FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.2.20

विज्ञाय शापं गिरिशानुगाग्रणी- र्नन्दीश्वरो रोषकषायदूषित: । दक्षाय शापं विससर्ज दारुणं ये चान्वमोदंस्तदवाच्यतां द्विजा: ॥ २० ॥
vijñāya śāpaṁ giriśānugāgraṇīr
[vijnaaya shaapam girishaanugaagraneer]
nandīśvaro roṣa-kaṣāya-dūṣitaḥ
[nandeeshvaro rosha-kashaaya-dooshitah]
dakṣāya śāpaṁ visasarja dāruṇaṁ
[dakshaaya shaapam visasarja daarunam]
ye cānvamodaṁs tad-avācyatāṁ dvijāḥ
[ye chaanvamodams tad-avaachyataam dvijaah]
vijñāya — understanding śāpam — the curse giriśa — of Śiva anuga-agraṇīḥ — one of the principal associates nandīśvaraḥ — Nandīśvara roṣa — anger kaṣāya — red dūṣitaḥ — blinded dakṣāya — to Dakṣa śāpam — a curse visasarja — gave dāruṇam — harsh ye — who ca — and anvamodan — tolerated tat-avācyatām — the cursing of Śiva dvijāḥ — brāhmaṇas..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vijñāya śāpaṁ giriśānugāgraṇīr
vijñāya
understanding
śāpam
the curse
giriśa
of Śiva
anuga-agraṇīḥ
one of the principal associates
nandīśvaro roṣa-kaṣāya-dūṣitaḥ
nandīśvaraḥ
Nandīśvara
roṣa
anger
kaṣāya
red
dūṣitaḥ
blinded
dakṣāya śāpaṁ visasarja dāruṇaṁ
dakṣāya
to Dakṣa
śāpam
a curse
visasarja
gave
dāruṇam
harsh
ye cānvamodaṁs tad-avācyatāṁ dvijāḥ
ye
who
ca
and
anvamodan
tolerated
tat-avācyatām
the cursing of Śiva
dvijāḥ
brāhmaṇas..
Upon understanding that Lord Śiva had been cursed, Nandīśvara, one of Lord Śiva’s principal associates, became greatly angry. His eyes became red, and he prepared to curse Dakṣa and all the brāhmaṇas present there who had tolerated Dakṣa’s cursing Śiva in harsh words.

There is a long-standing dissension among some of the neophyte Vaiṣṇavas and Śaivites; they are always at loggerheads. When Dakṣa cursed Lord Śiva in harsh words, some of the brāhmaṇas present might have enjoyed it because some brāhmaṇas do not very much admire Lord Śiva. This is due to their ignorance of Lord Śiva’s position. Nandīśvara was affected by the cursing, but he did not follow the example of Lord Śiva, who was also present there. Although Lord Śiva could also have cursed Dakṣa in a similar way, he was silent and tolerant; but Nandīśvara, his follower, was not tolerant. Of course, as a follower it was right for him not to tolerate an insult to his master, but he should not have cursed the brāhmaṇas who were present. The entire issue was so complicated that those who were not strong enough forgot their positions, and thus cursing and countercursing went on in that great assembly. In other words, the material field is so unsteady that even personalities like Nandīśvara, Dakṣa and many of the brāhmaṇas present were infected by the atmosphere of anger.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Upon understanding that Śiva had been cursed, Nandīśvara, Lord Śiva's principal follower, with red eyes of anger, cursed Dakṣa and all the brāhmaṇas who had tolerated Dakṣa's curse of Śiva. “Contaminated with the ointment of anger” means his eyes became red. He also cursed those who tolerated the curse (avācyatām) of Śiva.
Nandīśvara, Śiva's associate, became furious at hearing the curse — defending one's master is natural, but rage against rage only multiplies the disaster. Sometimes loyalty requires restraint, not retaliation.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is my loyalty to someone tempting me to escalate rather than restrain?
  • What service to my master is best done in silence rather than counterattack?
📝 My note

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