TEXT 1
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
etavad uktva virarama sankarah
patny-anga-nasam hy ubhayatra cintayan
suhrd-didrksuh parisankita bhavan
niskramati nirvisati dvidhasa sa
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; etavat–so much; uktva–after
speaking; virarama–was silent; sankarah–Lord Siva; patni-anga-nasam–
the destruction of the body of his wife; hi–since; ubhayatra–in both
cases; cintayan–understanding; suhrt-didrksuh–being anxious to see her
relatives; parisankita–being afraid; bhavat–of Siva; niskramati–moving
out; nirvisati–moving in; dvidha–divided; asa–was; sa–she (Sati).
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said: Lord Siva was silent after speaking to Sati,
seeing her between decisions. Sati was very much anxious to see her
relatives at her father’s house, but at the same time she was afraid of
Lord Siva’s warning. Her mind unsettled, she moved in and out of the room
as a swing moves this way and that.TEXT 2
TEXT
suhrd-didrksa-pratighata-durmanah
snehad rudaty asru-kalativihvala
bhavam bhavany apratipurusam rusa
pradhaksyativaiksata jata-vepathuh
SYNONYMS
suhrt-didrksa–of the desire to see her relatives; pratighata–the
prevention; durmanah–feeling sorry; snehat–from affection; rudati–
crying; asru-kala–by drops of tears; ativihvala–very much afflicted;
bhavam–Lord Siva; bhavani–Sati; aprati-purusam–without an equal or
rival; rusa–with anger; pradhaksyati–to blast; iva–as if; aiksata–
looked at; jata-vepathuh–shaking.
TRANSLATION
Sati felt very sorry at being forbidden to go see her relatives at her
father’s house, and due to affection for them, tears fell from her eyes.
Shaking and very much afflicted, she looked at her uncommon husband, Lord
Siva, as if she were going to blast him with her vision.TEXT 3
TEXT
tato vinihsvasya sati vihaya tam
sokena rosena ca duyata hrda
pitror agat straina-vimudha-dhir grhan
premnatmano yo ‘rdham adat satam priyah
SYNONYMS
tatah–then; vinihsvasya–breathing very heavily; sati–Sati; vihaya–
leaving; tam–him (Lord Siva); sokena–by bereavement; rosena–by anger;
ca–and; duyata–afflicted; hrda–with the heart; pitroh–of her father;
agat–she went; straina–by her womanly nature; vimudha–deluded; dhih–
intelligence; grhan–to the house; premna–due to affection; atmanah–of
his body; yah–who; ardham–half; adat–gave; satam–to the saintly;
priyah–dear.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Sati left her husband, Lord Siva, who had given her half
his body due to affection. Breathing very heavily because of anger and
bereavement, she went to the house of her father. This less intelligent
act was due to her being a weak woman.TEXT 4
TEXT
tam anvagacchan druta-vikramam satim
ekam tri-netranucarah sahasrasah
sa-parsada-yaksa maniman-madadayah
puro-vrsendras tarasa gata-vyathah
SYNONYMS
tam–her (Sati); anvagacchan–followed; druta-vikramam–leaving
rapidly; satim–Sati; ekam–alone; tri-netra–of Lord Siva (who has three
eyes); anucarah–the followers; sahasrasah–by thousands; sa-parsadayaksah–
accompanied by his personal associates and the Yaksas; manimatmada-
adayah–Maniman, Mada, etc.; purah-vrsa-indrah–having the Nandi
bull in front; tarasa–swiftly; gata-vyathah–without fear.
TRANSLATION
When they saw Sati leaving alone very rapidly, thousands of Lord
Siva’s disciples, headed by Maniman and Mada, quickly followed her with
his bull Nandi in front and accompanied by the Yaksas.TEXT 5
TEXT
tam sarika-kanduka-darpanambujasvetatapatra-
vyajana-srag-adibhih
gitayanair dundubhi-sankha-venubhir
vrsendram aropya vitankita yayuh
SYNONYMS
tam–her (Sati); sarika–pet bird; kanduka–ball; darpana–mirror;
ambuja–lotus flower; sveta-atapatra–white umbrella; vyajana–chowrie;
srak–garland; adibhih–and others; gita-ayanaih–accompanied with music;
dundubhi–drums; sankha–conchshells; venubhih–with flutes; vrsa-indram-
-on the bull; aropya–placing; vitankitah–decorated; yayuh–they went.
