Shloka 27
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
तस्यैवं वदत: शापं श्रुत्वा द्विजकुलाय वै । भृगु: प्रत्यसृजच्छापं ब्रह्मदण्डं दुरत्ययम् ॥ २७ ॥
tasyaivaṁ vadataḥ śāpaṁ śrutvā dvija-kulāya vai bhṛguḥ pratyasṛjac chāpaṁ brahma-daṇḍaṁ duratyayam
When all the hereditary brāhmaṇas were thus cursed by Nandīśvara, the sage Bhṛgu, as a reaction, condemned the followers of Lord Śiva with this very strong brahminical curse.
The word duratyaya is particularly used in reference to a brahmadaṇḍa, or curse by a brāhmaṇa. A curse by a brāhmaṇa is very strong; therefore it is called duratyaya, or insurmountable. As the Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā, the stringent laws of nature are insurmountable; similarly, if a curse is uttered by a brāhmaṇa, that curse is also insurmountable. But Bhagavad-gītā also says that the curses or benedictions of the material world are, after all, material creations. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta confirms that that which is accepted in this material world to be a benediction and that which is taken to be a curse are both on the same platform because they are material. To get out of this material contamination, one should take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as recommended in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) : mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te. The best path is to transcend all material curses and benedictions and take shelter of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, and remain in a transcendental position. Persons who have taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa are always peaceful; they are never cursed by anyone, nor do they attempt to curse anyone. That is a transcendental position.
FAQs
This verse shows that a curse directed at the brāhmaṇa community provokes a powerful, unavoidable reaction—describing brahminical chastisement as “duratyaya,” difficult to overcome.
In the Dakṣa-yajña conflict, harsh words and curses were exchanged; upon hearing a curse aimed at the brāhmaṇas, Bhṛgu issued a return curse as a decisive brahminical punishment.
The verse warns that harming or disrespecting saintly, principled people and sacred institutions brings consequences that are not easily escaped—encouraging restraint in speech, humility, and reverence for dharma.