Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 2:1-16

Book 4: Chapter 2

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 2: Verses 1-16
Ill feeling between Lord Siva and Daksa

Vidura said: How did Daksa, who was (so) fond of his daughters, happen to bear ill-will towards Lord Bhava, the foremost among those possessed of an amiable disposition, disregarding his own daughter, Sati ? Who would bear enmity and how could anyone bear enmity to Him, the Teacher of the whole animate and inanimate creation, who bears enmity to none, is possessed of a tranquil personality, delights in His own Self and is the highest object of veneration to the (whole) universe ? Be pleased to tell me, holy sage, what led to such bitterness of feeling between the son-in-law (Lord Siva) and the father-in-law (Daksa), as compelled Sati to give up her very life, which is so difficult to part with? Maitreya replied: (Once) of old all foremost seers and sages as well as hosts of divinities including the gods presiding over the sacred fires assembled with their attendants In a sacrificial session held by the Prajapatis (lords of created beings). Daksa too appeared there, shining like the sun and illumining the grand assembly by his splendour. With their mind overwhelmed by his brilliance, (all) those assembled there, including the deities presiding over the sacrificial fires, rose from their seats when they saw him, excepting, of course, Brahma (his father) and Lord Siva (the Destroyer of the universe). Duly honoured by the superintending priests, the worshipful Daksa bowed to Brahma, the progenitor of the universe, and took his seat with the latter's permission. Seeing Lord Sankara (the Delighter of the world) already seated, and receiving no attention from Him, Daksa grew indignant. He looked with angry eyes at Siva as if he would burn Him, and exclaimed :"Listen to me, 0 Brahmana sages along with the gods (present here) including the deities presiding over the sacred fires, as I speak to you about the conduct of pious souls neither from ignorance nor from spite. This shameless fellow has wrecked the fame of the guardians of the various spheres inasmuch as the arrogant man has violated the path trodden by the virtuous. He has become a veritable son to me ever since he accepted the hand of my daughter, who is another Savitri (the consort of Brahma) as it were, in the presence of Brahmanas and the sacred fire like a good-natured soul. Though he has taken the hand of that fawn-eyed girl, this monkey-eyed fellow did not show due courtesy to me even by word of mouth, when (as a matter of fact) he ought to have risen from his seat and greeted me. To this haughty and impure person, who has not only abandoned all pious acts but has outstepped all bounds of propriety, I gave away the girl, though unwilling to do so, even as one would impart the sacred word (Veda) to a Sudra (who has been declared by the scriptures as unqualified to receive it). Surrounded by spirits and troops of ghosts, with his hair scattered about, now laughing and now crying, he roves about uncovered like a madman in frightful crematories (the abodes of spirits). Bathed in the ashes of funeral piles and adorned with a garland of skulls (befitting spirits) and wearing ornaments of human bones, he is really inauspicious, though bearing the appellation of Siva (all-auspicious). (Ever) drunk (himself), he is fond of drunken people and is the lord of goblins and ghosts, who are purely Tamasika (wicked) by nature. At the instance of Brahma, alas 11 gave away my virtuous girl to such an impure and evil-minded person, the lord of ghosts."

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