Shloka 5
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
बाहुभ्यामश्विनो: पूष्णो हस्ताभ्यां कृतबाहव: । भवन्त्वध्वर्यवश्चान्ये बस्तश्मश्रुर्भृगुर्भवेत् ॥ ५ ॥
bāhubhyām aśvinoḥ pūṣṇo hastābhyāṁ kṛta-bāhavaḥ bhavantv adhvaryavaś cānye basta-śmaśrur bhṛgur bhavet
Those whose arms were severed shall work with the arms of the Aśvinī-kumāras, and those whose hands were cut off shall perform their duties with the hands of Pūṣā. The adhvaryu priests too shall act in that same way. As for Bhṛgu, let him receive the beard of a goat’s head.
Bhṛgu Muni, a great supporter of Dakṣa, was awarded the beard of the goat’s head which was substituted for the head of Dakṣa. It appears from the exchange of Dakṣa’s head that the modern scientific theory that the brain substance is the cause of all intelligent work is not valid. The brain substance of Dakṣa and that of a goat are different, but Dakṣa still acted like himself, even though his head was replaced by that of a goat. The conclusion is that it is the particular consciousness of an individual soul which acts. The brain substance is only an instrument which has nothing to do with real intelligence. The real intelligence, mind and consciousness are part of the particular individual soul. It will be found in the verses ahead that after Dakṣa’s head was replaced by the goat’s head, he was as intelligent as he had previously been. He prayed very nicely to satisfy Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu, which is not possible for a goat to do. Therefore it is definitely concluded that the brain substance is not the center of intelligence; it is the consciousness of a particular soul that works intelligently. The whole movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to purify the consciousness. It doesn’t matter what kind of brain one has because if he simply transfers his consciousness from matter to Kṛṣṇa, his life becomes successful. It is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who takes up Kṛṣṇa consciousness achieves the highest perfection of life, regardless of whatever abominable condition of life he may have fallen into. Specifically, anyone in Kṛṣṇa consciousness goes back to Godhead, back to home, on leaving his present material body.
FAQs
This verse shows Lord Śiva’s reconciliatory mercy—he arranges the restoration of injured participants (like Pūṣā and others) so the sacrificial order can be re-established.
Because the Aśvinī-kumāras are renowned healers among the devas, and Pūṣā had been injured in the yajña disturbance; Śiva invokes appropriate divine agencies for their restoration.
Even after serious conflict, a devotee should aim for healing and restoration—repairing harm, re-establishing right conduct, and moving forward without vengeance.