Sati's Separation

Rama said

Devi, once in ancient times Shambhu, giver of great prosperity, called Vishvakarma to his own region, greater than the greatest. He had him build a beautiful shed for his cows, a fitting wide residence and an excellent throne, and to remove obstacles a great, divine, wonderful umbrella. He quickly invited Shakra and the gods, siddhas, gandharvas, nagas, all the instructive texts and agamas, Vidhatri and his sons, the sages, all the goddesses and the apsaras, who brought many things. For the auspicious rites, sixteen maidens were brought from each class of gods, rishis, siddhas and serpents. Many instruments, chiefly veenas and mridangas, were played, with fine singing and festivities. All that is needed for the consecration of a king was brought, with all the herbs; five pots were filled with water straight from the tirthas, and his ganas brought every other divine article. Shankara had the sounds of the brahman chanted aloud. Delighted, he invited Hari from Vaikuntha, and Maheshvara was glad at his complete devotion. At an auspicious muhurta Mahadeva seated Hari on that excellent throne, lovingly adorned him with every ornament, set a beautiful crown on him and made all the auspicious arrangements. Mahesha himself consecrated him in that pavilion like the universe, and gave him all his prosperity, even what should not be given away. Self-ruling Shambhu, affectionate to devotees, praised him. Though pervasive and independent, he can be won by boons he has given. He said to Brahma, maker of the worlds:

Mahesha said

Lord of the worlds, hear, all of you. From now on, by my instruction, I will bow to Hari Vishnu and so must all of you. All the gods must bow to Hari. By my command Hari will be extolled in the Vedas just as I am.

Rama said

Saying this, Rudra bowed to the one with Garuda on his standard. He is affectionate to devotees and gives boons, and he was pleased by Vishnu's devotion. From then Hari has been worshipped by Brahma and all gods, asuras, sages and siddhas. Mahesha, greatly pleased, gave Hari and the residents of heaven great boons: "By my command you will be creator, preserver and destroyer of the worlds. You will bestow dharma, artha and kama and chastise those who follow wicked policy. You will be lord of the universe, worshipped by the universe, very strong and valiant, invincible in battle against everyone, even me. I will freely give you three Shaktis; accept them. You will be independent in the three worlds and have the power of many kinds of play. I will make efforts to chastise those who hate you, and give your devotees excellent nirvana. Accept my maya, which even the gods cannot comprehend and which confounds the universe and leaves it without consciousness. You are my left hand and Vidhatri my right. You and Vidhatri will become the creator and preserver. Rudra is my heart and I am he, no doubt. You must worship him, as must Brahma and the rest. Staying here you will preserve the whole universe. In particular you will take many avataras and always devise diverse means of preservation. In my world you will have a place of great prosperity, very radiant, called Goloka. You will have avataras on earth who protect, and they will certainly be my devotees. Seeing them I will be glad and treat them with affection." So Hara himself gave Hari unlimited prosperity, and afterward Umapati played on Kailasa with his ganas as he willed. Since then Lakshmi's lord has taken the garb of a cowherd, lord of gopas, gopis and cattle, wandering happily. Since then Vishnu, glad in mind, has protected the whole universe, and by Shiva's command, to be the agent of preservation, took many avataras. Now by Shiva's command he has taken four: I, Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Obeying my father's command I have come to the forest with Sita and Lakshmana, distressed by what fate has done. By some means the night-roamer has abducted my wife Sita, and I am parted from my kin in this forest, searching for my beloved. Since I have had the good fortune to see you, all will be well. Mother Sati, you will surely show me compassion, and I will obtain the supreme boon of getting Sita back. By your favour I will kill the wicked rakshasa who has caused me grief. It is my fortune that you both have now decided to show me compassion. Any man to whom you give the boon of your compassion is blessed.

Brahma said

After saying much of this Rama bowed to Sati Shivaa, took her leave and went on roaming the forest.

Sati heard Rama, who had mastered his atman, and having seen the devotion to Shiva in his heart, she praised him. Remembering her own acts, she grieved deeply. Distressed and pale she returned to Shiva, thinking again and again on the way: "I had evil thoughts about Rama and did not heed Shiva's words. What answer will I give Shankara when I get back?" Suffering remorse, she thought much so. Reaching Shambhu she bowed to him in her heart, face distressed, anxious with sorrow, her radiance faded. Seeing her wretched, Hara asked if all was well and affectionately asked: "Have you completed the test?" Hearing Shiva she lowered her face and said nothing, but stood by him distressed and wretched. Mahesha, a great yogi skilled in play, meditated and understood what was going on in Daksha's daughter's mind. He remembered the pledge he had himself made to Hari when angry with him. Rudra always keeps a pledge made to one who asks. He speaks of dharma, acts by dharma and always protects it. The lord, distressed, thought it over and said: "If my love for Daksha's daughter stays as great as before, I will destroy the purity of my pledge, even though I act in line with worldly practice." Thinking it through in many ways in his heart, he abandoned Sati. The protector of the Vedic dharma did not break his pledge, and so in his mind Parameshvara put distance between himself and Sati. The lord went back to his own mountain, bound by the pledge of separation he had made.

As they travelled a voice spoke from the sky to Maheshvara, and everyone heard it, especially Daksha's daughter: "Paramesha, you are blessed. You have kept the truth of your pledge. There is no one like you in the three worlds. You are the great lord, a great yogi." Hearing the voice, Devi, her radiance gone, asked Shiva: "Parameshvara, protector, tell me, what is the pledge you made?" The lord Girisha, who always does what brings welfare, did not speak of the pledge he had made earlier before Hari. Sati meditated on Shiva, her husband whom she loved more than her life, and understood the whole reason her beloved had abandoned her. She grieved much, but at once knew that Shambhu had made up his mind to forsake her. She sighed again and again. Shiva comforted himself and kept secret what he had in mind about her. Outwardly the lord spoke much, but he kept his pledge from Sati. When he reached Kailasa with Sati, they talked of many things. Then the yogi fixed himself on his own supreme form and entered samadhi, and Sati stayed in that home, very distressed. No one understood the conduct of Shiva and Shivaa. A long time passed with them so, having taken bodies by their powers and following the world's customs. Afterward Girisha, greatly afflicted, left his meditation. Sati, mother of the universe, knew it and came. With a shattered heart Devi bowed to Shiva, and Shambhu, all-pervading in understanding, gave her a seat before him. They talked happily about many agreeable things. In such play he managed to dispel her sorrow at once and gave her back her former happiness, but he did not give up his pledge. For Shiva, who is Parameshvara, this is nothing extraordinary and needs no comment. The sages speak of this account of Shiva and Shivaa. Some who are not learned ask, "How could they be separated?" Who knows the supreme meaning of Shiva and Shivaa's conduct? They play as they will and always act so. Sati and Shiva are always joined, like a word and its meaning, and their union and separation can happen only if they will it.