Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 12
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
न वेद धर्मं किल पद्मयोनि- र्न ब्रह्मपुत्रा भृगुनारदाद्या: । न वै कुमार: कपिलो मनुश्च ये नो निषेधन्त्यतिवर्तिनं हरम् ॥ १२ ॥
na veda dharmaṁ kila padmayonir na brahma-putrā bhṛgu-nāradādyāḥ na vai kumāraḥ kapilo manuś ca ye no niṣedhanty ati-vartinaṁ haram
Alas, Lord Brahmā, who has taken his birth from the lotus flower, does not know the principles of religion, nor do the great saints like Bhṛgu and Nārada, nor the four Kumāras, headed by Sanat-kumāra. Manu and Kapila have also forgotten the religious principles. I suppose it to be because of this that they have not tried to stop Lord Śiva from behaving improperly.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even exalted beings like Brahmā, great sages, and Manus cannot fully define or control dharma independent of Hari; the Supreme Lord remains the ultimate reference point.
They emphasize that even the greatest cosmic authorities and teachers are not final arbiters over those devoted to Hari, because the Lord’s supremacy transcends all created hierarchies.
Respect spiritual authorities and traditions, but keep devotion and surrender to the Supreme (Hari) central—avoiding pride that one has ‘fully understood’ dharma without humility and bhakti.