Shloka 23
Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds
कृत्तिकादीनि नक्षत्राणीन्दो: पत्न्यस्तु भारत । दक्षशापात् सोऽनपत्यस्तासु यक्ष्मग्रहार्दित: ॥ २३ ॥
kṛttikādīni nakṣatrāṇ- īndoḥ patnyas tu bhārata dakṣa-śāpāt so ’napatyas tāsu yakṣma-grahārditaḥ
ਹੇ ਭਾਰਤ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਮਹਾਰਾਜ ਪਰੀਕਸ਼ਿਤ! ਕ੍ਰਿੱਤਿਕਾ ਆਦਿ ਨਕਸ਼ਤਰ ਚੰਦਰਦੇਵ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਤਨੀਆਂ ਸਨ। ਪਰ ਪ੍ਰਜਾਪਤੀ ਦਕਸ਼ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਪ ਕਾਰਨ ਖ਼ਸਯ ਰੋਗ ਨਾਲ ਪੀੜਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਚੰਦਰਮਾ ਨਿਸੰਤਾਨ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਤੋਂ ਸੰਤਾਨ ਉਤਪੰਨ ਨਾ ਕਰ ਸਕਿਆ।
Because the moon-god was very much attached to Rohiṇī, he neglected all his other wives. Therefore, seeing the bereavement of these daughters, Prajāpati Dakṣa became angry and cursed him.
FAQs
This verse states that the lunar mansions beginning with Kṛttikā are described as the wives of the Moon (Soma/Candra).
The verse points to Dakṣa’s curse as the cause of the Moon’s suffering—he became afflicted by yakṣmā and thus became unable to produce offspring through the nakṣatras.
Even exalted beings face consequences for wrongdoing; the Bhagavatam’s lesson is to act responsibly, avoid offense, and seek purification when faults arise.