TRANSLATION
The disciples of Lord Siva arranged for Sati to be seated on the back
of a bull and gave her the bird which was her pet. They bore a lotus
flower, a mirror and all such paraphernalia for her enjoyment and covered
her with a great canopy. Followed by a singing party with drums,
conchshells and bugles, the entire procession was as pompous as a royal
parade.
TEXT 6
TEXT
abrahma-ghosorjita-yajna-vaisasam
viprarsi-justam vibudhais ca sarvasah
mrd-darv-ayah-kancana-darbha-carmabhir
nisrsta-bhandam yajanam samavisat
SYNONYMS
a–from all sides; brahma-ghosa–with the sounds of the Vedic hymns;
urjita–decorated; yajna–sacrifice; vaisasam–destruction of animals;
viprarsi-justam–attended by the great sages; vibudhaih–with demigods;
ca–and; sarvasah–on all sides; mrt–clay; daru–wood; ayah–iron;
kancana–gold; darbha–kusa grass; carmabhih–skins; nisrsta–made of;
bhandam–sacrificial animals and pots; yajanam–sacrifice; samavisat–
entered.
TRANSLATION
She then reached her father’s house, where the sacrifice was being
performed, and entered the arena where everyone was chanting the Vedic
hymns. The great sages, brahmanas and demigods were all assembled there,
and there were many sacrificial animals, as well as pots made of clay,
stone, gold, grass and skin, which were all requisite for the sacrifice.TEXT 7
TEXT
tam agatam tatra na kascanadriyad
vimanitam yajna-krto bhayaj janah
rte svasrr vai jananim ca sadarah
premasru-kanthyah parisasvajur muda
SYNONYMS
tam–her (Sati); agatam–having arrived; tatra–there; na–not;
kascana–anyone; adriyat–received; vimanitam–not receiving respect;
yajna-krtah–of the performer of the sacrifice (Daksa); bhayat–from
fear; janah–person; rte–except; svasrh–her own sisters; vai–indeed;
jananim–mother; ca–and; sa-adarah–with respect; prema-asru-kanthyah–
whose throats were filled with tears of affection; parisasvajuh–
embraced; muda–with glad faces.
TRANSLATION
When Sati, with her followers, reached the arena, because all the
people assembled were afraid of Daksa, none of them received her well. No
one welcomed her but her mother and sisters, who, with tears in their
eyes and with glad faces, welcomed her and talked with her very
pleasingly.TEXT 8
TEXT
saudarya-samprasna-samartha-vartaya
matra ca matr-svasrbhis ca sadaram
dattam saparyam varam asanam ca sa
nadatta pitrapratinandita sati
SYNONYMS
saudarya–of her sisters; samprasna–with the greetings; samartha–
proper; vartaya–tidings; matra–by her mother; ca–and; matr-svasrbhih–
by her aunts; ca–and; sa-adaram–along with respect; dattam–which was
offered; saparyam–worship, adoration; varam–presents; asanam–a seat;
ca–and; sa–she (Sati); na adatta–did not accept; pitra–by her father;
apratinandita–not being welcomed; sati–Sati.
TRANSLATION
Although she was received by her sisters and mother, she did not reply
to their words of reception, and although she was offered a seat and
presents, she did not accept anything, for her father neither talked with
her nor welcomed her by asking about her welfare.TEXT 9
TEXT
arudra-bhagam tam aveksya cadhvaram
pitra ca deve krta-helanam vibhau
anadrta yajna-sadasy adhisvari
cukopa lokan iva dhaksyati rusa
SYNONYMS
arudra-bhagam–having no oblations for Lord Siva; tam–that; aveksya–
seeing; ca–and; adhvaram–place of sacrifice; pitra–by her father; ca–
and; deve–to Lord Siva; krta-helanam–contempt having been shown;
vibhau–to the lord; anadrta–not being received; yajna-sadasi–in the
assembly of the sacrifice; adhisvari–Sati; cukopa–became greatly angry;
lokan–the fourteen worlds; iva–as if; dhaksyati–burning; rusa–with
anger.
