Shloka 16
Satī Desires to Attend Dakṣa’s Sacrifice; Śiva Warns Against the Pain of Relatives’ Insults
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्वयोदितं शोभनमेव शोभने अनाहुता अप्यभियन्ति बन्धुषु । ते यद्यनुत्पादितदोषदृष्टयो बलीयसानात्म्यमदेन मन्युना ॥ १६ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca tvayoditaṁ śobhanam eva śobhane anāhutā apy abhiyanti bandhuṣu te yady anutpādita-doṣa-dṛṣṭayo balīyasānātmya-madena manyunā
The great lord replied: My beautiful wife, what you have said is indeed proper—that one may go to the home of relatives even uninvited; but only when they do not fault a guest out of bodily pride and, by such false ego, flare up in anger.
Lord Śiva could foresee that as soon as Satī reached her father’s house, her father, Dakṣa, being too puffed up because of bodily identification, would be angry at her presence, and although she was innocent and faultless, he would be mercilessly angry towards her. Lord Śiva warned that since her father was too puffed up by his material possessions, he would be angry, and this would be intolerable for her. Therefore it was better that she not go. This fact was already experienced by Lord Śiva because although Lord Śiva was faultless, Dakṣa had cursed him in so many harsh words.
FAQs
This verse teaches that visiting relatives is generally proper even without an invitation, but when they are dominated by pride and anger and look for faults without cause, such association can become harmful.
In the context of Dakṣa’s sacrifice, Satī wished to go to her father’s assembly; the Lord warns her that Dakṣa and his party are driven by ego and anger and will dishonor her and Śiva.
Maintain family respect, but set boundaries: avoid situations where people are committed to fault-finding and are ruled by ego and anger, and choose association that supports peace and dharma.