The Fruit of Karma: Hareshwar Roy

Hareshwar Roy,
The Fruit of Karma: Hareshwar Roy

Prajapati Daksha was the son of Lord Brahma. One of his daughters was Sati. Sati was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Her marriage was solemnized with Lord Shiva. Sometime after this marriage, Prajapati Daksha arrived at a pilgrimage site named Naimisharanya. Many gods, sages, and ascetics were present there along with Lord Shiva. Upon seeing Daksha, everyone bowed their heads and offered their respects to him. However, Lord Shiva did not do so. Daksha found this behavior of his disrespectful and became extremely furious. In his heart, he decided to take revenge on Lord Shiva.

A few days after this incident, Daksha organized a grand yajna (sacrificial ritual) at a place called Kankhal. He got a good opportunity to humiliate Shiva. Therefore, he did not invite Lord Shiva on this occasion. All the invited gods, sages, and ascetics reached the venue of the yajna. Finding Shiva absent, Maharishi Dadhichi wanted to know the reason behind it. In response, Daksha used derogatory words for Lord Shiva. He declared Shiva unfit to receive a share of the yajna. Maharishi Dadhichi was deeply perturbed. Upset, he returned to his ashram. Following this, the yajna commenced.

One day, Goddess Sati was strolling on the Gandhamadan Mountain. At that time, she received news about the grand yajna organized by her father. She immediately went to Lord Shiva and said, "Lord, you must go to my father's yajna. I know that you have not been invited, yet you are the God of all gods presiding over yajnas. Therefore, your presence there is absolutely necessary."

Explaining to the Goddess, Lord Shiva said, "Goddess, your father has invited those whom he considers worthy of respect. According to him, we are perhaps not fit to participate in this yajna. Therefore, going there would not be appropriate at all. It is extremely distressing to go to a place where one cannot expect honor and respect."

"My Lord, you are absolutely right. Despite this, I seek your permission to go to my father's place. I hope you will accept my request. By going there, I merely wish to see what kind of feelings my father, Prajapati Daksha, holds toward you," Sati requested Shiva humbly with folded hands.

Lord Shiva granted her permission to go. Thereupon, she arrived at her father's sacrificial grounds. She bowed with respect and humility to all the revered elders present there. After a while, Sati wanted to know the reason why Lord Shiva was not invited. At this, Prajapati Daksha flew into a rage. Angrily, he said, "Sati, your husband is inauspicious and ominous. He is not at all fit to participate in a yajna. In fact, we did not invite you here either. Why have you come here?"

Such an insulting reply from her father was unbearable for her. Deeply distressed, she jumped into the blazing fire of the yajna pit and was consumed by the flames. Seeing this, everyone present was stunned. Sage Narada went to Lord Shiva and narrated the story of Sati's self-sacrifice. Shiva became extremely enraged and assumed his formidable Raudra form. That very moment, he ordered the mighty Veerabhadra to destroy Daksha's yajna and slay him.

Daksha became terribly anxious over Sati's sacrifice, and fear of Lord Rudra's wrath consumed him. Distraught, he sought refuge with Lord Vishnu and said, "O Lord, I have come under your protection. Please save me. Protect me from the wrath of Lord Rudra."

Seeing Daksha beg, Lord Vishnu said to him, "Prajapati Daksha, listen to me carefully. Your conduct is contrary to righteousness (dharma). You have disrespected one who is worthy of worship. Therefore, you will certainly have to taste the fruits of your actions."

Meanwhile, Veerabhadra arrived there with his army. The gods present tried to face Shiva's army, but they could not stand their ground. Fleeing, they reached Guru Brihaspati and said, "Respected Gurudev, we are in deep trouble. Please suggest a way for our victory."

Guru Brihaspati stated clearly, "The fruits of a person's actions are paramount. The fruits of Prajapati Daksha's actions are such that your victory is impossible."

By this time, Shiva's army had launched a fierce attack. The gods were routed and fled. Veerabhadra severed Prajapati Daksha's head and offered it into the fire.

Lord Brahma became deeply saddened by the death of his son Daksha. He went to Lord Shiva and sought forgiveness on Daksha's behalf. Explaining to Brahmaji, Lord Shiva said, "Brahmaji, Daksha has met his death due to his own actions. One who performs deeds that cause distress to others reaps a fruit just like this."
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dr. Hareshwar Roy beautifully connects global research with local literature. Born in 1964 in Jamuaon (Bhojpur, Bihar), he studied at Patna University and earned his Ph.D. from APS University, Rewa. Currently, he serves as Professor of English at Government P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Roy bridges two worlds: in class, he explains international migration and literary history, while in his heart, he keeps the rich spirit of the Bhojpuri language alive. He has published over 45 research papers focused on Indian Diaspora Writing. As an author in English, he has written Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji, A Study of M.G. Vassanji's Novels, Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji and Rohinton Mistry, Diaspora and Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study, Short Notes of English Literature - I and Short Notes of English Literature - II. Rooted in his soil, he is a celebrated Bhojpuri poet featured on 'Kavita Kosh' and in popular collections like Hamar Pahchan Ha Bhojpuri, Hamra Pyar Ho Gail, and Bhojpuri Kavitayein. Ultimately, his life and writings serve as an inspiring example of how academic scholarship and local roots thrive together perfectly.

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