Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 4:1-10

Book 4: Chapter 4

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 4: Verses 1-10
Sate burns herself with the fire of Yoga

Maitreya continued: Having said this much, Lord Sankara (the Bestower of happiness) became silent; for He thought the death of His consort was inevitable in either case (whether she proceeded to her father's house or stayed behind). (As for the latter) she swung like a pendulum, (now) sallying forth in her eagerness to see her relations and (now) returning for fear of Lord Siva (the Source of the universe). Vexed at the thwarting of her desire to see her relations and overpowered with emotion, she burst into tears and wept. Shaking with anger, Sati (the spouse of Lord Bhava) looked at her peerless lord, Bhava, as if she would burn Him, Thereafter, with a heart tormented by grief and anger and her judgment clouded by her womanish nature, and heaving deep sighs, she proceeded to her parents' home, leaving Lord Sankara, the beloved of the saints, who had fondly given her half of His body. The servants of Lord Siva (who is characterized by three eyes)-Maniman, Mada and others-accompanied by His own personal attendants and Yaksas, followed her apace in thousands, placing Nandiswara (the chief of the bulls, the mount of Lord Siva) at their head and free from remorse (at their parting from the Lord, because they could not bear to see Sati going without escort). Placing heron (the back of) the chief of the bulls, they travelled (as her escort), duly equipped with her Sarika (a thrushlike bird generally brought up as a pet by ladies of high rank), ball (to play with), looking-glass and lotus flower, white umbrella, chowrie and wreath etc., (as insignia of royalty) [1] and kettledrums, conchs, flutes and other accompaniments of music. Sati (presently reached her destination and) entered the sacrificial grounds, where Vedic hymns were being chanted in every direction, giving rise to a keen contest (among the Brahmanas reciting the Vedas), nay, which were crowded with Brahmana seers and divinities on all sides and strewn with utensils of clay, wood, iron, gold, Kusa grass and hides. (6) Afraid of Daksa (the sacrificer), who treated her with disrespect, nobody bestowed any attention on her when she arrived there, excepting of course her sisters and mother, who gladly and fondly embraced her, their throats choked with tears of love. Not addressed kindly by her father, Sati did not accept the presents or the exalted seat lovingly offered by her mother and mother's sisters; nor did she receive (with a glad heart) the enquiries of her sisters about her health, even though they were couched in a most appropriate language. Seeing that no share of the sacrificial offerings had been allotted to Rudra (Lord Siva) and that her father (Daksa) had shown great disrespect towards the omniscient Lord, and herself slighted in the sacrificial assembly, Sati (a lady in supreme authority) flew into a rage as if she would burn (all) the worlds with her fury. Controlling by her command the hosts of ghosts (that had accompanied her and) who had sprung on their feet (to kill Daksa), she proceeded to reproach that enemy of Lord Siva-whose vanity had been tickled by his proficiency in the ritual-in accents faltering with anger within the hearing of the whole world (all those assembled there).

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References

  1. Lord Siva being one of the eight Lokapalas (regents of the quarters), Sati Is depicted here as enjoying royal honours.

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