A Brief Account of Sati's Life

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.21.1)

नारद उवाच । विधे सर्वं विजानासि कृपया शङ्करस्य च । त्वयाद्भुता हि कथिताः कथा मे शिवयोः शुभाः

nārada uvāca | vidhe sarvaṁ vijānāsi kṛpayā śaṅkarasya ca | tvayādbhutā hi kathitāḥ kathā me śivayoḥ śubhāḥ

Narada said: O Vidhi, you know all things by your grace, and all about Shankara too. You have told me the wondrous, auspicious stories of Shiva and Shiva's consort.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.21.2)

त्वन्मुखाम्भोजसंवृत्तां श्रुत्वा शिवकथां पराम् । अतृप्तो हि पुनस्तां वै श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो

tvanmukhāmbhojasaṁvṛttāṁ śrutvā śivakathāṁ parām | atṛpto hi punastāṁ vai śrotumicchāmyahaṁ prabho

Even having heard that supreme story of Shiva, poured forth from your lotus mouth, I am not satisfied, O Lord — I wish to hear it once more.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.21.3)

पूर्णांशः शङ्करस्यैव यो रुद्रो वर्णितः पुरा । विधे त्वया महेशानः कैलासनिलयो वशी

pūrṇāṁśaḥ śaṅkarasyaiva yo rudro varṇitaḥ purā | vidhe tvayā maheśānaḥ kailāsanilayo vaśī

O Vidhi, you earlier described how Rudra, who is the full portion of Shankara himself — that self-mastered great lord — dwells in Kailasa,

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.21.4)

स योगी सर्वविष्ण्वादिसुरसेव्यः सतां गतिः । निर्द्वन्द्वः क्रीडति सदा निर्विकारो महाप्रभुः

sa yogī sarvaviṣṇvādisurasevyaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ | nirdvandvaḥ krīḍati sadā nirvikāro mahāprabhuḥ

that he is a yogi, worthy of the service of Vishnu and all the gods, the very goal of the righteous, free from all dualities, ever at play, the great unchanging Lord.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.21.5)

सोऽभूत्पुनर्गृहस्थश्च विवाह्य परमां स्त्रियम् । हरिप्रार्थनया प्रीत्या मङ्गलां सुतपस्विनीम्

so'bhūtpunargṛhasthaśca vivāhya paramāṁ striyam | hariprārthanayā prītyā maṅgalāṁ sutapasvinīm

He, that same one, became a householder once more, by Hari's loving entreaty, marrying a supremely beautiful woman — an auspicious lady of great austerity.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.21.6)

प्रथमं दक्षपुत्री सा पश्चात्सा पर्वतात्मजा । कथमेकशरीरेण द्वयोरप्यात्मजा मता

prathamaṁ dakṣaputrī sā paścātsā parvatātmajā | kathamekaśarīreṇa dvayorapyātmajā matā

First she was the daughter of Daksha, and afterward the daughter of the mountain — how, with the same one body, was she considered the daughter of both?

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.21.7)

कथं सती पार्वती सा पुनः शिवमुपागता । एतत्सर्वं तथान्यच्च ब्रह्मन् गदितुमर्हसि

kathaṁ satī pārvatī sā punaḥ śivamupāgatā | etatsarvaṁ tathānyacca brahman gaditumarhasi

How did that Sati, becoming Parvati, come again to Shiva? O Brahman, all of this, and everything else besides, you should tell me.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.21.8)

सूत उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुरर्षेः शङ्करात्मनः । प्रसन्नमानसो भूत्वा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

sūta uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā surarṣeḥ śaṅkarātmanaḥ | prasannamānaso bhūtvā brahmā vacanamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of that divine sage Narada, who was himself of Shankara's own nature, Brahma, his heart pleased, spoke.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.21.9)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु तात मुनिश्रेष्ठ कथयामि कथां शुभाम् । यां श्रुत्वा सफलं जन्म भविष्यति न संशयः

brahmovāca | śṛṇu tāta muniśreṣṭha kathayāmi kathāṁ śubhām | yāṁ śrutvā saphalaṁ janma bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Brahma said: Listen, dear one, foremost of sages — I shall tell that auspicious story, hearing which one's birth becomes fruitful, without doubt.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.21.10)

