Shloka 25
दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः
Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
यस्य ये मानिनस्सर्वे ससुरर्षिमुखाः परे । ते मूढा यजनं प्राप्ताः पितुस्ते ज्ञानवर्जिताः
yasya ye māninassarve sasurarṣimukhāḥ pare | te mūḍhā yajanaṃ prāptāḥ pituste jñānavarjitāḥ
All those proud ones—together with the other sages headed by Dakṣa’s party—came to the sacrifice of your father-in-law. Deluded and bereft of true knowledge, they attended that rite without understanding Śiva, the supreme Lord.
Lord Shiva (inferred within the Sati Khanda dialogue addressing Sati around the Daksha-yajna episode)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Dakṣa’s yajña is portrayed as ritually grand yet spiritually defective because it excludes Śiva; the ‘proud’ participants attend through māna (ego) and ajñāna, foreshadowing the collapse of the sacrifice and the later restoration through Śiva’s supremacy.
Significance: Didactic: warns that pilgrimage/ritual without recognition of Pati (Śiva) remains within pāśa (bondage) and yields dishonour rather than merit.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It warns that ritual actions performed with pride and without right knowledge of Pati (Śiva) become empty; ego (māna) veils discernment, so even learned people can fall into delusion.
The Dakṣa-yajña theme contrasts external sacrifice with true Śaiva worship—honoring Śiva (often through Linga-upāsanā and devotion) as the inner Lord; neglecting Him makes rites spiritually fruitless.
Cultivate humility and Śiva-bhakti alongside practice—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere worship (with vibhūti/tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa if one follows those observances) to remove delusion and ego.