Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 26
Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire
एवं स्वदेहं महतां महीयसा मुहु: समारोपितमङ्कमादरात् । जिहासती दक्षरुषा मनस्विनी दधार गात्रेष्वनिलाग्निधारणाम् ॥ २६ ॥
evaṁ sva-dehaṁ mahatāṁ mahīyasā muhuḥ samāropitam aṅkam ādarāt jihāsatī dakṣa-ruṣā manasvinī dadhāra gātreṣv anilāgni-dhāraṇām
এইদৰে নিজৰ দেহ ত্যাগ কৰিবলৈ—যি দেহ মহাত্মাসকলেও পূজ্য ভগৱান শংকৰে স্নেহ আৰু আদৰে বাৰে বাৰে কোলাত বহুৱাইছিল—সতীয়ে পিতাৰ প্ৰতি ক্ৰোধত মন দৃঢ় কৰি দেহত অনিল-অগ্নি ধাৰণাৰ ধ্যান ধৰিলে।
Lord Śiva is described herein as the best of all great souls. Although Satī’s body was born of Dakṣa, Lord Śiva used to adore her by sitting her on his lap. This is considered a great token of respect. Thus Satī’s body was not ordinary, but still she decided to give it up because it was the source of unhappiness because of its connection with Dakṣa. This severe example set by Satī is to be followed. One should be extremely careful about associating with persons who are not respectful to the higher authorities. It is therefore instructed in the Vedic literature that one should always be free from the association of atheists and nondevotees and should try to associate with devotees, for by the association of a devotee one can be elevated to the platform of self-realization. This injunction is stressed in many places in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; if one wants to be liberated from the clutches of material existence, then one has to associate with great souls, and if one wants to continue one’s material existential life, then one may associate with persons who are materialistic. The materialistic way of life is based on sex life. Thus both becoming addicted to sex life and associating with persons who are addicted to sex life are condemned in the Vedic literature because such association will simply interfere with one’s spiritual progress. However, association with great personalities, devotees who are great souls, will elevate one to the spiritual platform. Satīdevī decided to quit the body she had obtained from Dakṣa’s body, and she wanted to transfer herself to another body so that she might have completely uncontaminated association with Lord Śiva. Of course, it is understood that in her next life she would take birth as the daughter of the Himālayas, Pārvatī, and then she would again accept Lord Śiva as her husband. Satī and Lord Śiva are eternally related; even after she changes her body, their relationship is never broken.
FAQs
Because of intense anguish and anger at Dakṣa’s insult to Lord Śiva, Satī resolved to abandon the body connected with Dakṣa’s family line and used yogic control of prāṇa and inner fire to leave it.
It refers to a yogic practice of restraining the life-air (anila/prāṇa) and igniting internal fire (agni) through concentration, enabling one to burn up the body or withdraw from it.
It cautions devotees to avoid offenses toward great souls and to cultivate inner discipline—channeling strong emotions through spiritual focus rather than acting impulsively.