Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 23
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
बुद्ध्या पराभिध्यायिन्या विस्मृतात्मगति: पशु: । स्त्रीकाम: सोऽस्त्वतितरां दक्षो बस्तमुखोऽचिरात् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhyā parābhidhyāyinyā vismṛtātma-gatiḥ paśuḥ strī-kāmaḥ so ’stv atitarāṁ dakṣo basta-mukho ’cirāt
Dakṣa telah menerima badan sebagai segala-galanya. Oleh kerana dia telah melupakan viṣṇu-pāda dan hanya terikat pada nafsu syahwat, tidak lama lagi dia akan mempunyai wajah kambing.
FAQs
This verse states that intelligence corrupted by envy makes one forget the soul’s true goal, and such offense can bring swift degradation and humiliation, as shown by Dakṣa’s fate.
Because Dakṣa insulted and blasphemed Lord Śiva in the sacrificial assembly; Nandī, as Śiva’s devoted attendant, responded by condemning Dakṣa’s lust and spiritual forgetfulness and pronouncing a curse.
Guard the intellect from envy and contempt, avoid criticizing saints and devotees, and redirect desire into disciplined, dharmic living—so the true purpose of life (ātma-gati) is not forgotten.