TRANSLATION
Present in the arena of sacrifice, Sati saw that there were no
oblations for her husband, Lord Siva. Next she realized that not only had
her father failed to invite Lord Siva, but when he saw Lord Siva’s
exalted wife, Daksa did not receive her either. Thus she became greatly
angry, so much so that she looked at her father as if she were going to
burn him with her eyes.TEXT 10
TEXT
jagarha samarsa-vipannaya gira
siva-dvisam dhuma-patha-srama-smayam
sva-tejasa bhuta-ganan samutthitan
nigrhya devi jagato ‘bhisrnvatah
SYNONYMS
jagarha–began to condemn; sa–she; amarsa-vipannaya–indistinct
through anger; gira–with words; siva-dvisam–the enemy of Lord Siva;
dhuma-patha–in sacrifices; srama–by troubles; smayam–very proud; svatejasa–
by her order; bhuta-ganan–the ghosts; samutthitan–ready (to
injure Daksa); nigrhya–stopped; devi–Sati; jagatah–in the presence of
all; abhisrnvatah–being heard.
TRANSLATION
The followers of Lord Siva, the ghosts, were ready to injure or kill
Daksa, but Sati stopped them by her order. She was very angry and
sorrowful, and in that mood she began to condemn the process of
sacrificial fruitive activities and persons who are very proud of such
unnecessary and troublesome sacrifices. She especially condemned her
father, speaking against him in the presence of all.TEXT 11
TEXT
devy uvaca
na yasya loke ‘sty atisayanah priyas
tathapriyo deha-bhrtam priyatmanah
tasmin samastatmani mukta-vairake
rte bhavantam katamah pratipayet
SYNONYMS
devi uvaca–the blessed goddess said; na–not; yasya–of whom; loke–
in the material world; asti–is; atisayanah–having no rival; priyah–
dear; tatha–so; apriyah–enemy; deha-bhrtam–bearing material bodies;
priya-atmanah–who is the most beloved; tasmin–towards Lord Siva;
samasta-atmani–the universal being; mukta-vairake–who is free from all
enmity; rte–except; bhavantam–for you; katamah–who; pratipayet–would
be envious.
TRANSLATION
The blessed goddess said: Lord Siva is the most beloved of all living
entities. He has no rival. No one is very dear to him, and no one is his
enemy. No one but you could be envious of such a universal being, who is
free from all enmity.TEXT 12
TEXT
dosan paresam hi gunesu sadhavo
grhnanti kecin na bhavadrso dvija
gunams ca phalgun bahuli-karisnavo
mahattamas tesv avidad bhavan agham
SYNONYMS
dosan–faults; paresam–of others; hi–for; gunesu–in the qualities;
sadhavah–sadhus; grhnanti–find; kecit–some; na–not; bhavadrsah–like
you; dvija–O twice-born; gunan–qualities; ca–and; phalgun–small;
bahuli-karisnavah–greatly magnifies; mahat-tamah–the greatest persons;
tesu–among them; avidat–find; bhavan–you; agham–the fault.
TRANSLATION
Twice-born Daksa, a man like you can simply find fault in the
qualities of others. Lord Siva, however, not only finds no faults with
others’ qualities, but if someone has a little good quality, he magnifies
it greatly. Unfortunately, you have found fault with such a great soul.TEXT 13
TEXT
nascaryam etad yad asatsu sarvada
mahad-vininda kunapatma-vadisu
sersyam mahapurusa-pada-pamsubhir
nirasta-tejahsu tad eva sobhanam
SYNONYMS
na–not; ascaryam–wonderful; etat–this; yat–which; asatsu–evil;
sarvada–always; mahat-vininda–the deriding of great souls; kunapa-atmavadisu–
among those who have accepted the dead body as the self; sairsyam–
envy; maha-purusa–of great personalities; pada-pamsubhih–by the
dust of the feet; nirasta-tejahsu–whose glory is diminished; tat–that;
eva–certainly; sobhanam–very good.
