The Journey of Sati

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.48.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । यदा ययुर्दक्षमखमुत्सवेन सुरर्षयः । तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे देवी पर्वते गन्धमादने

brahmovāca | yadā yayurdakṣamakhamutsavena surarṣayaḥ | tasminnevāntare devī parvate gandhamādane

Brahma said: While the divine sages went joyfully to Daksha's sacrifice, at that very time, upon Mount Gandhamadana, the goddess Sati —

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.48.2)

धारागृहे वितानेन सखीभिः परिवारिता । दाक्षायणी महाक्रीडाश्चकार विविधाः सती

dhārāgṛhe vitānena sakhībhiḥ parivāritā | dākṣāyaṇī mahākrīḍāścakāra vividhāḥ satī

— surrounded by her companions, in a canopied pavilion of falling waters, Daksha's daughter Sati engaged in many kinds of great sport.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.48.3)

क्रीडासक्ता तदा देवी ददर्शाथ मुदा सती । दक्षयज्ञे प्रयान्तीं तां रोहिण्यापृच्छ्य सत्वरम्

krīḍāsaktā tadā devī dadarśātha mudā satī | dakṣayajñe prayāntīṁ tāṁ rohiṇyāpṛcchya satvaram

There, engrossed in play, the goddess Sati caught sight of Rohini going toward Daksha's sacrifice, and at once, with eager delight, questioned her.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.48.4)

दृष्ट्वा सीमन्तया भूतां विजयां प्राह सा सती । स्वसखीं प्रवरां प्राणप्रियां सा हि हितावहाम्

dṛṣṭvā sīmantayā bhūtāṁ vijayāṁ prāha sā satī | svasakhīṁ pravarāṁ prāṇapriyāṁ sā hi hitāvahām

Seeing her own dear friend Vijaya, adorned with a parted hairline, Sati spoke to that beloved and well-wishing companion of hers.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.48.5)

सत्युवाच । हे सखीप्रवरे प्राणप्रिये त्वं विजये मम । क्व गमिष्यति चन्द्रोऽयं रोहिण्या पृच्छ सत्वरम्

satyuvāca | he sakhīpravare prāṇapriye tvaṁ vijaye mama | kva gamiṣyati candro'yaṁ rohiṇyā pṛccha satvaram

Sati said: "O my dearest friend, Vijaya, beloved to me as life itself — go quickly and ask Rohini where this moon of hers is going."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.48.6)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तथोक्ता विजया सत्या गत्वा तत्सन्निधौ द्रुतम् । क्व गच्छसीति पप्रच्छ शशिनं तं यथोचितम्

brahmovāca | tathoktā vijayā satyā gatvā tatsannidhau drutam | kva gacchasīti papraccha śaśinaṁ taṁ yathocitam

Brahma said: Thus instructed by Sati, Vijaya went at once to that place, and, in due and fitting manner, asked the moon himself where he was going.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.48.7)

विजयोक्तमथाकर्ण्य स्वयात्रां पूर्वमादरात् । कथितं तेन तत्सर्वं दक्षयज्ञोत्सवादिकम्

vijayoktamathākarṇya svayātrāṁ pūrvamādarāt | kathitaṁ tena tatsarvaṁ dakṣayajñotsavādikam

Hearing Vijaya's question, the moon then, with due respect, told her first of his own journey, and then the whole account of the festival of Daksha's sacrifice.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.48.8)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विजया देवीं त्वरिता जातसम्भ्रमा । कथयामास तत्सर्वं यदुक्तं शशिना सतीम्

tacchrutvā vijayā devīṁ tvaritā jātasambhramā | kathayāmāsa tatsarvaṁ yaduktaṁ śaśinā satīm

Hearing this, Vijaya, hastening, somewhat flustered, went and told the goddess Sati all that the moon had said.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.48.9)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कालिका देवी विस्मिताभूत्सती तदा । विमृश्य कारणं तत्राज्ञात्वा चेतस्यचिन्तयत्

tacchrutvā kālikā devī vismitābhūtsatī tadā | vimṛśya kāraṇaṁ tatrājñātvā cetasyacintayat

Hearing this, the goddess Kalika, Sati, was struck with astonishment; not knowing the reason for it, she pondered the matter within her own mind.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.48.10)

दक्षः पिता मे माता च वीरिणी नौ कुतः सती । आह्वानं न करोति स्म विस्मृता मां प्रियां सुताम्

dakṣaḥ pitā me mātā ca vīriṇī nau kutaḥ satī | āhvānaṁ na karoti sma vismṛtā māṁ priyāṁ sutām

"Daksha is my own father, and Virini my mother — then why have they sent me no invitation? Have they forgotten me, their own dear daughter?"

