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
贞洁的萨蒂——达克沙之女——听见空中飞行的天众谈论父亲所举行的盛大祖祭。她又看见四方而来的诸天之妻，乘天车与所爱同往，身着华服，佩戴耳环与项链坠饰，经过她的居所附近前往祭场。萨蒂心中焦灼，便走近其夫——统御众鬼神的天神商羯罗——开口说道。
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.
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.