पुराहं स्वसुतां दृष्ट्वा सन्ध्याह्वां तनयैः सह । अभवं विकृतस्तात कामबाणप्रपीडितः

purāhaṁ svasutāṁ dṛṣṭvā sandhyāhvāṁ tanayaiḥ saha | abhavaṁ vikṛtastāta kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ

Long ago, dear one, having beheld my own daughter named Sandhya, together with my sons, I became distraught, pierced by the arrow of desire.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.21.11)

धर्मः स्मृतस्तदा रुद्रो महायोगी परः प्रभुः । धिक्कृत्य मां सुतैस्तात स्वस्थानं गतवानयम्

dharmaḥ smṛtastadā rudro mahāyogī paraḥ prabhuḥ | dhikkṛtya māṁ sutaistāta svasthānaṁ gatavānayam

Then that great yogi, the supreme Lord Rudra, remembered as the very form of Dharma, rebuking me and my sons, went back to his own abode.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.21.12)

यन्मायामोहितश्चाहं वेदवक्ता च मूढधीः । तेनाकार्षं सहाकार्यं परमेशेन शम्भुना

yanmāyāmohitaścāhaṁ vedavaktā ca mūḍhadhīḥ | tenākārṣaṁ sahākāryaṁ parameśena śambhunā

Then, dear one, deluded by maya and dull of understanding, even though I was the proclaimer of the Vedas, I made myself an adversary to the supreme Lord Shambhu.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.21.13)

तदीर्षयाहमाकार्षं बहूपायान्सुतैः सह । कर्तुं तन्मोहनं मूढः शिवमायाविमोहितः

tadīrṣayāhamākārṣaṁ bahūpāyānsutaiḥ saha | kartuṁ tanmohanaṁ mūḍhaḥ śivamāyāvimohitaḥ

Out of that very envy, deluded by Shiva's own maya, made foolish, I devised many stratagems, together with my sons, to bewilder him.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.21.14)

अभवंस्तेऽथ वै सर्वे तस्मिन् शम्भौ परप्रभौ । उपाया निष्फलास्तेषां मम चापि मुनीश्वर

abhavaṁste'tha vai sarve tasmin śambhau paraprabhau | upāyā niṣphalāsteṣāṁ mama cāpi munīśvara

O lord of sages, all those stratagems of theirs, and of mine as well, proved utterly fruitless before that supreme Lord Shambhu.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.21.15)

तदास्मरं रमेशानं व्यर्थोपायः सुतैः सह । अबोधयत्स आगत्य शिवभक्तिरतः सुधीः

tadāsmaraṁ rameśānaṁ vyarthopāyaḥ sutaiḥ saha | abodhayatsa āgatya śivabhaktirataḥ sudhīḥ

Then I called to mind Rameshana (Vishnu), since my stratagems and those of my sons had all come to nothing. That wise Vishnu, ever devoted to Shiva, came and began to instruct me.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.21.16)

प्रबोधितो रमेशेन शिवतत्त्वप्रदर्शिना । तदीर्षामत्यजं सोऽहं तं हठं न विमोहितः

prabodhito rameśena śivatattvapradarśinā | tadīrṣāmatyajaṁ so'haṁ taṁ haṭhaṁ na vimohitaḥ

Instructed thus by Vishnu, who revealed to me the true nature of Shiva, I abandoned that envy; I was no longer deluded by that obstinacy.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.21.17)

शक्तिं संसेव्य तत्प्रीत्योत्पादयामास तां तदा । दक्षादसिक्न्यां वीरिण्यां स्वपुत्राद्धरमोहने

śaktiṁ saṁsevya tatprītyotpādayāmāsa tāṁ tadā | dakṣādasiknyāṁ vīriṇyāṁ svaputrāddharamohane

Then, worshipping the Goddess-power with loving devotion, in order to bring about Hara's own enchantment, I caused her to be born through my own son Daksha, in the womb of his wife Asikni (Virini).

