Shloka 12
Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire
दोषान् परेषां हि गुणेषु साधवो गृह्णन्ति केचिन्न भवादृशो द्विज । गुणांश्च फल्गून् बहुलीकरिष्णवो महत्तमास्तेष्वविदद्भवानघम् ॥ १२ ॥
doṣān pareṣāṁ hi guṇeṣu sādhavo gṛhṇanti kecin na bhavādṛśo dvija guṇāṁś ca phalgūn bahulī-kariṣṇavo mahattamās teṣv avidad bhavān agham
Ó Dakṣa, duas-vezes-nascido! Os santos não agarram defeitos nas virtudes alheias; mesmo uma pequena qualidade eles a engrandecem. Mas alguém como tu só encontra falhas até nas boas qualidades dos outros. Infelizmente, achaste defeito até numa alma tão grande quanto Śiva.
King Dakṣa is addressed here by his daughter Satī as dvija, twice-born. “Twice-born” refers to the higher classes of men, namely the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. In other words, a dvija is not an ordinary man but one who has studied the Vedic literature from a spiritual master and can discriminate between good and bad. Therefore it is supposed that he understands logic and philosophy. Satī, Dakṣa’s daughter, put before him sound arguments. There are some highly qualified persons who accept only the good qualities of others. Just as a bee is always interested in the honey in the flower and does not consider the thorns and colors, highly qualified persons, who are uncommon, accept only the good qualities of others, not considering their bad qualities, whereas the common man can judge what are good qualities and what are bad qualities.
FAQs
This verse teaches that truly great souls do not focus on others’ defects; rather, they highlight even small good qualities and avoid fault-finding.
In the conflict around Satī and Dakṣa’s hostility, Śiva speaks to calm and instruct Dakṣa, emphasizing the vision of mahātmās who do not fixate on offenses but honor virtue.
Practice restraint in criticism, consciously acknowledge others’ strengths, and train the mind to encourage virtue rather than magnify mistakes—especially in family, workplace, and spiritual communities.