Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.30.48
Visarga· Brahmā's creationDisrespect Has Consequences Beyond This Life
“Following the order of Lord Brahmā, all the Pracetās accepted the girl as their wife. From the womb of this girl, the son of Lord Brahmā named Dakṣa took birth. Dakṣa had to take birth from the womb of Māriṣā due to his disobeying and disrespecting Lord Mahādeva [Śiva]. Consequently he had to give up his body twice.”
What the purport teaches
- Following Lord Brahmā’s order, the Pracetās accepted Māriṣā as their wife. Dakṣa, previously the son of Lord Brahmā, took birth from her womb.
- Dakṣa’s disrespect toward Lord Śiva brought the consequences of losing his body and taking birth again. Although born a brāhmaṇa previously, his conduct did not befit that position.
- Dakṣa nevertheless received opulence through Lord Śiva’s grace. The purport emphasizes the subtle laws of material nature and the importance of understanding the soul’s eternity and transmigration.
Try this today
Review one comment you plan to make today and remove any needless insult or disrespect.
Ask yourself
Do my words and actions show respect, or do I rely on my position to excuse poor conduct?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.