Shloka 11
Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire
देव्युवाच न यस्य लोकेऽस्त्यतिशायन: प्रिय- स्तथाप्रियो देहभृतां प्रियात्मन: । तस्मिन्समस्तात्मनि मुक्तवैरके ऋते भवन्तं कतम: प्रतीपयेत् ॥ ११ ॥
devy uvāca na yasya loke ’sty atiśāyanaḥ priyas tathāpriyo deha-bhṛtāṁ priyātmanaḥ tasmin samastātmani mukta-vairake ṛte bhavantaṁ katamaḥ pratīpayet
The blessed Goddess said: Among all embodied beings, none is more beloved than Lord Śiva, and he has no rival. He favors none as an exclusive dear one, nor does he hold any enemy; he is the Self of all and free from enmity. Who but you could oppose such a universal being with envy?
In Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) the Lord says, samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu: “I am equal to all living entities.” Similarly, Lord Śiva is a qualitative incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so he has almost the same qualities as the Supreme Lord. Therefore he is equal to everyone; no one is his enemy, and no one is his friend. But one who is envious by nature can become the enemy of Lord Śiva. Therefore Satī accused her father, “No one but you could be envious of Lord Śiva or be his enemy.” Other sages and learned brāhmaṇas were present, but they were not envious of Lord Śiva, although they were all dependent on Dakṣa. Therefore no one but Dakṣa could be envious of Lord Śiva. That was the accusation of Satī.
FAQs
This verse describes Shiva as the Self of all beings (samastātmā) and free from enmity (mukta-vairaka), implying he does not harbor hatred; any hostility toward him arises from others’ misunderstanding.
Sati speaks while confronting the dishonor shown toward her husband Shiva in Daksha’s assembly, emphasizing Shiva’s universal, faultless nature and questioning who could rationally oppose him.
Practice seeing the same Self in others, reduce reactive judgment, and respond to criticism without vengeance—cultivating steadiness and compassion rather than rivalry.