Shloka 18
संध्यायाः शुद्धिः सूर्यलोकप्रवेशश्च — Purification of Sandhyā and Her Entry into the Solar Sphere
यज्ञं समाप्य स मुनिः कृतकृत्यभावमासाद्य संपदयुतस्तनया प्रलंभात् । तस्मिन्निजाश्रमपदे सह शिष्यवर्गैस्तामेव सततमसौ दयिते सुरर्षे
yajñaṃ samāpya sa muniḥ kṛtakṛtyabhāvamāsādya saṃpadayutastanayā pralaṃbhāt | tasminnijāśramapade saha śiṣyavargaistāmeva satatamasau dayite surarṣe
Having completed the yajña, that sage—feeling his duty wholly fulfilled—became prosperous; and, through the persistent urging of his daughter Satī. Then, in his own hermitage, together with his circle of disciples, he continually attended upon her alone, O beloved listener, best among gods and seers.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it frames the āśrama economy of yajña, prosperity, and the nurturing of Satī—typical prelude to later cosmic events (Dakṣa-yajña).
Significance: Highlights yajña completed with kṛtakṛtyatā (fulfilled duty) and the sanctity of serving the divine child; encourages pilgrims to honor āśrama-dharma and guru-śiṣya discipline.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It shows the movement from outer ritual completion (yajña) to inner fulfillment and steady service—hinting that purified karma should mature into sustained devotion and attentiveness, which in Shaiva thought becomes a doorway for Shiva’s grace.
Though the verse speaks of a sage attending upon Satī, the Satīkhaṇḍa frames Satī as inseparable from Shiva’s divine purpose; thus, ritual merit is not an end in itself but supports steadfast devotion that ultimately turns toward Saguna Shiva worship (often expressed through Linga-upāsanā).
The implied practice is steadiness after ritual—maintaining continuous remembrance and service (smaraṇa-sevā) rather than stopping at the yajña; practically, this aligns with daily Shiva worship supported by japa (e.g., Panchākṣarī) and disciplined āśrama conduct.