Shloka 49
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
भगवान् स्वेन भागेन सर्वात्मा सर्वभागभुक् । दक्षं बभाष आभाष्य प्रीयमाण इवानघ ॥ ४९ ॥
bhagavān svena bhāgena sarvātmā sarva-bhāga-bhuk dakṣaṁ babhāṣa ābhāṣya prīyamāṇa ivānagha
Maitreya continued: O sinless Vidura, Lord Viṣṇu is truly the enjoyer of the fruits of all yajñas; yet, as the Paramātmā within every being, He was satisfied with His own allotted share. Thus, in a gracious mood, He addressed Dakṣa with pleasing words.
In Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) it is said, bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām: Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, is the supreme enjoyer of all the results of sacrifices, austerities and penances; in whatever one may engage, the ultimate goal is Viṣṇu. If a person does not know that, he is misled. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu has nothing to demand from anyone. He is self-satisfied, self-sufficient, but He accepts the offerings of yajña because of His friendly attitude toward all living entities. When His share of the sacrificial results was offered to Him, He appeared very pleased. It is said in Bhagavad-gītā (9.26) , patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati: if any devotee offers Him even a small leaf, or a flower or water, if it is offered with love and affection, the Lord accepts it and is pleased. Although He is self-sufficient and does not need anything from anyone, He accepts such offerings because, as Supersoul, He has such a friendly attitude toward all living entities. Another point here is that He does not encroach upon another’s share. In the yajña there is a share for the demigods, Lord Śiva, and Lord Brahmā, and a share for Lord Viṣṇu. He is satisfied with His own share and does not encroach upon others’. Indirectly, He indicated that He was not satisfied with Dakṣa’s trying to deny Lord Śiva his share. Maitreya addressed Vidura as sinless because Vidura was a pure Vaiṣṇava and never committed any offense to any demigod. Although Vaiṣṇavas accept Lord Viṣṇu as the Supreme, they are not prone to offend demigods. They give the demigods proper respect. Vaiṣṇavas accept Lord Śiva as the best Vaiṣṇava. For a Vaiṣṇava there is no possibility of offending any demigods, and the demigods are also pleased with the Vaiṣṇava because they are faultless devotees of Lord Viṣṇu.
FAQs
This verse states that Bhagavān is sarva-bhāga-bhuk—the rightful enjoyer of all sacrificial shares—because He is sarvātmā, the inner Self of all.
In the Dakṣa-yajña narrative, Viṣṇu’s acceptance and subsequent words signify restoration of order—yajña becomes complete when offered to Him, and Dakṣa is guided back toward proper devotional understanding.
Dedicate the fruits of work—time, resources, and gratitude—to the Divine (through prayer, service, and ethical living), remembering that all outcomes ultimately belong to the Supreme.