Sati's Journey

Brahma said

As the gods and rishis were leaving for the festival of Daksha's sacrifice, Devi was on Mount Gandhamadana. Under a canopy with bathing places, surrounded by her friends, Dakshayani Sati was occupied in many pastimes. While happily at play she saw Rohini going toward Daksha's sacrifice. Seeing her so, with her hair parted, Sati quickly spoke to Vijaya, the foremost of her friends, whom she loved more than her own life and who looked after her welfare.

Sati said

Best of friends, dearer to me than life, Vijaya, where is Rohini going with Chandra? Ask quickly.

Brahma said

Vijaya went swiftly to them and properly asked the moon where he was going. He had heard Vijaya first, and he affectionately told her all, about the festival of Daksha's sacrifice and the rest. Hearing this, Vijaya was alarmed and hurried back to Devi, and told Sati everything the moon had said. Devi Kalika Sati was amazed. Knowing and remembering no reason for it, she turned it over in many ways: "Daksha is my father and Virini my mother. I am their daughter Sati, and I have done no wrong. Why have they not invited me? Have they forgotten their beloved daughter? I will ask Shankara lovingly why this is." Having made up her mind, she went, leaving Vijaya, her best friend, behind. She went quickly to Shiva and found him in the midst of the assembly with many ganas, Nandi and other valiant ones, the foremost leaders and leaders of groups. Daksha's daughter saw her lord and husband Ishana there, and to ask him the reason she swiftly came near. Full of love, Shiva took his beloved on his lap, showed her great respect and spoke to her delightfully. Shambhu is Sarvesha and plays in many ways that give pleasure, and amid the ganas he asked Sati lovingly: "Why have you come here, in the middle of this assembly? You seem surprised. Slender-waisted one, tell me the reason with great affection."

When Mahesha spoke so, Sati Shivaa bowed quickly to her lord and joined her hands: "I have heard that my father is holding a great sacrifice, and all the gods and rishis have gathered at that festival. Why does going to my father's sacrifice not appeal to you? Lord of the gods, tell me everything. The dharma of well-wishers is that they must keep company with well-wishers. Mahadeva, a well-wisher does what increases delight. So make every effort now to go with me to my father's sacrificial ground. Husband, that is what I ask." Hearing Sati, Maheshvara was pierced again by the arrows of Daksha's words, but he replied courteously: "Devi, your father Daksha hates me in particular. All the foremost gods and rishis have honoured me, but there are other fools without knowledge who have gone to your father's sacrifice. Devi, going to someone's house uninvited brings dishonour, which is worse than death. Even a person like Indra who goes uninvited to another's house lowers himself, let alone others. Such a journey is inimical. So you and I in particular should not go to Daksha's sacrifice. Beloved, I tell you the truth. People are not hurt by arrows shot by enemies as much as they are when their hearts are pierced by wicked words from their own. Those words strike the vital parts, I believe. The deceitful do not see that they strike at their own standing when they abuse those who have the six qualities, learning and the rest. That is the view of the virtuous."

Great-souled Mahesha said this to Sati, and she was filled with rage and replied to Shiva, supreme among speakers: "Shambhu, lord of all, you are the one who makes a sacrifice succeed. My father has done evil by not inviting you. Bhava, I want to know all the feelings of that evil-souled man and of the evil-souled gods and rishis who have gathered there. So I will go to my father's sacrifice. Maheshvara, give me leave to go." Addressed so by Devi, Bhagavan Rudra, who himself knows all and witnesses all and brings welfare, looked at Sati and said: "Devi, if that is what appeals to you, you must go, excellent in vows. With my leave go quickly to your father's sacrifice. Mount this bull Nandi, who will be lovingly decked out and splendidly adorned with many fine qualities." Told so by Rudra, Sati climbed on the adorned bull, properly dressed, and left for her father's house. The paramatman gave her many fine radiant gifts, excellent umbrellas and chamaras, superb garments and ornaments. Obeying Shiva's command, sixty thousand of Rudra's ganas went with her gladly, curious about that great festival. As they set out, Sati and Shiva's beloved ganas, Vamadeva and others, held great festivities in every direction. Eagerly the ganas sang of Shiva and Shivaa's fame, and those valiant ones, beloved of Shiva, leapt about like children in delight. As the mother of the universe went, everything was very beautiful, and joyous sounds filled the three worlds.