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.48.11)

पृच्छेयं शङ्करं तत्र कारणं सर्वमादरात् । चिन्तयित्वेति सासीद्वै तत्र गन्तुं सुनिश्चया

pṛccheyaṁ śaṅkaraṁ tatra kāraṇaṁ sarvamādarāt | cintayitveti sāsīdvai tatra gantuṁ suniścayā

"I should go and respectfully ask Shankara the whole reason for this" — thinking thus, she resolved, with firm determination, to go there.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.48.12)

अथ दाक्षायणी देवी विजयां प्रवरां सखीम् । स्थापयित्वा द्रुतं तत्र समगच्छच्छिवान्तिकम्

atha dākṣāyaṇī devī vijayāṁ pravarāṁ sakhīm | sthāpayitvā drutaṁ tatra samagacchacchivāntikam

Then the goddess, Daksha's daughter, having left her excellent friend Vijaya there, went at once, swiftly, into Shiva's presence.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.48.13)

ददर्श तं सभामध्ये संस्थितं बहुभिर्गणैः । नन्द्यादिभिर्महावीरैः प्रवरैर्यूथयूथपैः

dadarśa taṁ sabhāmadhye saṁsthitaṁ bahubhirgaṇaiḥ | nandyādibhirmahāvīraiḥ pravarairyūthayūthapaiḥ

She found him seated there in the midst of an assembly, surrounded by many of his attendants, great heroes headed by Nandi, the foremost leaders of his hosts.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.48.14)

दृष्ट्वा तं प्रभुमीशानं स्वपतिं साथ दक्षजा । प्रष्टुं तत्कारणं शीघ्रं प्राप शङ्करसन्निधिम्

dṛṣṭvā taṁ prabhumīśānaṁ svapatiṁ sātha dakṣajā | praṣṭuṁ tatkāraṇaṁ śīghraṁ prāpa śaṅkarasannidhim

Seeing that Lord Ishana, her own husband, Daksha's daughter, in order to ask the reason at once, came and stood before Shankara.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.48.15)

शिवेन स्थापिता स्वाङ्के प्रीतियुक्तेन स्वप्रिया । प्रमोदिता वचोभिः सा बहुमानपुरःसरम्

śivena sthāpitā svāṅke prītiyuktena svapriyā | pramoditā vacobhiḥ sā bahumānapuraḥsaram

Shiva, filled with love, seated his beloved upon his own lap, and gladdened her with words spoken in the fullest honor.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.48.16)

अथ शम्भुर्महालीलः सर्वेशः सुखदः सताम् । सतीमुवाच त्वरितं गणमध्यस्थ आदरात्

atha śambhurmahālīlaḥ sarveśaḥ sukhadaḥ satām | satīmuvāca tvaritaṁ gaṇamadhyastha ādarāt

Then Shambhu, of great and wondrous play, Lord of all, giver of happiness to the virtuous, seated there in the midst of his hosts, spoke at once, with respect, to Sati.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.48.17)

शम्भुरुवाच । किमर्थमागतात्र त्वं सभामध्ये सविस्मया । कारणं तस्य सुप्रीत्या शीघ्रं वद सुमध्यमे

śambhuruvāca | kimarthamāgatātra tvaṁ sabhāmadhye savismayā | kāraṇaṁ tasya suprītyā śīghraṁ vada sumadhyame

