Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 11

Dakṣa Offends Lord Śiva: Cursing and Countercursing in the Sacrificial Assembly

Devanagari script

एष मे शिष्यतां प्राप्तो यन्मे दुहितुरग्रहीत् । पाणिं विप्राग्निमुखत: सावित्र्या इव साधुवत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa me śiṣyatāṁ prāpto yan me duhitur agrahīt pāṇiṁ viprāgni-mukhataḥ sāvitryā iva sādhuvat

Translation

他在圣火与婆罗门面前迎娶我的女儿，仿佛已承认自己是我的属下。他娶了如同伽雅特丽般的女儿，却装作正人君子。

Synonyms

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masculine, nominative, singular: this man)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (genitive singular: my/of me)

• शिष्यताम्: discipleship
• शिष्यताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (feminine, accusative, singular: discipleship/state of being a disciple)

• प्राप्तः: has obtained
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (having attained/obtained)

• यत्: since/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधकं यत्-शब्दः; अव्ययवत् कारणार्थे/यदर्थे (relative particle: since/that)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (genitive singular: my)

• दुहितुः: of (my) daughter
• दुहितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (feminine, genitive, singular: of (my) daughter)

• अग्रहीत्: took/accepted
• अग्रहीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आङ्-उपसर्गाभावः, ‘अग्रहीत्’ (he took/accepted)

• पाणिम्: hand
• पाणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (masculine, accusative, singular)

• विप्र: of the brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे पूर्वपदम् (as first member in compound)

• अग्नि: of the fire
• अग्नि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे पूर्वपदम् (as first member in compound)

• मुखतः: from the presence/front (of)
• मुखतः: Adhikaraṇa/Apādāna (अधिकरण/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb: from/in the presence of, from the mouth/front)

• सावित्र्याः: of Sāvitrī
• सावित्र्याः: Upamāna-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (feminine, genitive, singular: of Sāvitrī)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्ययम् (as if/like)

• साधुवत्: properly
• साधुवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; प्रकारार्थे (adverb: properly, in a good manner)

Purport

Dakṣa’s statement that Lord Śiva pretended to be an honest person means that Śiva was dishonest because in spite of accepting the position of Dakṣa’s son-in-law, he was not respectful to Dakṣa.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• Sāvitrī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vedic marriage rituals and the sacred fire?

This verse highlights that accepting a bride’s hand before brāhmaṇas and the sacred fire is considered proper dharmic conduct, validating the marriage as a sacred saṁskāra.

Why did Dakṣa say someone became fit to be his disciple after marrying his daughter?

Dakṣa equates adherence to ritual propriety with qualification; by marrying in a sanctioned Vedic manner, the person demonstrates discipline and respect for dharma, which Dakṣa considers a prerequisite for discipleship.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life according to Bhagavata Purana values?

It encourages honoring sacred commitments with integrity—making life decisions responsibly, respecting spiritual principles, and treating marriage and duties as vows rather than casual arrangements.