Shloka 31

Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire

Devanagari script

वदत्येवं जने सत्या दृष्ट्वासुत्यागमद्भुतम् । दक्षं तत्पार्षदा हन्तुमुदतिष्ठन्नुदायुधा: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

vadaty evaṁ jane satyā dṛṣṭvāsu-tyāgam adbhutam dakṣaṁ tat-pārṣadā hantum udatiṣṭhann udāyudhāḥ

Translation

Enquanto o povo comentava a maravilhosa morte voluntária de Satī, os acompanhantes que vieram com ela se ergueram, armas em punho, para matar Dakṣa.

Synonyms

• vadati: was speaking
• vadati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद्) धातु
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jane: in the assembly
• jane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'among the people/assembly'

• satyā: by Satī
• satyā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/तृतीया-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/means: 'by Satī'

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) धातु
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय)

• asu-tyāgam: the giving up of life
• asu-tyāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asu (प्रातिपदिक) + tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'abandoning life'

• adbhutam: wonderful; astonishing
• adbhutam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying the event (implicit)

• dakṣam: Dakṣa
• dakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tat-pārṣadāḥ: his attendants
• tat-pārṣadāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pārṣada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'his attendants' (i.e., Śiva's gaṇas)

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन्) धातु
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• udatiṣṭhan: rose up
• udatiṣṭhan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (स्था) धातु
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada; form shows nasal infix in stem (तिष्ठ)

• udāyudhāḥ: with weapons raised
• udāyudhāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; bahuvrīhi: 'having weapons raised'

Purport

The attendants who came with Satī were meant to protect her from calamities, but since they were unable to protect their master’s wife, they decided to die for her, and before dying they wanted to kill Dakṣa. It is the duty of attendants to give protection to their master, and in case of failure it is their duty to die.

Characters & Entities

• Satī (Satyā)
• Dakṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Satī giving up her body at Dakṣa’s sacrifice?

This verse notes that Satī’s abandoning her body was so astonishing that it immediately provoked a violent reaction—her party rose with weapons, ready to punish Dakṣa.

Why did the attendants of Satī/Śiva rise to kill Dakṣa after Satī’s act?

Seeing Satī’s shocking departure from her body, they interpreted it as the intolerable result of Dakṣa’s offense and humiliation, and they surged forward to retaliate.

Practical application: what can modern readers learn from this verse?

It highlights how unchecked insult and disrespect can spiral into destructive conflict—urging restraint, accountability for harmful speech, and honoring the sacred in relationships.