TRANSLATION
It is not wonderful for persons who have accepted the transient
material body as the self to engage always in deriding great souls. Such
envy on the part of materialistic persons is very good because that is
the way they fall down. They are diminished by the dust of the feet of
great personalities.TEXT 14
TEXT
yad dvy-aksaram nama gireritam nrnam
sakrt prasangad agham asu hanti tat
pavitra-kirtim tam alanghya-sasanam
bhavan aho dvesti sivam sivetarah
SYNONYMS
yat–which; dvi-aksaram–consisting of two letters; nama–named; gira
iritam–merely being pronounced by the tongue; nrnam–persons; sakrt–
once; prasangat–from the heart; agham–sinful activities; asu–
immediately; hanti–destroys; tat–that; pavitra-kirtim–whose fame is
pure; tam–him; alanghya-sasanam–whose order is never neglected; bhavan-
-you; aho–oh; dvesti–envy; sivam–Lord Siva; siva-itarah–who are
inauspicious.
TRANSLATION
Sati continued: My dear father, you are committing the greatest
offense by envying Lord Siva, whose very name, consisting of two
syllables, si and va, purifies one of all sinful activities. His order is
never neglected. Lord Siva is always pure, and no one but you envies him.TEXT 15
TEXT
yat-pada-padmam mahatam mano-‘libhir
nisevitam brahma-rasasavarthibhih
lokasya yad varsati casiso ‘rthinas
tasmai bhavan druhyati visva-bandhave
SYNONYMS
yat-pada-padmam–the lotus feet of whom; mahatam–of the higher
personalities; manah-alibhih–by the bees of the mind; nisevitam–being
engaged at; brahma-rasa–of transcendental bliss (brahmananda); asavaarthibhih–
seeking the nectar; lokasya–of the common man; yat–which;
varsati–he fulfills; ca–and; asisah–desires; arthinah–seeking;
tasmai–towards him (Lord Siva); bhavan–you; druhyati–are envious;
visva-bandhave–unto the friend of all living entities within the three
worlds.
TRANSLATION
You are envious of Lord Siva, who is the friend of all living entities
within the three worlds. For the common man he fulfills all desires, and
because of their engagement in thinking of his lotus feet, he also
blesses higher personalities who are seeking after brahmananda
[transcendental bliss].TEXT 16
TEXT
kim va sivakhyam asivam na vidus tvad anye
brahmadayas tam avakirya jatah smasane
tan-malya-bhasma-nrkapaly avasat pisacair
ye murdhabhir dadhati tac-caranavasrstam
SYNONYMS
kim va–whether; siva-akhyam–named Siva; asivam–inauspicious; na
viduh–do not know; tvat anye–other than you; brahma-adayah–Brahma and
others; tam–him (Lord Siva); avakirya–scattered; jatah–having twisted
hair; smasane–in the crematorium; tat-malya-bhasma-nr-kapali–who is
garlanded with human skulls and smeared with ashes; avasat–associated;
pisacaih–with demons; ye–who; murdhabhih–with the head; dadhati–
place; tat-carana-avasrstam–fallen from his lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
Do you think that greater, more respectable personalities than you,
such as Lord Brahma, do not know this inauspicious person who goes under
the name Lord Siva? He associates with the demons in the crematorium, his
locks of hair are scattered all over his body, he is garlanded with human
skulls and smeared with ashes from the crematorium, but in spite of all
these inauspicious qualities, great personalities like Brahma honor him
by accepting the flowers offered to his lotus feet and placing them with
great respect on their heads.TEXT 17
TEXT
karnau pidhaya nirayad yad akalpa ise
dharmavitary asrnibhir nrbhir asyamane
chindyat prasahya rusatim asatim prabhus cej
jihvam asun api tato visrjet sa dharmah
SYNONYMS
karnau–both ears; pidhaya–blocking; nirayat–one should go away;
yat–if; akalpah–unable; ise–the master; dharma-avitari–the controller
of religion; asrnibhih–by irresponsible; nrbhih–persons; asyamane–
being blasphemed; chindyat–he should cut; prasahya–by force; rusatim–
vilifying; asatim–of the blasphemer; prabhuh–one is able; cet–if;
jihvam–tongue; asun–(his own) life; api–certainly; tatah–then;
visrjet–should give up; sah–that; dharmah–is the process.
