Dakṣa. A son of Brahmā and one of the six (according to some accounts twelve) Ādityas. In the Vedic period existence and non-existence are represented in paradoxical ways, e.g., Dakṣa was born of Aditi, yet Aditi was the offspring of Dakṣa. The gods, having a common origin, are born of each other. In the literature come further developments, e.g., in the Brāhmaṇas, Dakṣa, who stands for universal creative energy, comes to be associated with priestly power. In the Purāṇas, as a secondary creator, he is present in each age (manvantara). Dakṣa also comes to be represented as coming to perceive the futility of "mental" progeny and so decided to introduce sexual intercourse. Along with this development comes an insistence on the virtues of family life. So many were the conflicting accounts about Dakṣa that the compilers of the Purāṇas came to explain the inconsistencies by the notion that in every manvantara or cosmic age, different situations arise, each requiring an apposite treatment.

Geddes MacGregor, Dictionary of Religion and Philosophy, New York: Paragon House, 1989

dákṣa mf(ā)n. able, fit, adroit, expert, clever, dexterous, industrious, intelligent RV. &c
• strong, heightening or strengthening the intellectual faculties (Soma), ix f
• passable (the Ganges) MBh. xiii, 1844
• suitable BhP. iv, 6, 44 Bhartṛ. iii, 64
• right (opposed to left) RāmatUp. i, 22 Phetk. i
• m. ability, fitness, mental power, talent (cf. -kratú), strength of will, energy, disposition RV. AV. VS.
• evil disposition RV. iv, 3, 13 ; x, 139, 6
• a particular form of temple Hcat. ii, 1, 390
• a general lover W.
• a cock Car. i, vi
• N. of a plant L.
• fire L.
• Siva's bull L.
• N. of an Āditya (identified with Prajā-pati TS. iii ŚBr. ii
• father of Kṛittikā Śāntik.) RV. if., x Nir. ii, xi
• N. of one of the Prajā-patis (MBh. xii, 7534 Hariv. VP. i, 7, 5 and 22, 4 BhP.iii, 12, 22 MatsyaP. cvl, 15 KūrmaP. &c. Śak. vii, 27
• born from Brahmā's right thumb MBh. i, xii Hariv. &c
• or from A-ja', the unborn' BhP. iv, 1, 47
• or son of Pra-cetas or of the of 10 Pra-cetasas, whence called Prācetasa MBh. i, xii f. Hariv. 101 VP. i, 15
• father of 24 daughters by Pra-sūti VP. i, 7, 17 ff. BhP. &c
• of 50 [or 60 MBh. xii, 61 36 R. iii, 20, 10
• or 44 Hariv. 1 1521 ff.] daughters of whom 27 become the Moon's wives, forming the lunar asterisms, and 13 [or 17 BhP.
• or 8 R.] those of Kaśyapa, becoming by this latter the mothers of gods, demons, men, and animals, while 10 are married to Dharma Mn. ix, 128f. MBh. i, ix ; xii, 7537ff. Hariv. VP. &c
• celebrating a great sacrifice [hence dakṣa syáyana, 'N. of a sacrifice' Mn. vi, 10] to obtain a son, he omitted, with the disapproval of Dadhīca, to invite Siva, who ordered Vira-bhadra to spoil the sacrifice Hariv. 12212 identified with Vishṇu ff. VāyuP.i, 30, = BrahmaP. i LiṅgaP. MatsyaP. xiii VāmP. ī-v ŚivaP. i, 8 KāśīKh. lxxxvii ff
• named among the Viśve-devās Hariv. 11542 VāyuP.
• Bṛihasp. ḥcat &c.)
• N. of a son of Garuda MBh. v, 3597
• of a man with the patr. Pārvati ŚBr. ii, 4, 4, 6
• cf a law-giver Yājñ. i, 5 Mn. ix, 88 Sch. &c
• of a son of Uśi-nara BhP. ix, 23, 2
• of one of the 5 Kānyakubja Brāhmans from whom the Bengal Brāhmansare said to have sprung Kshitîś. i, 13 and 41
• (ā), f. the earth L.
• cf. a-tūta-, diná-, samāná
• su-dákṣa
• mārga-dakṣaka
• dākṣāyan4
• ? ; Lat. dex-ter ; Goth. taiksvs
 

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William