Shloka 48
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
ते च ब्रह्मण आदेशान्मारिषामुपयेमिरे । यस्यां महदवज्ञानादजन्यजनयोनिज: ॥ ४८ ॥
te ca brahmaṇa ādeśān māriṣām upayemire yasyāṁ mahad-avajñānād ajany ajana-yonijaḥ
Obeying Brahmā’s command, the Pracetās accepted Māriṣā as their wife. From her womb was born Dakṣa, a son of Brahmā; because he had disobeyed and disrespected Mahādeva (Śiva), he had to be born from Māriṣā and thus abandoned his body twice.
In this connection the word mahad-avajñānāt is significant. King Dakṣa was the son of Lord Brahmā; therefore in a previous birth he was a brāhmaṇa. But because of his behaving like a non- brāhmaṇa ( abrāhmaṇa ) by insulting or disrespecting Lord Mahādeva, he had to take birth within the semen of a kṣatriya — that is to say, he became the son of the Pracetās. Not only that, but because of his disrespecting Lord Śiva, he had to undergo the tribulation of taking birth from within the womb of a woman. In the Dakṣa-yajña arena, he was once killed by Lord Śiva’s servant, Vīrabhadra. Because that was not sufficient, he again took birth, from the womb of Māriṣā. At the end of the Dakṣa-yajña and the disastrous incidents there, Dakṣa offered his prayer to Lord Śiva. Although he had to give up his body and take birth from the womb of a woman impregnated by the semen of a kṣatriya, he received all opulence by the grace of Lord Śiva. These are the subtle laws of material nature. Unfortunately, people in this modern age do not know how these laws are working. Having no knowledge of the eternity of the spirit soul and its transmigration, the population of the present age is in the greatest ignorance. Because of this, it is said in Bhāgavatam (1.1.10) , mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ: the total population in this Age of Kali-yuga is very bad, lazy, unfortunate and disturbed by material conditions.
FAQs
This verse links a “great offense” (mahad-avajñā) to unusual and troublesome karmic outcomes, teaching that disrespect toward exalted souls brings serious consequences and should be carefully avoided.
They did so on the direct instruction of Lord Brahmā, indicating that their marriage was part of the divine arrangement for continuing universal progeny and fulfilling cosmic duties.
Cultivate humility and respect toward saintly persons and sincere practitioners; avoid criticism and contempt, since spiritual progress is protected by honoring those who embody devotion and wisdom.