FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.2.16

तस्मा उन्मादनाथाय नष्टशौचाय दुर्हृदे । दत्ता बत मया साध्वी चोदिते परमेष्ठिना ॥ १६ ॥
tasmā unmāda-nāthāya
[tasmaa unmaada-naathaaya]
naṣṭa-śaucāya durhṛde
[nashta-shauchaaya durhride]
dattā bata mayā sādhvī
[dattaa bata mayaa saadhvee]
codite parameṣṭhinā
[chodite parameshthinaa]
tasmai — to him unmāda-nāthāya — to the lord of ghosts naṣṭa-śaucāya — being devoid of all cleanliness durhṛde — heart filled with nasty things dattā — was given bata — alas mayā — by me sādhvī — Satī codite — being requested parameṣṭhinā — by the supreme teacher (Brahmā).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmā unmāda-nāthāya
tasmai
to him
unmāda-nāthāya
to the lord of ghosts
naṣṭa-śaucāya
being devoid of all cleanliness
naṣṭa-śaucāya durhṛde
durhṛde
heart filled with nasty things
dattā bata mayā sādhvī
dattā
was given
bata
alas
mayā
by me
sādhvī
Satī
codite parameṣṭhinā
codite
being requested
parameṣṭhinā
by the supreme teacher (Brahmā).
On the request of Lord Brahmā I handed over my chaste daughter to him, although he is devoid of all cleanliness and his heart is filled with nasty things.

It is the duty of parents to hand over their daughters to suitable persons just befitting their family tradition in cleanliness, gentle behavior, wealth, social position, etc. Dakṣa was repentant that on the request of Brahmā, who was his father, he had handed over his daughter to a person who, according to his calculation, was nasty. He was so angry that he did not acknowledge that the request was from his father. Instead, he referred to Brahmā as parameṣṭhī, the supreme teacher in the universe; because of his temperament of gross anger, he was not even prepared to accept Brahmā as his father. In other words, he accused even Brahmā of being less intelligent because he had advised Dakṣa to hand over his beautiful daughter to such a nasty fellow. In anger one forgets everything, and thus Dakṣa, in anger, not only accused the great Lord Śiva, but criticized his own father, Lord Brahmā, for his not very astute advice that Dakṣa hand over his daughter to Lord Śiva.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Requested by Brahmā, I gave Satī to this unclean lord of the insane, who has an impure heart. It was not my wish to give her to Śiva. Respecting the order of Brahmā, I have fallen into suffering. This implies that Brahmā is unintelligent. He does not mention that Brahmā is his father. This indicates that Brahmā is unqualified to be his father. That verse may also be taken as a statement of praise. Śiva is merciful even to the mad (unnmāda-nāthāya). He purifies even the impure (naṣṭa-śaucāya). His mind is merciful even to the sinful (durhṛde). Though I am unqualified I have my daughter because of Brahmā’s request.
Dakṣa frames himself as forced by Brahmā into giving his daughter — when we feel forced into our commitments, we have not actually consented. Either consent fully or don't take the vow; resentful obedience destroys all parties.
Reflection Questions
  • What commitment am I keeping resentfully rather than wholeheartedly?
  • Where should I either fully consent or honestly withdraw?
📝 My note

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