Sati's Conduct in Brief

Narada said

Brahma, by Shankara's grace you know everything. I have heard Shiva's story from your lotus mouth and want more. You said Rudra is Shankara's complete portion and made his home on Kailasa, a yogi worthy of service by Vishnu and the gods, indifferent, playing, free of the pairs of opposites. Yet he married the supreme lady and became a householder again; at Hari's prayer he happily married Mangala, an ascetic herself, first Daksha's daughter and later the mountain's. How can one body be the daughter of two? How did Sati become Parvati and join Shiva again? Tell me this and more.

Suta says Brahma, immersing himself in Shankara, replied with delight.

Brahma said

Son, I will tell the auspicious account; hearing it makes your birth successful. Once I saw my own daughter Sandhya among her sons, and I was struck by the arrows of desire and swerved. The supreme lord and great yogi Rudra was reminded by Dharma, rebuked me and my sons and returned to his abode. I, who utter the Vedas, was foolish, fell into delusion and maya and acted against Paramesha Shambhu. Deluded by Shiva's maya, with my sons, I tried many ways to make him swerve, but by Shambhu's great power all failed. When I did not succeed, I remembered Rama's lord (Vishnu), who explained Shiva's tattvas and kindled my understanding. I dropped my jealousy, though still deluded and not free of deceit. I served Shakti and won her pleasure. Daksha was my own son, and to confound Hara I created her as the daughter of Daksha and Asikni Virini. Uma became Daksha's daughter and did unbearable austerity; wishing to benefit her devotees she became Rudra's wife. With Uma, Rudra, the supreme lord, was drawn to household life and played, and with unswerving mind confounded me even at his own marriage. He is independent; he took a body and came to marry her, then returned to his mountain and enjoyed himself with her, confounding many. A long time passed as he sported with her. Shambhu, the refuge of the good, is indifferent, yet seemed to spend time seeking happiness.

By Rudra's own wish a sense of rivalry arose in Daksha. Deluded by the maya he grew foolish and proud, and criticised the serene, indifferent god a great deal. Out of pride Daksha performed a sacrifice without Hara. He invited all the gods, Vishnu, me and the other lords, but in his rage offered nothing to Rudra, and, deluded by fate, did not invite his own daughter Sati. The virtuous Shivaa had excellent knowledge and was playing her own part. Though uninvited, with Shiva's leave Sati went to her father's house. She was dishonoured and saw that Rudra had no share. She reproached everyone and gave up her body there. Hearing it, the lord of gods was filled with unbearable rage. Pulling out a strand of his matted hair he gave birth to Virabhadra, created with ganas, who asked what to do. He was told first to insult everyone, then to destroy the sacrifice. Commanded, the leader of the ganas went with many forces, descended violently and, with strength and valour, the ganas wreaked havoc and chastised everyone, sparing none. The supreme gana defeated Vishnu and the immortals, cut off Daksha's head and offered it as an oblation into the fire, destroyed the sacrifice quickly, returned to his mountain and bowed to Lord Shambhu. While the world of gods looked on, Virabhadra and Rudra's companions destroyed the sacrifice. This, Brahma says, is the policy sanctioned in the shruti and smriti: when Rudra is enraged, how can there be bright happiness in the world?

Hearing his praise, Rudra was pleased; compassionate to the distressed, he satisfied everyone and became as compassionate as before. Mahesha Shankara played in many ways. Daksha was brought back to life and everyone honoured. By Shankara's compassion the sacrifice was done again, and all the gods and the whole universe worshipped Rudra there and were very pleased. A blaze arose from Sati's body and brought happiness to the world, and fell on the mountain, where it was worshipped, becoming known as Jvalamukhi, yielding all desires; seeing the supreme Devi there destroys all sins, and even now people worship her there and hold festivals. Later Devi Sati became the Himalaya's daughter, famous as Parvati, practised hard austerity again, and was united with her husband Paramesha. Hearing this cleanses all sins.