—json {

  "name":"SB 4.2.1",
  "h1":"SB 4.2.1",
  "label":"Text 1",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.1",
  "description":"Vidura inquired: Why was Dakṣa, who was so affectionate towards his daughter, envious of Lord Śiva, who is the best among the gentle? Why did he neglect his daughter Satī?"

} —

SB 4.2.1

विदुर उवाच
भवे शीलवतां श्रेष्ठे दक्षो दुहितृवत्सलः ।
विद्वेषमकरोत्कस्मादनादृत्यात्मजां सतीम् ॥१॥

Text

vidura uvāca
bhave śīlavatāṁ śreṣṭhe
dakṣo duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ
vidveṣam akarot kasmād
anādṛtyātmajāṁ satīm

Synonyms

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, 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. The word śiva means “all auspicious.” No one can be an enemy of Lord Śiva's, for he is so peaceful and renounced that he does not even construct a house for his residence, but lives underneath a tree, always detached from all worldly things. The personality of Lord Śiva symbolizes the best of gentleness. Why, then, was Dakṣa, who offered his beloved daughter to such a gentle personality, inimical towards Lord Śiva so intensely that Satī, the daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Lord Śiva, gave up her body?