Shloka 22
Satī Desires to Attend Dakṣa’s Sacrifice; Śiva Warns Against the Pain of Relatives’ Insults
प्रत्युद्गमप्रश्रयणाभिवादनं विधीयते साधु मिथ: सुमध्यमे । प्राज्ञै: परस्मै पुरुषाय चेतसा गुहाशयायैव न देहमानिने ॥ २२ ॥
pratyudgama-praśrayaṇābhivādanaṁ vidhīyate sādhu mithaḥ sumadhyame prājñaiḥ parasmai puruṣāya cetasā guhā-śayāyaiva na deha-mānine
My slender-waisted wife, friends and relatives rightly rise, welcome, and offer obeisances to one another. Yet the wise, situated on the transcendental plane, offer such respect in their hearts not to the body-identified person, but to the Paramātmā—the Supreme Puruṣa dwelling secretly within the body.
It may be argued that since Dakṣa was the father-in-law of Lord Śiva, it was certainly the duty of Lord Śiva to offer him respect. In answer to that argument it is explained here that when a learned person stands up or offers obeisances in welcome, he offers respect to the Supersoul, who is sitting within everyone’s heart. Among Vaiṣṇavas, therefore, it is seen that even when a disciple offers obeisances to his spiritual master, the spiritual master immediately returns the obeisances because they are mutually offered not to the body but to the Supersoul. Therefore the spiritual master also offers respect to the Supersoul situated in the body of the disciple. The Lord says in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that offering respect to His devotee is more valuable than offering respect to Him. Devotees do not identify with the body, so offering respect to a Vaiṣṇava means offering respect to Viṣṇu. It is stated also that, as a matter of etiquette, as soon as one sees a Vaiṣṇava one must immediately offer him respect, indicating the Supersoul sitting within. A Vaiṣṇava sees the body as a temple of Viṣṇu. Since Lord Śiva had already offered respect to the Supersoul in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, offering respect to Dakṣa, who identified with his body, was already performed. There was no need to offer respect to his body, for that is not directed by any Vedic injunction.
FAQs
This verse says that rising to welcome, offering a seat, and bowing are proper among the virtuous, and such respect should be offered with consciousness of the Supreme Person dwelling in everyone’s heart.
Lord Śiva instructs Satī on the true basis of respect and etiquette—honor rooted in spiritual vision of the Supersoul, not in bodily pride—within their discussion about conduct and discernment.
Practice respectful behavior, but keep the inner intention spiritual: see others as souls with the Lord in their hearts, and avoid ego-based interactions centered on status, body, or identity.