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.21.18)

सोमा भूत्वा दक्षसुता तपः कृत्वा तु दुःसहम् । रुद्रपत्न्यभवद्भक्त्या स्वभक्तहितकारिणी

somā bhūtvā dakṣasutā tapaḥ kṛtvā tu duḥsaham | rudrapatnyabhavadbhaktyā svabhaktahitakāriṇī

That daughter of Daksha, radiant as the moon, having performed an almost unbearable austerity, through her own devotion became Rudra's wife, ever a benefactress to her own devotees.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.21.19)

सोमो रुद्रो गृही भूत्वाकार्षील्लीलां परां प्रभुः । मोहयित्वाथ मां तत्र स्वविवाहेऽविकारधीः

somo rudro gṛhī bhūtvākārṣīllīlāṁ parāṁ prabhuḥ | mohayitvātha māṁ tatra svavivāhe'vikāradhīḥ

Rudra, becoming a householder, performed this supreme sport of bewildering even me at his own wedding, while he himself remained utterly unchanged and unmoved.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.21.20)

विवाह्य तां स आगत्य स्वगिरौ सूतिकृत्तया । रेमे बहुविमोहो हि स्वतन्त्रः स्वात्तविग्रहः

vivāhya tāṁ sa āgatya svagirau sūtikṛttayā | reme bahuvimoho hi svatantraḥ svāttavigrahaḥ

Having married her, and being endowed with the power to create, that independent Lord, who assumes a body by his own will alone, returned to his mountain and sported there, delighting in bewilderment of many kinds.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.21.21)

तया विहरतस्तस्य व्यतीयाय महान् मुने । कालः सुखकरः शम्भोर्निर्विकारस्य सद्रतेः

tayā viharatastasya vyatīyāya mahān mune | kālaḥ sukhakaraḥ śambhornirvikārasya sadrateḥ

O sage, for that unchanging Shambhu, ever devoted to the good, a great and joyful span of time passed as he sported there with her.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.21.22)

ततो रुद्रस्य दक्षेण स्पर्धा जाता निजेच्छया । महामूढस्य तन्मायामोहितस्य सुगर्विणः

tato rudrasya dakṣeṇa spardhā jātā nijecchayā | mahāmūḍhasya tanmāyāmohitasya sugarviṇaḥ

After that, of his own will, that greatly foolish Daksha, exceedingly proud and deluded by Shiva's own maya, developed a rivalry with Rudra.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.21.23)

तत्प्रभावाद्धरं दक्षो महागर्वी विमूढधीः । महाशान्तं निर्विकारं निनिन्द बहुमोहितः

tatprabhāvāddharaṁ dakṣo mahāgarvī vimūḍhadhīḥ | mahāśāntaṁ nirvikāraṁ nininda bahumohitaḥ

By the power of that very maya, the greatly proud, deeply foolish Daksha, utterly deluded, reviled Hara, that most tranquil and unchanging one.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.21.24)

ततो दक्षः स्वयं यज्ञं कृतवान्गर्वितोऽहरम् । सर्वानाहूय देवादीन् विष्णुं मां चाखिलाधिपः

tato dakṣaḥ svayaṁ yajñaṁ kṛtavāngarvito'haram | sarvānāhūya devādīn viṣṇuṁ māṁ cākhilādhipaḥ

Then Daksha himself, in his pride, performed a sacrifice, and though lord of all creatures, he invited Vishnu, myself, and all the other gods.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.21.25)

नाजुहाव तथाभूतो रुद्रं रोषसमाकुलः । तथा तत्र सतीं नाम्नीं स्वपुत्रीं विधिमोहितः

nājuhāva tathābhūto rudraṁ roṣasamākulaḥ | tathā tatra satīṁ nāmnīṁ svaputrīṁ vidhimohitaḥ

But, filled with rage, he did not invite Rudra there; and, deluded by fate, he did not invite his own daughter there either, the girl named Sati.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.21.26)

यदा नाकारिता पित्रा मायामोहित चेतसा । लीलां चकार सुज्ञाना महासाध्वी शिवा तदा

yadā nākāritā pitrā māyāmohita cetasā | līlāṁ cakāra sujñānā mahāsādhvī śivā tadā

When her father, his mind deluded by maya, did not invite her, then that wise and greatly chaste Shiva (Sati) resolved to act on her own accord.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.21.27)

अथागता सती तत्र शिवाज्ञामधिगम्य सा । अनाहूतापि दक्षेण गर्विणा स्वपितुर्गृहम्

athāgatā satī tatra śivājñāmadhigamya sā | anāhūtāpi dakṣeṇa garviṇā svapiturgṛham