TRANSLATION
Sati continued: If one hears an irresponsible person blaspheme the
master and controller of religion, one should block his ears and go away
if unable to punish him. But if one is able to kill, then one should by
force cut out the blasphemer’s tongue and kill the offender, and after
that one should give up his own life.TEXT 18
TEXT
atas tavotpannam idam kalevaram
na dharayisye siti-kantha-garhinah
jagdhasya mohad dhi visuddhim andhaso
jugupsitasyoddharanam pracaksate
SYNONYMS
atah–therefore; tava–from you; utpannam–received; idam–this;
kalevaram–body; na dharayisye–I shall not bear; siti-kantha-garhinah–
who have blasphemed Lord Siva; jagdhasya–which has been eaten; mohat–by
mistake; hi–because; visuddhim–the purification; andhasah–of food;
jugupsitasya–poisonous; uddharanam–vomiting; pracaksate–declare.
TRANSLATION
Therefore I shall no longer bear this unworthy body, which has been
received from you, who have blasphemed Lord Siva. If someone has taken
food which is poisonous, the best treatment is to vomit.TEXT 19
TEXT
na veda-vadan anuvartate matih
sva eva loke ramato maha-muneh
yatha gatir deva-manusyayoh prthak
sva eva dharme na param ksipet sthitah
SYNONYMS
na–not; veda-vadan–rules and regulations of the Vedas; anuvartate–
follow; matih–the mind; sve–in his own; eva–certainly; loke–in the
self; ramatah–enjoying; maha-muneh–of elevated transcendentalists;
yatha–as; gatih–the way; deva-manusyayoh–of the men and the demigods;
prthak–separately; sve–in your own; eva–alone; dharme–occupational
duty; na–not; param–another; ksipet–should criticize; sthitah–being
situated.
TRANSLATION
It is better to execute one’s own occupational duty than to criticize
others’. Elevated transcendentalists may sometimes forgo the rules and
regulations of the Vedas, since they do not need to follow them, just as
the demigods travel in space whereas ordinary men travel on the surface
of the earth.TEXT 20
TEXT
karma pravrttam ca nivrttam apy rtam
vede vivicyobhaya-lingam asritam
virodhi tad yaugapadaika-kartari
dvayam tatha brahmani karma narcchati
SYNONYMS
karma–activities; pravrttam–attached to material enjoyment; ca–and;
nivrttam–materially detached; api–certainly; rtam–true; vede–in the
Vedas; vivicya–distinguished; ubhaya-lingam–symptoms of both; asritam–
directed; virodhi–contradictory; tat–that; yaugapada-eka-kartari–both
activities in one person; dvayam–two; tatha–so; brahmani–in one who is
transcendentally situated; karma–activities; na rcchati–are neglected.
TRANSLATION
In the Vedas there are directions for two kinds of activities–
activities for those who are attached to material enjoyment and
activities for those who are materially detached. In consideration of
these two kinds of activities, there are two kinds of people, who have
different symptoms. If one wants to see two kinds of activities in one
person, that is contradictory. But both kinds of activities may be
neglected by a person who is transcendentally situated.TEXT 21
TEXT
ma vah padavyah pitar asmad-asthita
ya yajna-salasu na dhuma-vartmabhih
tad-anna-trptair asu-bhrdbhir idita
avyakta-linga avadhuta-sevitah
SYNONYMS
ma–are not; vah–yours; padavyah–opulences; pitah–O father; asmatasthitah–
possessed by us; yah–which (opulences); yajna-salasu–in the
sacrificial fire; na–not; dhuma-vartmabhih–by the path of sacrifices;
tat-anna-trptaih–satisfied by the foodstuff of the sacrifice; asubhrdbhih–
satisfying bodily necessities; iditah–praised; avyakta-lingah-
-whose cause is unmanifested; avadhuta-sevitah–achieved by the selfrealized
souls.
