Shloka 55
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
मैत्रेय उवाच एवं भगवतादिष्ट: प्रजापतिपतिर्हरिम् । अर्चित्वा क्रतुना स्वेन देवानुभयतोऽयजत् ॥ ५५ ॥
maitreya uvāca evaṁ bhagavatādiṣṭaḥ prajāpati-patir harim arcitvā kratunā svena devān ubhayato ’yajat
Maitreya said: Thus Dakṣa, lord of the Prajāpatis, instructed by the Bhagavān, worshiped Hari (Viṣṇu). Having honored Him through his prescribed sacrifice, he then offered separate worship to Brahmā and to Śiva.
Lord Viṣṇu should be offered everything, and His prasāda should be distributed to all the demigods. This practice is still followed in the temple of Jagannātha at Purī. There are many temples of demigods around the main temple of Jagannātha, and the prasāda which is offered first to Jagannātha is distributed to all the demigods. The deity of Bhagālin is worshiped with the prasāda of Viṣṇu, and also, in the famous Lord Śiva temple of Bhuvaneśvara, the prasāda of Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Jagannātha is offered to the deity of Lord Śiva. This is the Vaiṣṇava principle. The Vaiṣṇava does not deride even ordinary living entities, including the small ant; everyone is offered proper respect according to his position. The offering, however, is in relation to the center, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu. The devotee who is highly elevated sees the relationship to Kṛṣṇa in everything; he does not see anything as being independent of Kṛṣṇa. That is his vision of oneness.
FAQs
This verse shows that when Dakṣa was instructed by the Lord, he first worshiped Hari and then performed the sacrificial worship—indicating that sacrifice becomes proper and spiritually complete when centered on the Supreme Lord.
In the narrative of Canto 4, Chapter 7, the Lord’s instruction leads Dakṣa to correct his offense and proceed in a purified way—worshiping Hari and then honoring the devas according to the renewed order of the sacrifice.
Prioritize devotion to the Supreme (Hari) in one’s duties and rituals; then perform social, family, and religious responsibilities in a balanced way, without ego or sectarian conflict.