Shloka 14
दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः
Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
दृष्ट्वा तं प्रभुमीशानं स्वपतिं साथ दक्षजा । प्रष्टुं तत्कारणं शीघ्रं प्राप शंकरसंनिधिम्
dṛṣṭvā taṃ prabhumīśānaṃ svapatiṃ sātha dakṣajā | praṣṭuṃ tatkāraṇaṃ śīghraṃ prāpa śaṃkarasaṃnidhim
Seeing her own husband—Īśāna, the supreme Lord—Dakṣa’s daughter (Satī) quickly went into Śaṅkara’s presence, intending to ask at once the reason for that matter.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Satī’s direct approach to Īśāna to ask ‘the reason’ anticipates Śiva’s role as revealer of dharma and karma in the Dakṣa-yajña episode, culminating in corrective cosmic action and eventual restoration.
Significance: Teaches that true resolution of social/religious conflict is sought at Śiva’s feet; approaching Śaṅkara’s sannidhi is itself a salvific act oriented to anugraha.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta orientation of turning toward Pati (Shiva as Īśāna) for clarity: when a cause is unknown, the devotee approaches the Lord directly, trusting his omniscience and grace.
Satī approaches Shiva in his accessible, personal (saguṇa) aspect—Śaṅkara, the compassionate Lord who can be approached and questioned—mirroring how devotees approach the Liṅga as the tangible presence (saṃnidhi) of the transcendent Īśāna.
The takeaway is “saṃnidhi-bhāva”—mentally entering Shiva’s presence: sit, invoke Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplate the question in silence, offering it to Īśāna before acting.