TRANSLATION
My dear father, the opulence we possess is impossible for either you
or your flatterers to imagine, for persons who engage in fruitive
activities by performing great sacrifices are concerned with satisfying
their bodily necessities by eating foodstuff offered as a sacrifice. We
can exhibit our opulences simply by desiring to do so. This can be
achieved only by great personalities who are renounced, self-realized
souls.TEXT 22
TEXT
naitena dehena hare krtagaso
dehodbhavenalam alam kujanmana
vrida mamabhut kujana-prasangatas
taj janma dhig yo mahatam avadya-krt
SYNONYMS
na–not; etena–by this; dehena–by the body; hare–to Lord Siva;
krta-agasah–having committed offenses; deha-udbhavena–produced from
your body; alam alam–enough, enough; ku-janmana–with a contemptible
birth; vrida–shame; mama–my; abhut–was; ku-jana-prasangatah–from a
relationship with a bad person; tat janma–that birth; dhik–shameful;
yah–who; mahatam–of the great personalities; avadya-krt–an offender.
TRANSLATION
You are an offender at the lotus feet of Lord Siva, and unfortunately
I have a body produced from yours. I am very much ashamed of our bodily
relationship, and I condemn myself because my body is contaminated by a
relationship with a person who is an offender at the lotus feet of the
greatest personality.TEXT 23
TEXT
gotram tvadiyam bhagavan vrsadhvajo
daksayanity aha yada sudurmanah
vyapeta-narma-smitam asu tadaham
vyutsraksya etat kunapam tvad-angajam
SYNONYMS
gotram–family relationship; tvadiyam–your; bhagavan–the possessor
of all opulences; vrsadhvajah–Lord Siva; daksayani–Daksayani (the
daughter of Daksa); iti–thus; aha–calls; yada–when; sudurmanah–very
morose; vyapeta–disappear; narma-smitam–my jolliness and smile; asu–
immediately; tada–then; aham–I; vyutsraksye–I shall give up; etat–
this (body); kunapam–dead body; tvat-anga-jam–produced from your body.
TRANSLATION
Because of our family relationship, when Lord Siva addresses me as
Daksayani I at once become morose, and my jolliness and my smile at once
disappear. I feel very much sorry that my body, which is just like a bag,
has been produced by you. I shall therefore give it up.TEXT 24
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ity adhvare daksam anudya satru-han
ksitav udicim nisasada santa-vak
sprstva jalam pita-dukula-samvrta
nimilya drg yoga-patham samavisat
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca–Maitreya said; iti–thus; adhvare–in the arena of
sacrifice; daksam–to Daksa; anudya–speaking; satru-han–O annihilator
of enemies; ksitau–on the ground; udicim–facing north; nisasada–sat
down; santa-vak–in silence; sprstva–after touching; jalam–water; pitadukula-
samvrta–dressed in yellow garments; nimilya–closing; drk–the
vision; yoga-patham–the mystic yoga process; samavisat–became absorbed.
TRANSLATION
Maitreya the sage told Vidura: O annihilator of enemies, while thus
speaking to her father in the arena of sacrifice, Sati sat down on the
ground and faced north. Dressed in saffron garments, she sanctified
herself with water and closed her eyes to absorb herself in the process
of mystic yoga.TEXT 25
TEXT
krtva samanav anilau jitasana
sodanam utthapya ca nabhi-cakratah
sanair hrdi sthapya dhiyorasi sthitam
kanthad bhruvor madhyam aninditanayat
SYNONYMS
krtva–after placing; samanau–in equilibrium; anilau–the prana and
apana airs; jita-asana–having controlled the sitting posture; sa–Sati;
udanam–the life air; utthapya–raising; ca–and; nabhi-cakratah–at the
circle in the navel; sanaih–gradually; hrdi–in the heart; sthapya–
placing; dhiya–with the intelligence; urasi–towards the pulmonary
passage; sthitam–having been placed; kanthat–through the throat;
bhruvoh–of the eyebrows; madhyam–to the middle; anindita–the blameless
(Sati); anayat–raised.
