TEXT 3
istva sa vajapeyena
brahmisthan abhibhuya ca
brhaspati-savam nama
samarebhe kratuttamam
SYNONYMS
istvaafter performing; sahhe (Daksa); vajapeyenawith a vajapeya sacrifice; brahmisthanSiva and his followers; abhibhuyaneglecting; caand; brhaspati-savamthe brhaspati-sava; namacalled; samarebhebegan; kratu-uttamamthe best of sacrifices.
TRANSLATION
Daksa began a sacrifice named vajapeya, and he became excessively confident of his support by Lord Brahma, He then performed another great sacrifice, named brhaspati-sava.
PURPORT
In the Vedas it is prescribed that before performing a brhaspati-sava sacrifice, one should perform the sacrifice named vajapeya. While performing these sacrifices, however, Daksa neglected great devotees like Lord Siva. According to Vedic scriptures, the demigods are eligible to participate in yajnas and share the oblations, but Daksa wanted to avoid them. All sacrifices are intended to pacify Lord Visnu, but Lord Visnu includes all His devotees. Brahma, Lord Siva and the other demigods are all obedient servants of Lord Visnu; therefore Lord Visnu is never satisfied without them. But Daksa, being puffed up with his power, wanted to deprive Lord Brahma and Lord Siva of participation in the sacrifice, understanding that if one satisfies Visnu, it is not necessary to satisfy His followers. But that is not the process. Visnu wants His followers to be satisfied first. Lord Krsna says, mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika: [SB 11.19.21] The worship of My devotees is better than worship of Me. Similarly, in the Siva Purana, it is stated that the best mode of worship is to offer oblations to Visnu, but better than that is to worship the devotees of Krsna. Thus Daksas determination to neglect Lord Siva in the sacrifices was not fitting.

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