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Shloka 9

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

तच्छ्रुत्वा कालिका देवी विस्मिताभूत्सती तदा । विमृश्य कारणं तत्राज्ञात्वा चेतस्यचिंतयत्

tacchrutvā kālikā devī vismitābhūtsatī tadā | vimṛśya kāraṇaṃ tatrājñātvā cetasyaciṃtayat

Hearing those words, Satī, the goddess Kālīkā, was then astonished. She reflected there on the cause, yet not understanding it, she pondered within her heart.

tatthat (news)
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
śrutvāhaving heard
śrutvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootśru (श्रु धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having heard’
kālikāKālikā
kālikā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkālikā (कालिका प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
devīthe goddess
devī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdevī (देवी प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ‘kālikā’
vismitāastonished
vismitā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvismita (विस्मित प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective
abhūtbecame
abhūt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (भू धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ‘became/was’
satīSatī
satī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsatī (सती प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; in apposition (subject)
tadāthen
tadā:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (तदा अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
vimṛśyahaving reflected
vimṛśya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootmṛś (मृश् धातु) + vi-
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having reflected/considered’
kāraṇamthe cause
kāraṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkāraṇa (कारण प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
tatrathere/in that matter
tatra:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (तत्र अव्यय)
FormAdverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)
ajñātvānot knowing
ajñātvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootjñā (ज्ञा धातु) + a- (निषेध)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘not knowing’
cetasiin (her) mind
cetasi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootcetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
aciṃtayatthought, worried
aciṃtayat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootcint (चिन्त् धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

S
Sati
K
Kalika

FAQs

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta movement from external hearing (śravaṇa) to inner discernment (vimarśa): when the reason is not yet grasped, sincere contemplation purifies the mind and prepares it for Shiva-centered understanding.

Satī’s inward pondering reflects the devotee’s approach to Saguna Shiva worship: when events seem unclear, one turns inward with faith and inquiry, which later ripens into steadiness in Linga-bhakti and trust in Shiva’s hidden grace.

A practical takeaway is japa with mindful reflection—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—using the mind’s questioning energy to settle into devotion and clarity rather than agitation.