> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 4 Part 1

> > **************

> > Chapter Four: Sati Quits Her Body

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > etavad uktva virarama sankarah

> > patny-anga-nasam hy ubhayatra cintayan

> > suhrd-didrksuh pariankita bhavan

> > niskramati nirviati dvidhasa sa

> > 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; nirviati--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

> > suhrd-didrksa-pratighata-durmanah

> > snehdd rudaty asru-kalativihvala

> > bhavam bhavany apratipurusam rusa

> > pradhaksyativaiksata jata-vepathuh

> > 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 afilicted; 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

> > tato vinihsvasya sati vihaya tam

> > sokena rosena ca duyata hrda

> > pitror agat straina-vimudha-dhir grhan

> > premnatmano yo 'rdham adat satam priyah

> > tatah--then; vinihsvasya--breathing very heavily; sati--Sati; vihaya--leaving; tam--him (Lord Siva); sokena--by bereavement; rosena--by anger; ca--and; duyata--afilicted; 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

> > tam anvagacchan druta-vikramam satim

> > ekam tri-netranucarah sahasrasah

> > sa-parsada-yaksa maniman-madadayah

> > puro-vrsendras tarasa gata-vyathah

> > 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-parsada-yaksah--accompanied by his personal associates and the Yaksas; manimat-mada-ddayah--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

> > tam sarika-kanduka-darpanambuja-

> > svetatapatra-vyajana-srag-ddibhih

> > gitayanair dundubhi-sankha-venubhir

> > vrsendram aropya vitankita yayuh

> > tam--her (Sati); sarika--pet bird; kanduka--ball; darpana--mirror; am buja--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; vitnkitah--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

> > abrahma-ghosorjita-yajna-vaisasam

> > viprarsi justam vibudhaih ca sarvasah

> > mrd-darv-ayah-ka-ncana-darbha-carmabhir

> > nisrsta-bha-ndam yajanam samaviat

> > a--from all sides; brahma-ghosa--with the sounds of the Vedic hymns; urjita--decorated; yajna--sacrifice; vaiasam--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; ca rmabhih--skins; nisrsta--made of; bhandam--sacrificial animals and pots; yajanam--sacrifice; samaviat--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

> > tam agatam tatra na kascanadriyad

> > vimanitam yajna-krto bhayaj janah

> > rte svasrr vai jananim ca sadarah

> > premasru-kanthyah parisasvajur muda

> > tam--her (Sati); agatam--having arrived; tatra--there; na--not; kascana--anyone; ddriyat--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

> > saudarya-samprasna-samartha-vartaya

> > matra ca matr-svasrbhih ca sadaram

> > dattam saparyam varam asanam ca sa

> > nadatta pitrapratinandita sati

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > arudra-bhagam tam aveksya cddhvaram

> > pitra ca deve krta-helanam vibhau

> > anadrta yajna-sadasy ddhinari

> > cukopa lokan iva dhaksyati rusa

> > 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; yajn-a-sadasi--in the assembly of the sacrifice; adhinari--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

> > jagarha samarsa-vipannaya gira

> > siva-dvis am dhuma-patha-srama-smayam

> > sva-tejasa bhuta-ganan samutthitan

> > nigrhya devi jagato 'bhisrnvatah

> > 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; sva-tejasa--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

> > devy uvaca

> > na yasya loke 'sty atisayanah priyas

> > tathapriyo deha-bhrtam priyatmanah

> > tasmin samastatmani mukta-vairake

> > rte bhavantam katamah pratipayet

> > 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; ap riyah--enemy; de ha-bh rtam--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

> > dosan paresam hi gunesu sadhavo

> > grhnanti kecin na bhavadrso dvija

> > gunams ca phalgun bahuli-karisnavo

> > mahattamas tesv avidad bhavan agham

> > dosan--faults; paresam--of others; hi--for; gunesu--in the qualities; sddhavah--sadhus; grhnanti--find; kecit--some; na--not; bhavadrsah--like you; dvija--O twice-born; gunan--qualities; ca--and; phalgun--small; bahuli-karisnavah--greatly magnifies; mahattamah--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

> > nascaryam etdd yad asatsu sarvada

> > mahad-vininda kunapatma-vadis u

> > sersyam mahapurusa-pada-pamsubhir

> > nirasta-tejahsu tad eva sobhanam

> > na--not; ascaryam--wonderful; etat--this; yat--which; asatsu--evil; sarvada--always; mahat-vininda--the deriding of great souls; kunapa-atma-vadisu--among those who have accepted the dead body as the self; sa-irsyam--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

> > yad dvy-aksaram nama gireritam nrnam

> > sakrt prasangad agham asu hanti tat

> > pavitra-kirtim tam alanghya-sasanam

> > bhavan aho dvesti sivam sivetarah

> > 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

> > yat-pada-padmam mahatam mano-'libhir

> > nisevitam brahma-rasasavarthibhih

> > lokasya yad varsati casiso 'rthinas

> > tasmai bhavan druhyati vina-bandhave

> > yat-pada-padmam--the lotus feet of whom; mahatam--of the higher personalities; manah-alibhih--by the bees of the mind; nis evitam--being engaged at; brahma-rasa--of transcendental bliss (brahmananda); asava-arthibhih--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; vina-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

