Shloka 28
Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire
तत्पश्यतां खे भुवि चाद्भुतं महद् हाहेति वाद: सुमहानजायत । हन्त प्रिया दैवतमस्य देवी जहावसून् केन सती प्रकोपिता ॥ २८ ॥
tat paśyatāṁ khe bhuvi cādbhutaṁ mahad hā heti vādaḥ sumahān ajāyata hanta priyā daivatamasya devī jahāv asūn kena satī prakopitā
When Satī, in wrath, gave up her body, a wondrous and mighty cry of “Alas! Alas!” arose throughout sky and earth. Why did Satī, the beloved consort of the most venerable Lord Śiva, abandon her body in such a way?
There was a tumultuous roaring all over the universe in the societies of the demigods of different planets because Satī was the daughter of Dakṣa, the greatest of all kings, and the wife of Lord Śiva, the greatest of all demigods. Why did she become so angry that she gave up her body? Since she was the daughter of a great personality and wife of a great personality, she had nothing to desire, but still she gave up her body in dissatisfaction. Certainly this was astonishing. One cannot attain complete satisfaction even if one is situated in the greatest material opulence. There was nothing Satī could not achieve either from her relationship with her father or from her relationship with the greatest of the demigods, but still, for some reason, she was dissatisfied. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) explains that one has to achieve real satisfaction ( yayātmā suprasīdati ), but ātmā — the body, mind and soul — all become completely satisfied only if one develops devotional service to the Absolute Truth ( sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ). Adhokṣaja means the Absolute Truth. If one can develop his unflinching love for the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead, that can give complete satisfaction; otherwise there is no possibility of satisfaction in the material world or anywhere else.
FAQs
This verse describes the shock of all beings as Satī suddenly gave up her life, and it records the widespread lamentation at the astonishing event.
Because Satī was revered as the beloved goddess connected with Lord Śiva, and her abrupt departure was an extraordinary, heartbreaking घटना that stunned both celestial and earthly observers.
It highlights how unchecked provocation and dishonor can trigger irreversible outcomes; a devotee should avoid environments of blasphemy and seek steadiness, humility, and protective association.