Shloka 21
पूष्णो ह्यपातयद्दन्तान् कालिङ्गस्य यथा बल: । शप्यमाने गरिमणि योऽहसद्दर्शयन्दत: ॥ २१ ॥
pūṣṇo hy apātayad dantān kāliṅgasya yathā balaḥ śapyamāne garimaṇi yo ’hasad darśayan dataḥ
Just as Baladeva knocked out the teeth of the King of Kalinga, Virabhadra knocked out the teeth of Pusha, who by smiling sympathetically had shown his teeth while Shiva was cursed.
Here a reference is made to the marriage of Aniruddha, a grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s. He kidnapped the daughter of Dantavakra, and thereafter he was arrested. Just as he was to be punished for the kidnapping, the soldiers from Dvārakā arrived, headed by Balarāma, and a fight ensued amongst the kṣatriyas. This sort of fight was very common, especially during marriage ceremonies, when everyone was in a challenging spirit. In that challenging spirit, a fight was sure to occur, and in such fights there was commonly killing and misfortune. After finishing such fighting, the parties would come to a compromise, and everything would be settled. This Dakṣa yajña was similar to such events. Now all of them — Dakṣa and the demigods Bhaga and Pūṣā and Bhṛgu Muni — were punished by the soldiers of Lord Śiva, but later everything would come to a peaceful end. So this spirit of fighting between one another was not exactly inimical. Because everyone was so powerful and wanted to show his strength by Vedic mantra or mystic power, all these fighting skills were very elaborately exhibited by the different parties at the Dakṣa yajña.
FAQs
Because he laughed and displayed his teeth while a grave curse was being uttered, showing disrespect in a solemn, spiritually consequential moment.
It teaches that even subtle disrespect—like laughing at a serious, sacred proceeding—can bring tangible consequences, especially when directed toward weighty persons or events.
Cultivate reverence and self-control in sacred or serious contexts—avoid mockery, careless speech, or dismissive behavior—since spiritual progress depends on humility and respect.