TRANSLATION
First of all she sat in the required sitting posture, and then she
carried the life air upwards and placed it in the position of equilibrium
near the navel. Then she raised her life air, mixed with intelligence, to
the heart and then gradually towards the pulmonary passage and from there
to between her eyebrows.TEXT 26
TEXT
evam sva-deham mahatam mahiyasa
muhuh samaropitam ankam adarat
jihasati daksa-rusa manasvini
dadhara gatresv anilagni-dharanam
SYNONYMS
evam–thus; sva-deham–her own body; mahatam–of the great saints;
mahiyasa–most worshipful; muhuh–again and again; samaropitam–seated;
ankam–on the lap; adarat–respectfully; jihasati–wishing to give up;
daksa-rusa–due to anger towards Daksa; manasvini–voluntarily; dadhara–
placed; gatresu–on the limbs of the body; anila-agni-dharanam–
meditation on the fire and air.
TRANSLATION
Thus, in order to give up her body, which had been so respectfully and
affectionately seated on the lap of Lord Siva, who is worshiped by great
sages and saints, Sati, due to anger towards her father, began to
meditate on the fiery air within the body.TEXT 27
TEXT
tatah sva-bhartus caranambujasavam
jagad-guros cintayati na caparam
dadarsa deho hata-kalmasah sati
sadyah prajajvala samadhijagnina
SYNONYMS
tatah–there; sva-bhartuh–of her husband; carana-ambuja-asavam–on
the nectar of the lotus feet; jagat-guroh–of the supreme spiritual
teacher of the universe; cintayati–meditating; na–not; ca–and; aparam-
-not other (than her husband); dadarsa–saw; dehah–her body; hatakalmasah–
taints of sin being destroyed; sati–Sati; sadyah–soon;
prajajvala–burned; samadhi-ja-agnina–by fire produced by meditation.
TRANSLATION
Sati concentrated all her meditation on the holy lotus feet of her
husband, Lord Siva, who is the supreme spiritual master of all the world.
Thus she became completely cleansed of all taints of sin and quit her
body in a blazing fire by meditation on the fiery elements.TEXT 28
TEXT
tat pasyatam khe bhuvi cadbhutam mahad
ha heti vadah sumahan ajayata
hanta priya daivatamasya devi
jahav asun kena sati prakopita
SYNONYMS
tat–that; pasyatam–of those who had seen; khe–in the sky; bhuvi–on
the earth; ca–and; adbhutam–wonderful; mahat–great; ha ha–oh, oh;
iti–thus; vadah–roar; su-mahan–tumultuous; ajayata–occurred; hanta–
alas; priya–the beloved; daiva-tamasya–of the most respectable demigod
(Lord Siva); devi–Sati; jahau–quit; asun–her life; kena–by Daksa;
sati–Sati; prakopita–angered.
TRANSLATION
When Sati annihilated her body in anger, there was a tumultuous roar
all over the universe. Why had Sati, the wife of the most respectable
demigod, Lord Siva, quit her body in such a manner?TEXT 29
TEXT
aho anatmyam mahad asya pasyata
prajapater yasya caracaram prajah
jahav asun yad-vimatatmaja sati
manasvini manam abhiksnam arhati
SYNONYMS
aho–oh; anatmyam–neglect; mahat–great; asya–of Daksa; pasyata–
just see; prajapateh–of the Prajapati; yasya–of whom; cara-acaram–all
living entities; prajah–offspring; jahau–gave up; asun–her body; yat–
by whom; vimata–disrespected; atma-ja–his own daughter; sati–Sati;
manasvini–voluntarily; manam–respect; abhiksnam–repeatedly; arhati–
deserved.
