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Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 6

Satī Desires to Attend Dakṣa’s Sacrifice; Śiva Warns Against the Pain of Relatives’ Insults

तदुपश्रुत्य नभसि खेचराणां प्रजल्पताम् । सती दाक्षायणी देवी पितृयज्ञमहोत्सवम् ॥ ५ ॥ व्रजन्ती: सर्वतो दिग्भ्य उपदेववरस्त्रिय: । विमानयाना: सप्रेष्ठा निष्ककण्ठी: सुवासस: ॥ ६ ॥ दृष्ट्वा स्वनिलयाभ्याशे लोलाक्षीर्मृष्टकुण्डला: । पतिं भूतपतिं देवमौत्सुक्यादभ्यभाषत ॥ ७ ॥

tad upaśrutya nabhasi khe-carāṇāṁ prajalpatām satī dākṣāyaṇī devī pitṛ-yajña-mahotsavam

空を行く天の住人たちの語らいを耳にして、ダクシャの娘で貞節なる女神サティーは、父が執り行う祖霊供養の大供犠の祝祭を知った。さらに彼女は、四方から、従神たちの麗しい妻君が、愛する者とともにヴィマーナに乗り、上質の衣をまとい、耳飾りや首飾り(垂飾り)で飾って、自らの住まいの近くを通り供犠へ向かうのを見た。胸騒ぎと切なる思いに駆られ、サティーは夫でありブータたちの主なる神、シャンカラに近づき、こう語った。

vrajantīḥgoing
vrajantīḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootvraj (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies striyaḥ (as object of dṛṣṭvā in next verse)
sarvataḥfrom all sides
sarvataḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsarvatas (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb)
digbhyaḥfrom the directions
digbhyaḥ:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootdiś (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, ablative), बहुवचन
upadeva-vara-striyaḥthe women of the foremost demigods
upadeva-vara-striyaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootupadeva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (determinative chain): ‘women of the best upadevas (demigods)’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
vimāna-yānāḥtraveling in aerial cars
vimāna-yānāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष: ‘having vimānas as vehicles / traveling by vimāna’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies striyaḥ
sa-preṣṭhāḥwith their beloveds
sa-preṣṭhāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (अव्यय/सह) + preṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीहि: ‘together with their beloveds/dear ones’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
niṣka-kaṇṭhīḥwearing gold ornaments at the neck
niṣka-kaṇṭhīḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniṣka (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष: ‘wearing niṣkas on the neck’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
su-vāsasaḥwell-dressed
su-vāsasaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय: ‘well-clad’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

It appears that the residence of Lord Śiva was not on this planet but somewhere in outer space; otherwise how could Satī have seen the airplanes coming from different directions towards this planet and heard the passengers talking about the great sacrifice being performed by Dakṣa? Satī is described here as Dākṣāyaṇī because she was the daughter of Dakṣa. The mention of upadeva-vara refers to inferior demigods like the Gandharvas, Kinnaras and Uragas, who are not exactly demigods but between the demigods and human beings. They were also coming in planes. The word sva-nilayābhyāśe indicates that they were passing right near her residential quarters. The dress and bodily features of the wives of the heavenly denizens are very nicely described here. Their eyes moved, their earrings and other ornaments glittered and glared, their dresses were the nicest possible, and all of them had special lockets on their necklaces. Each woman was accompanied by her husband. Thus they looked so beautiful that Satī, Dākṣāyaṇī, was impelled to dress similarly and go to the sacrifice with her husband. That is the natural inclination of a woman.

S
Satī
D
Dakṣa
P
Pitṛs

FAQs

This verse states that Dakṣa arranged a grand sacrifice for the Pitṛs, and Satī heard about it from heavenly beings speaking in the sky.

Because she heard about the great sacrificial festival being held by her father Dakṣa, which naturally drew her attention as his daughter.

The verse highlights attentiveness to dharmic duties and family traditions; today this can translate into honoring one’s lineage with gratitude and performing sincere acts of charity and devotion.