Shloka 13
Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire
नाश्चर्यमेतद्यदसत्सु सर्वदा महद्विनिन्दा कुणपात्मवादिषु । सेर्ष्यं महापूरुषपादपांसुभि- र्निरस्ततेज:सु तदेव शोभनम् ॥ १३ ॥
nāścaryam etad yad asatsu sarvadā mahad-vinindā kuṇapātma-vādiṣu serṣyaṁ mahāpūruṣa-pāda-pāṁsubhir nirasta-tejaḥsu tad eva śobhanam
It is no wonder that those who take the perishable body to be the self continually deride great souls. The envy of such materialists is itself the cause of their downfall, for by the dust of the feet of the mahāpuruṣas their splendor is cast down—thus it is fitting.
Everything depends on the strength of the recipient. For example, due to the scorching sunshine many vegetables and flowers dry up, and many grow luxuriantly. Thus it is the recipient that causes growth and dwindling. Similarly, mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam: the dust of the lotus feet of great personalities offers all good to the recipient, but the same dust can also do harm. Those who are offenders at the lotus feet of a great personality dry up; their godly qualities diminish. A great soul may forgive offenses, but Kṛṣṇa does not excuse offenses to the dust of that great soul’s feet, just as one can tolerate the scorching sunshine on one’s head but cannot tolerate the scorching sunshine on one’s feet. An offender glides down more and more; therefore he naturally continues to commit offenses at the feet of the great soul. Offenses are generally committed by persons who falsely identify with the impermanent body. King Dakṣa was deeply engrossed in a misconception because he identified the body with the soul. He offended the lotus feet of Lord Śiva because he thought that his body, being the father of the body of Satī, was superior to Lord Śiva’s. Generally, less intelligent men misidentify in that way, and they act in the bodily concept of life. Thus they are subject to commit more and more offenses at the lotus feet of great souls. One who has such a concept of life is considered to be in the class of animals like cows and asses.
FAQs
This verse explains that envious, impious people—especially those absorbed in bodily identification—naturally criticize great souls, and such envy becomes their defining trait.
He uses irony: when a person lacks true spiritual brilliance and virtue, envy and fault-finding become the only thing they display prominently.
Avoid gossip and fault-finding about sincere practitioners, watch for envy in yourself, and cultivate humility by honoring saintly qualities rather than competing with them.