TRANSLATION
It was astonishing that Daksa, who was Prajapati, the maintainer of
all living entities, was so disrespectful to his own daughter, Sati, who
was not only chaste but was also a great soul, that she gave up her body
because of his neglect.TEXT 30
TEXT
so ‘yam durmarsa-hrdayo brahma-dhruk ca
loke ‘pakirtim mahatim avapsyati
yad-angajam svam purusa-dvid udyatam
na pratyasedhan mrtaye ‘paradhatah
SYNONYMS
sah–he; ayam–that; durmarsa-hrdayah–hardhearted; brahma-dhruk–
unworthy to be a brahmana; ca–and; loke–in the world; apakirtim–ill
fame; mahatim–extensive; avapsyati–will gain; yat-anga-jam–the
daughter of whom; svam–own; purusa-dvit–the enemy of Lord Siva;
udyatam–who was preparing; na pratyasedhat–did not prevent; mrtaye–for
death; aparadhatah–because of his offenses.
TRANSLATION
Daksa, who is so hardhearted that he is unworthy to be a brahmana,
will gain extensive ill fame because of his offenses to his daughter,
because of not having prevented her death, and because of his great envy
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.TEXT 31
TEXT
vadaty evam jane satya
drstvasu-tyagam adbhutam
daksam tat-parsada hantum
udatisthann udayudhah
SYNONYMS
vadati–were talking; evam–thus; jane–while the people; satyah–of
Sati; drstva–after seeing; asu-tyagam–the death; adbhutam–wonderful;
daksam–Daksa; tat-parsadah–the attendants of Lord Siva; hantum–to
kill; udatisthan–stood up; udayudhah–with uplifted weapons.
TRANSLATION
While people were talking among themselves about the wonderful
voluntary death of Sati, the attendants who had come with her readied
themselves to kill Daksa with their weapons.TEXT 32
TEXT
tesam apatatam vegam
nisamya bhagavan bhrguh
yajna-ghna-ghnena yajusa
daksinagnau juhava ha
SYNONYMS
tesam–of them; apatatam–who were approaching; vegam–the impulse;
nisamya–after seeing; bhagavan–the possessor of all opulences; bhrguh–
Bhrgu Muni; yajna-ghna-ghnena–for killing the destroyers of the yajna;
yajusa–with hymns of the Yajur Veda; daksina-agnau–in the southern side
of the sacrificial fire; juhava–offered oblations; ha–certainly.
TRANSLATION
They came forward forcibly, but Bhrgu Muni saw the danger and,
offering oblations into the southern side of the sacrificial fire,
immediately uttered mantric hymns from the Yajur Veda by which the
destroyers of yajnic performances could be killed immediately.TEXT 33
TEXT
adhvaryuna huyamane
deva utpetur ojasa
rbhavo nama tapasa
somam praptah sahasrasah
SYNONYMS
adhvaryuna–by the priest, Bhrgu; huyamane–oblations being offered;
devah–demigods; utpetuh–became manifested; ojasa–with great strength;
rbhavah–the Rbhus; nama–named; tapasa–by penance; somam–Soma;
praptah–having achieved; sahasrasah–by the thousands.
TRANSLATION
When Bhrgu Muni offered oblations in the fire, immediately many
thousands of demigods named Rbhus became manifested. All of them were
powerful, having achieved strength from Soma, the moon.TEXT 34
TEXT
tair alatayudhaih sarve
pramathah saha-guhyakah
hanyamana diso bhejur
usadbhir brahma-tejasa
SYNONYMS
taih–by them; alata-ayudhaih–with weapons of firebrands; sarve–all;
pramathah–the ghosts; saha-guhyakah–along with the Guhyakas;
hanyamanah–being attacked; disah–in different directions; bhejuh–fled;
usadbhih–glowing; brahma-tejasa–by brahminical power.
TRANSLATION
When the Rbhu demigods attacked the ghosts and Guhyakas with halfburned
fuel from the yajna fire, all these attendants of Sati fled in
different directions and disappeared. This was possible simply because of
brahma-tejas, brahminical power.
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