Shloka 13
Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly
लुप्तक्रियायाशुचये मानिने भिन्नसेतवे । अनिच्छन्नप्यदां बालां शूद्रायेवोशतीं गिरम् ॥ १३ ॥
lupta-kriyāyāśucaye mānine bhinna-setave anicchann apy adāṁ bālāṁ śūdrāyevośatīṁ giram
میں اس شخص کو اپنی بیٹی دینا نہیں چاہتا تھا، کیونکہ اس نے شائستگی کے سب ضابطے توڑ ڈالے ہیں۔ لازم آداب و احکام نہ نبھانے سے وہ ناپاک ہے، پھر بھی مجبوری میں میں نے اپنی کمسن بیٹی اسے سونپ دی—جیسے شودر کو وید کی باتیں سکھائی جائیں۔
A śūdra is forbidden to take lessons from the Vedas because a śūdra, due to his unclean habits, is not worthy to hear such instructions. This restriction, that unless one has acquired the brahminical qualifications one should not read the Vedic literatures, is like the restriction that a law student should not enter a law college unless he has been graduated from all lower grades. According to the estimation of Dakṣa, Śiva was unclean in habits and not worthy to have the hand of his daughter, Satī, who was so enlightened, beautiful and chaste. The word used in this connection is bhinna-setave, which refers to one who has broken all the regulations for good behavior by not following the Vedic principles. In other words, according to Dakṣa the entire transaction of the marriage of his daughter with Śiva was not in order.
FAQs
This verse portrays how pride and broken moral restraint lead to cruel, demeaning speech—showing that such words arise from impurity of heart and loss of proper conduct.
In the Dhruva narrative, Suruci, influenced by arrogance and favoritism, rebukes the young Dhruva with cutting words, which becomes the turning point that drives him toward intense devotion.
Guard against ego-driven speech: when anger or pride arises, restrain words, maintain dignity toward others—especially the vulnerable—and choose dharmic, compassionate communication.