Then Sati, having obtained Shiva's leave, went there to her father's house, though not invited by the proud Daksha.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.21.28)

विलोक्य रुद्रभागं नो प्राप्यावज्ञां च ताततः । विनिन्द्य तत्र तान्सर्वान्देहत्यागमथाकरोत्

vilokya rudrabhāgaṁ no prāpyāvajñāṁ ca tātataḥ | vinindya tatra tānsarvāndehatyāgamathākarot

Seeing there no share set aside for Rudra, and receiving from her own father nothing but contempt, she reviled them all there, and then gave up her body.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.21.29)

तच्छ्रुत्वा देवदेवेशः क्रोधं कृत्वा तु दुःसहम् । जटामुत्कृत्य महतीं वीरभद्रमजीजनत्

tacchrutvā devadeveśaḥ krodhaṁ kṛtvā tu duḥsaham | jaṭāmutkṛtya mahatīṁ vīrabhadramajījanat

Hearing this, the God of gods, seized with unbearable wrath, tore out a great lock of his matted hair, and from it brought forth Virabhadra.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.21.30)

सगणं तं समुत्पाद्य किं कुर्यामिति वादिनम् । सर्वापमानपूर्वं हि यज्ञध्वंसं दिदेश ह

sagaṇaṁ taṁ samutpādya kiṁ kuryāmiti vādinam | sarvāpamānapūrvaṁ hi yajñadhvaṁsaṁ dideśa ha

Having brought him forth together with his own troop, and when he asked, 'What shall I do?' — Shiva commanded him to destroy the sacrifice, with the humiliation of all its participants leading the way.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.21.31)

गणाधीशस्तदाज्ञां स प्राप्य बहुबलान्वितः । गतोऽरं तत्र सहसा महाबलपराक्रमः

gaṇādhīśastadājñāṁ sa prāpya bahubalānvitaḥ | gato'raṁ tatra sahasā mahābalaparākramaḥ

That lord of the hosts, endowed with vast strength, having received that command, set out at once for that place with great might and valor.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.21.32)

महोपद्रवमाचेरुर्गणास्तत्र तदाज्ञया । सर्वान्स दण्डयामास न कश्चिदवशेषितः

mahopadravamācerurgaṇāstatra tadājñayā | sarvānsa daṇḍayāmāsa na kaścidavaśeṣitaḥ

By that command, the attendants wrought great havoc there; he punished them all — not one was spared.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.21.33)

विष्णुं सञ्जित्य यत्नेन सामरं गणसत्तमः । चक्रे दक्षशिरश्छेदं तच्छिरोऽग्नौ जुहाव च

viṣṇuṁ sañjitya yatnena sāmaraṁ gaṇasattamaḥ | cakre dakṣaśiraśchedaṁ tacchiro'gnau juhāva ca

That foremost of the hosts, having with effort overcome even Vishnu together with the gods, severed Daksha's head, and offered that very head into the sacrificial fire.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.21.34)

यज्ञध्वंसं चकाराशु महोपद्रवमाचरन् । ततो जगाम स्वगिरिं प्रणनाम प्रभुं शिवम्

yajñadhvaṁsaṁ cakārāśu mahopadravamācaran | tato jagāma svagiriṁ praṇanāma prabhuṁ śivam

He swiftly destroyed the sacrifice, working great havoc as he did so, and then returned to his own mountain and bowed to the Lord Shiva.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.21.35)

यज्ञध्वंसोऽभवच्चेत्थं देवलोके हि पश्यति । रुद्रस्यानुचरैस्तत्र वीरभद्रादिभिः कृतः

yajñadhvaṁso'bhavaccetthaṁ devaloke hi paśyati | rudrasyānucaraistatra vīrabhadrādibhiḥ kṛtaḥ

Thus the sacrifice was destroyed — as is even now seen in the world of the gods — wrought there by Rudra's own attendants, headed by Virabhadra.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.21.36)

मुने नीतिरियं ज्ञेया श्रुतिस्मृतिषु सम्मता । रुद्रे रुष्टे कथं लोके सुखं भवति सुप्रभौ

mune nītiriyaṁ jñeyā śrutismṛtiṣu sammatā | rudre ruṣṭe kathaṁ loke sukhaṁ bhavati suprabhau

O sage, this policy should be known, one accepted both in shruti and in smriti: how can happiness remain in this world when Rudra, that glorious lord, is angered, however powerful one may be?

