Shloka 3
इष्ट्वा स वाजपेयेन ब्रह्मिष्ठानभिभूय च । बृहस्पतिसवं नाम समारेभे क्रतूत्तमम् ॥ ३ ॥
iṣṭvā sa vājapeyena brahmiṣṭhān abhibhūya ca bṛhaspati-savaṁ nāma samārebhe kratūttamam
Dakṣa performed the vājapeya sacrifice and, relying on Lord Brahmā’s support, became overly self-assured. Then he began another supreme sacrifice, known as bṛhaspati-sava.
In the Vedas it is prescribed that before performing a bṛhaspati-sava sacrifice, one should perform the sacrifice named vājapeya. While performing these sacrifices, however, Dakṣa neglected great devotees like Lord Śiva. According to Vedic scriptures, the demigods are eligible to participate in yajñas and share the oblations, but Dakṣa wanted to avoid them. All sacrifices are intended to pacify Lord Viṣṇu, but Lord Viṣṇu includes all His devotees. Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the other demigods are all obedient servants of Lord Viṣṇu; therefore Lord Viṣṇu is never satisfied without them. But Dakṣa, being puffed up with his power, wanted to deprive Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva of participation in the sacrifice, understanding that if one satisfies Viṣṇu, it is not necessary to satisfy His followers. But that is not the process. Viṣṇu wants His followers to be satisfied first. Lord Kṛṣṇa says, mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā: “The worship of My devotees is better than worship of Me.” Similarly, in the Śiva Purāṇa it is stated that the best mode of worship is to offer oblations to Viṣṇu, but better than that is to worship the devotees of Kṛṣṇa. Thus Dakṣa’s determination to neglect Lord Śiva in the sacrifices was not fitting.
FAQs
In this verse, the Vājapeya is described as a major Vedic yajña that Dakṣa performed to gain distinction and prestige, showcasing his ritual power and social standing.
Śukadeva explains that after completing the Vājapeya and surpassing other ritualists, Dakṣa initiated an even more eminent sacrifice—Bṛhaspati-sava—reflecting his drive for supremacy through karma-kāṇḍa achievements.
External religious success can inflate ego; the Bhagavatam cautions that ritual achievement without humility and devotion can lead to conflict and offense, undermining true spiritual progress.