Daksha Curses Narada

Narada said

Daksha went home glad. What happened next?

Brahma replied

Daksha went back to his hermitage cheerful and, on my command, set about creating by the mind. When he saw that his creation was not multiplying, he reported to me: "Father, lord of subjects, what I create stays as it is and does not increase. Tell me the means and I will certainly create subjects." I told him: "Panchajana's daughter is beautiful and is called Asikni. Take her as your wife, and through the dharma of union with a beautiful woman create subjects again. In this way many fair women will be born." As I commanded, he married Virana's daughter and had children by her. From his wife Virini, Daksha had sons called the Haryashvas, all alike in dharma and conduct, devoted to their father and following the Vedic path. On their father's word, to create subjects, they went west to austerities, to the purifying tirtha of Lake Narayana, where the river Sindhu meets the ocean. As soon as they touched the water their minds were lit, and the dharma of the paramahamsas cleansed their impurities. They practised austerity there, firm in obeying their father and in control of themselves.

Narada, you learned they were doing austerity for the sake of creation, went there and spoke lovingly to them, in effect obstructing them: "Haryashvas, sons of Daksha, you have not even seen the world. How have you begun the task of creation?" The Haryashvas listened closely, and being intent on creation they thought hard: "How can a person grasp his father's command without understanding what the sacred texts say about nivritti? Understanding that, how could one trust the gunas and take up creation?" Having decided, they bowed to you, circled you and took the path of nivritti. And you, Narada, with your mind on Shambhu, wandered the worlds, indifferent, intent on following Mahesha. After a long time my son the Prajapati learned that his sons had been lost through Narada. Confounded by Shiva's maya, Daksha grieved: "Many sons are a cause of sorrow." I went and cheerfully comforted him, spoke of serenity and the power of destiny, and by Panchajana's daughter Daksha had a thousand more sons, the Sabalashvas. Obeying their father, firm in vows, they followed their brothers' direction to the same place. They touched the water, their sins were destroyed, they shone, and they tormented themselves in great austerity, meditating on the brahman. Narada, you knew they were about to begin creating, went there, recalled the path of Ishvara, repeated your words, and with unfailing insight showed them their brothers' way. They followed it and you went upward.

Daksha saw many evil omens and was amazed and miserable. He heard that you had done it again and was deeply sad, grieving his lost sons so much that he lost his senses. Then, as fate and compassion would have it, you came to him. Angry with you, Daksha spoke wicked words, his lips quivering with rage. "Foremost of the wicked, you who wear the marks of a good man, what have you done? You showed my sons the way of a mendicant, which is not the right path. They had not been freed of the three debts. You have obstructed them in this world and the next, which is not good. You are cruel and deceitful. If a man leaves home without repaying the three debts, abandoning father and mother to take sannyasa for moksha, he goes downward. You are without shame and rob children's minds of fame. Why do you roam among Hari's attendants, foolish one? Worst of the worst, you have injured me again and again. Therefore as you roam the worlds you will never be able to stay in one place." In his sorrow Daksha cursed you, though you are revered by the virtuous; confounded by Shiva's maya he did not see Ishvara's wish. And you, indifferent, accepted the curse, as all sadhakas who follow the brahman accept such things and take them on themselves.