Shloka 21
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
य एतन्मर्त्यमुद्दिश्य भगवत्यप्रतिद्रुहि । द्रुह्यत्यज्ञ: पृथग्दृष्टिस्तत्त्वतो विमुखो भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥
ya etan martyam uddiśya bhagavaty apratidruhi druhyaty ajñaḥ pṛthag-dṛṣṭis tattvato vimukho bhavet
One who deems this mortal (Dakṣa) the foremost and, out of envy, acts offensively toward Bhagavān Śiva is of meager intelligence; seeing in duality, he becomes bereft of true transcendental knowledge.
The first curse by Nandīśvara was that anyone supporting Dakṣa was foolishly identifying himself with the body, and therefore, because Dakṣa had no transcendental knowledge, supporting him would deprive one of transcendental knowledge. Dakṣa, Nandīśvara said, identified himself with the body like other materialistic persons and was trying to derive all kinds of facilities in relationship with the body. He had excessive attachment for the body and, in relation to the body, with wife, children, home and other such things, which are different from the soul. Therefore Nandīśvara’s curse was that anyone who supported Dakṣa would be bereft of transcendental knowledge of the soul and thus also be deprived of knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse teaches that being malicious toward a non-envious devotee of the Lord makes one ignorant, develops a separatist mentality, and turns one away from the truth.
Sati condemns Daksha’s hostility toward Lord Shiva, portraying such envy toward a great devotee as spiritual blindness that blocks true understanding.
Avoid criticizing sincere devotees and cultivate respect; envy and malice distort perception and weaken one’s capacity to grasp spiritual reality.