CHAPTER TWO
Dakṣa Curses Lord Śiva
TEXT 1
विकुर उवाच
मवे शीलवतां श्रेष्ठे दक्षो दुहितृवत्सलः ।
विद्वेषमकरोत्कसादनादृत्यात्मजां सतीम् ॥ १ ॥
vidura uvāca
bhave śīlavatām śreṣṭhe
dakṣo duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ
vidveṣam akarot kasmād
anādṛtyātmajām satīm
viduraḥ uvāca — Vidura said;  bhave —towards Lord Śiva;  śīlavatām —among the gentle;  śreṣṭhe —the best;  dakṣaḥ —Dakṣa;  duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ —being affectionate towards his daughter;  vidveṣam —enmity;  akarot —did exhibit;  kasmāt —why;  anādṛtya —neglecting;  ātmajām —his own daughter;  satīm —Satī.
TRANSLATION
Vidura inquired:  Why was Dakṣa, who was so affectionate towards his daughter, so envious of Lord Śiva, who is the best among the gentle? Why did he neglect his daughter Satī?
PURPORT
In the Second Chapter of the Fourth Canto, the cause of the dissension between Lord Śiva and Dakṣa, which was due to a great sacrifice arranged by Dakṣa for the pacification of the entire universe, is explained. Lord Śiva is described here as the best of the gentle because he is not envious of anyone, he is equal to all living entities, and all other good qualities are present in his personality. Śiva means all-auspicious. No one can be
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