> > kim va sivakhyam asivam na vidus tvad anye

> > brahmadayas tam avakirya jatah smasane

> > tan-malya-bhasma-nrkapaly avasat pisacair

> > ye murdhabhir dadhati tac-caranavasrstam

> > 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

> > karnau pidhaya nirayad yad akalpa ise

> > dharmavitary asrnibhir nrbhir asyamane

> > chindyat prasahya rusatim asatim prabhus cej

> > jihvam asun api tato visrjet sa dharmah

> > karnau--both ears; pidhaya--blocking; nirayat--one should go away; yat--if; akaipah--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

> > atas tavotpannam idam kalevaram

> > na dharayis ye siti-kantha-garhinah

> > jagdhasya mohad dhi viuddhim andhaso

> > jugupsitasyoddharanam pracaksate

> > 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; viuddhim--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

> > na veda-vadan anuvartate matih

> > sva eva loke ramato maha-muneh

> > yatha gatir deva-manusyayoh prthak

> > sva eva dharme na param ksipet sthitah

> > 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; dhamae--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

> > karma pravrttam ca nivrttam apy rtam

> > vede vivicyobhaya-lingam asritam

> > virodhi tad yaugapadaika-kartari

> > dvayam tatha brahmani karma narcchati

> > 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

> > ma vah padavyah pitar asmad-asthita

> > ya yajna-salasu na dhuma-vartmabhih

> > tad-anna-trptair asu-bhrdbhir idita

> > avyakta-linga avadhuta-sevitah

> > ma--are not; vah--yours; padavyah--opulences; pitah--O father; asmat-asthitah--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; asu-bhrdbhih--satisfying bodily necessities; iditah--praised; avyakta-lingah--whose cause is unmanifested; avadhuta-sevitah--achieved by the self-realized 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

> > naitena dehena hare krtagaso

> > dehodbhavenalam alam kujanmana

> > vrida mamabhut kujana-prasangatas

> > tajjanma dhlg yo mahatam avadya-krt

> > 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; kujana-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

> > gotram tvadiyam bhagavan vrsadhvajo

> > daksayanity aha yada sudurmanah

> > vyapeta-narma-smitam asu tada 'ham

> > vyutsraksya etat kunapam tvad-angajam

> > 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-angajam--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

> > maitreya uvaca

> > ity adhvare daksam anudya satru-han

> > ksitav udicim nis asada santa-vak

> > sprstva jalam pita-dukula-samvrta

> > nimilya drg yoga-patham samaviat

> > 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; pita-dukula-samvrta--dressed in yellow garments; nimilya--closing; drk--the vision; yoga-patham--the mystic yoga process; samaviat--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

> > krtva samanav anilau jitasana-

> > sodanam utthapya ca nabhi-cakratah

> > sanair hrdi sthapya dhiyorasi sthitam

> > kanthad bhruvor madhyam aninditanayat

> > 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

> > evam sva-deham mahatam mahiyasa

> > muhuh samaropitam ankam adarat

> > jihasati daksa-rusa manasvini

> > dadhara gatresv anilagni-dharanam

> > 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

> > tatah sva-bhartus caranambujasavam

> > jagad-guros cintayati na caparam

> > dadarsa deho hata-kalmasah sati

> > sadyah prajajvala samadhijagnina

> > 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; hata-kalmasah--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

> > tat pasyatam khe bhuvi cadbhutam mahad

> > ha heti vadah sumahan ajayata

> > hanta priya daivatamasya devi

> > jahav asun kena sati prakopita

> > 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

> > aho anatmyam mahad asya pasyata

> > prajapater yasya caracaram prajah

> > jahav asun yad-vimatatmaja sati

> > manasvini manam abhiksnam arhati

> > aho--oh; anatmyam--neglect; mahat--great; asya--of Daksa; pasyata--just see; prajapate h--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

> > so 'yam durmarsa-hrdayo brahma-dhruk ca

> > loke 'pakirtim mahatim avapsyati

> > yad-angajam svam purusa-dvid udyatam

> > na pratyasedhan mrtaye 'paradhatah

> > sah--he; ayam--that; durma rsa-hrdayah--hardhearted; brahma-dhruk--unworthy to be a brahmana; ca--and; loke--in the world; apakirtim--ill f ame; 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

> > vadaty evam jane satya

> > drstvasu-tyagam adbhutam

> > daksam tat-parsada hantum

> > udatis thann udayudhah

> > 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

> > tesam apatatam vegam

> > nisamya bhagavan bhrguh

> > yajna-ghna-ghnena yajusa

> > daksinagnau juhava ha

> > 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

> > adhvaryuna huyamane

> > deva utpetur ojasa

> > rbhavo nama tapasa

> > somam praptah sahasrasah

> > adhvaryuna--by the priest, Bhrgu; huyamane--oblations being offered; devah--demigods; utpetuh--became manifested; ojasa--with great strengh; 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

> > tair alatayudhaih sarve

> > pramathah saha-guhyakah

> > hanyamana diso bhejur

> > usadbhir brahma-tejasa

> > taih--by them; alata-ayudhaih--with weapons of firebrands; sarve--all; pramathah--the ghosts; saha-guhyakah--along with the Guhyakas; hanyamanah--being attacked; diah--in different directions; bhejuh--fied; usadbhih--glowing; brahma-tejasa--by brahminical power.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the Rbhu demigods attacked the ghosts and Guhyakas with half-burned 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.

> > Back to the running text