Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
मैत्रेय उवाच विनिन्द्यैवं स गिरिशमप्रतीपमवस्थितम् । दक्षोऽथाप उपस्पृश्य क्रुद्ध: शप्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ १७ ॥
maitreya uvāca vinindyaivaṁ sa giriśam apratīpam avasthitam dakṣo ’thāpa upaspṛśya kruddhaḥ śaptuṁ pracakrame
O sábio Maitreya continuou: Assim, após censurar Girīśa (Śiva), Dakṣa o viu sentado como se lhe fosse contrário; então fez ācaman, purificou mãos e boca e, irado, começou a amaldiçoá-lo.
FAQs
This verse shows Dakṣa first reviling Lord Śiva and then proceeding to curse him—highlighting how pride and offense escalate into harmful speech and actions, a recurring warning in the Bhagavatam against aparādha (offense) toward exalted beings.
After insulting Śiva, Dakṣa performed a formal purificatory act (sipping water) and, driven by anger, began the ritualized act of cursing—showing how he tried to give his resentment an appearance of religious propriety.
Śiva’s non-retaliation models steadiness under insult; in modern life it encourages restraint, humility, and not reacting impulsively when criticized, especially when anger would worsen the situation.