around his yajña.
This verse illustrates how contempt toward a great divine personality—especially in a sacred setting like yajña—creates spiritual and social disruption; the narrative emphasizes that disrespect and envy bring severe reactions and downfall.
Avoid belittling sincere spiritual people or traditions; prideful speech in “religious” contexts can destroy unity and one’s own progress—cultivate humility and respect instead.