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.21.37)

ततो रुद्रः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्स्तुतिमाकर्ण्य तां पराम् । विज्ञप्तिं सफलां चक्रे सर्वेषां दीनवत्सलः

tato rudraḥ prasanno'bhūtstutimākarṇya tāṁ parām | vijñaptiṁ saphalāṁ cakre sarveṣāṁ dīnavatsalaḥ

Then, hearing that supreme hymn of praise, Rudra became pleased, and he, ever compassionate to the humble, made fruitful the prayer of all.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.21.38)

पूर्ववच्च कृतं तेन कृपालुत्वं महात्मना । शङ्करेण महेशेन नानालीलाविहारिणा

pūrvavacca kṛtaṁ tena kṛpālutvaṁ mahātmanā | śaṅkareṇa maheśena nānālīlāvihāriṇā

That great-souled Shankara Mahesha, who sports in manifold plays, showed forth his compassion again, just as he had before.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.21.39)

जीवितस्तेन दक्षो हि तत्र सर्वे हि सत्कृताः । पुनः स कारितो यज्ञः शङ्करेण कृपालुना

jīvitastena dakṣo hi tatra sarve hi satkṛtāḥ | punaḥ sa kārito yajñaḥ śaṅkareṇa kṛpālunā

He restored Daksha to life, and all who were there were duly honored; and that compassionate Shankara caused the sacrifice to be performed once more.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.21.40)

रुद्रश्च पूजितस्तत्र सर्वैर्देवैर्विशेषतः । यज्ञे विष्ण्वादिभिर्भक्त्या सुप्रसन्नात्मभिर्मुने

rudraśca pūjitastatra sarvairdevairviśeṣataḥ | yajñe viṣṇvādibhirbhaktyā suprasannātmabhirmune

O sage, at that sacrifice Rudra was worshipped there with especial reverence by all the gods, by Vishnu and the others, with devotion and glad hearts.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.21.41)

सतीदेहसमुत्पन्ना ज्वाला लोकसुखावहा । पतिता पर्वते तत्र पूजिता सुखदायिनी

satīdehasamutpannā jvālā lokasukhāvahā | patitā parvate tatra pūjitā sukhadāyinī

The flame that had arisen from Sati's own body, bringing joy to the world, fell there upon that mountain, and was worshipped there as a bestower of happiness.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.21.42)

ज्वालामुखीति विख्याता सर्वकामफलप्रदा । बभूव परमा देवी दर्शनात्पापहारिणी

jvālāmukhīti vikhyātā sarvakāmaphalapradā | babhūva paramā devī darśanātpāpahāriṇī

She became renowned by the name Jvalamukhi, the supreme goddess who grants the fruit of every desire, who removes sin at the very sight of her.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.21.43)

इदानीं पूज्यते लोके सर्वकामफलाप्तये । संविधाभिरनेकाभिर्महोत्सवपरःसरम्

idānīṁ pūjyate loke sarvakāmaphalāptaye | saṁvidhābhiranekābhirmahotsavaparaḥsaram

Even now she is worshipped in this world, for the attainment of every desire, with many rites and amid great festivity.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.21.44)

ततश्च सा सती देवी हिमालयसुताभवत् । तस्याश्च पार्वती नाम प्रसिद्धमभवत्तदा

tataśca sā satī devī himālayasutābhavat | tasyāśca pārvatī nāma prasiddhamabhavattadā

After that, that goddess Sati became the daughter of Himalaya, and her name then became renowned as Parvati.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.21.45)

सा पुनश्च समाराध्य तपसा कठिनेन वै । तमेव परमेशानं भर्तारं समुपाश्रिता

sā punaśca samārādhya tapasā kaṭhinena vai | tameva parameśānaṁ bhartāraṁ samupāśritā

She then, through hard austerity, once more worshipped that very supreme Lord, and took refuge again in him as her husband.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.21.46)

एतत्सर्वं समाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं मुनीश्वर । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

etatsarvaṁ samākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'haṁ munīśvara | yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

O lord of sages, all this has now been told, just as you asked me — hearing which, a man is freed, without doubt, from every sin.