Translation
Those who
are blinded by ego (ahankara), power (balam), pride (darpam), desire (kamam)
and anger (krodham), fail to realise that Krishna exists in their bodies as
well as that of others.
Story of
Daksh Prajapati
Once upon
a time, all the prajapatis or leaders performed a great sacrifice. It was well
attended by all the great sages, philosophers, demigods and fire-gods and their
followers.
Dakṣha was the leader of the
Prajāpatis. When he entered that assembly, all the fire-gods and other
participants in that great assembly, with the exceptions of Lord Brahma and
Lord Shiva, stood up in respect for Dakṣha. Since
Lord Brahma was his father, Daksha offered respects to him and sat down.
Daksha’s
pride is hurt.
Daksha
was quite offended to see Lord Shiva sitting and not showing him any respect. His
pride told him that he was leader of all leaders, the son of Lord Brahma, and
deserved to be respected. His ego told him that since Lord Shiva was married to
his daughter Sati, he was expected to bow to Daksha as the father-in-law is
equal to a guru.
But he
had forgotten that despite being his son-in-law, Lord Shiva was much higher in
position.
Full of
ego and pride, Daksha insulted Lord Shiva, using vile words. He forbade Shiva
from receiving any share in the oblations of sacrifice. Shiva, being his calm
self, simply walked away.
Sati faces
humiliation.
Some time
later, Sati came to know of a ‘vajapeya yagna’ being held at her father’s
house. Not knowing about her husband’s insult by her father, she insisted on
going though they had not been invited. When Shiva did not accompany her, she marched off alone.
Once at her
father’s palace, she not only felt unwelcome by him but also realised that he
had not kept a share of the oblations of sacrifice for her husband. This insult
was too much for her to bear. She was too embarrassed to go back to her husband,
and after cursing her father, jumped into the sacrificial fire giving up her
life.
Lord
Shiva unleashes Veerabhadra.
Lord
Shiva had not minded his own humiliation, but when he came to know that his
dear wife, Sati had also not been spared, he could bear it no more. He
unleashed his own fearful form – Veerabhadra, on Daksha. Daksha finally paid
for his mistake, when Veerabhadra severed off his head and threw it into the
sacrificial fire. Later, at the prayers of all gods, Lord Shiva gave Dakska the
head of a goat.
Destruction
of pride and ego.
The head
is considered a symbol of pride and ego. The beheading of Daksha symbolises the
destruction of pride and ego. A goat symbolises humility and submission.
This
story tells us that no matter how powerful one is, they must surrender their
pride and ego at the feet of the Lord to achieve true wisdom.