Shambhu said: "O slender-waisted one, why have you come here into the midst of this assembly, looking so full of wonder? Tell me the reason quickly, with love."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.48.18)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवमुक्ता तदा तेन महेशेन मुनीश्वर । साञ्जलिः सुप्रणम्याशु सत्युवाच प्रभुं शिवा

brahmovāca | evamuktā tadā tena maheśena munīśvara | sāñjaliḥ supraṇamyāśu satyuvāca prabhuṁ śivā

Brahma said: O lord of sages, thus questioned by Mahesha, Shivā, the goddess Sati, folding her hands, bowed to him respectfully at once, and spoke to the Lord.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.48.19)

सत्युवाच । पितुर्मम महान् यज्ञो भवतीति मया श्रुतम् । तत्रोत्सवो महानस्ति समवेताः सुरर्षयः

satyuvāca | piturmama mahān yajño bhavatīti mayā śrutam | tatrotsavo mahānasti samavetāḥ surarṣayaḥ

Sati said: "I have heard that my father is performing a great sacrifice; there is a great festival there, and the divine sages have all gathered."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.48.20)

पितुर्मम महायज्ञे कस्मात्तव न रोचते । गमनं देवदेवेश तत्सर्वं कथय प्रभो

piturmama mahāyajñe kasmāttava na rocate | gamanaṁ devadeveśa tatsarvaṁ kathaya prabho

"O God of gods, why does going to my father's great sacrifice not seem pleasing to you? Tell me all of this, my Lord."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.48.21)

सुहृदामेष वै धर्मः सुहृद्भिः सह सङ्गतिः । कुर्वन्ति यन्महादेव सुहृदः प्रीतिवर्धिनीम्

suhṛdāmeṣa vai dharmaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ saha saṅgatiḥ | kurvanti yanmahādeva suhṛdaḥ prītivardhinīm

"It is the very duty of kinsfolk to gather together with their own kin; O Mahadeva, it is one's own kin who foster the love that grows through such gathering."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.48.22)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मया गच्छ सह प्रभो । यज्ञवाटं पितुर्मेऽद्य स्वामिन् प्रार्थनया मम

tasmātsarvaprayatnena mayā gaccha saha prabho | yajñavāṭaṁ piturme'dya svāmin prārthanayā mama

"Therefore, my Lord, my own Master, I beg of you — make every effort, and come with me today to my father's sacrificial grounds."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.48.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सत्या देवो महेश्वरः । दक्षवागिषुहृद्विद्धो बभाषे सूनृतं वचः

brahmovāca | tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā satyā devo maheśvaraḥ | dakṣavāgiṣuhṛdviddho babhāṣe sūnṛtaṁ vacaḥ

Brahma said: Hearing Sati's words, the god Maheshvara, his heart still pierced by the arrow of Daksha's earlier speech, spoke these true and honest words.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.48.24)

महेश्वर उवाच । दक्षस्तव पिता देवि मम द्रोही विशेषतः

maheśvara uvāca | dakṣastava pitā devi mama drohī viśeṣataḥ

Maheshvara said: "O goddess, your father Daksha is, in particular, my own enemy."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.48.25)

यस्य ये मानिनः सर्वे ससुरर्षिमुखाः परे । ते मूढा यजनं प्राप्ताः पितुस्ते ज्ञानवर्जिताः

yasya ye māninaḥ sarve sasurarṣimukhāḥ pare | te mūḍhā yajanaṁ prāptāḥ pituste jñānavarjitāḥ

"Whoever honors him — those others, headed even by the divine sages, who have gone to your father's sacrifice — all of them are fools, devoid of true understanding."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.48.26)

अनाहूताश्च ये देवि गच्छन्ति परमन्दिरम् । अवमानं प्राप्नुवन्ति मरणादधिकं तथा

anāhūtāśca ye devi gacchanti paramandiram | avamānaṁ prāpnuvanti maraṇādadhikaṁ tathā

"O goddess, those who go uninvited into another's house incur a disgrace even greater than death itself."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.48.27)

परालयं गतोऽपीन्द्रो लघुर्भवति तद्विधः । का कथा च परेषां वै रीढा यात्रा हि तद्विधा

parālayaṁ gato'pīndro laghurbhavati tadvidhaḥ | kā kathā ca pareṣāṁ vai rīḍhā yātrā hi tadvidhā

"Even Indra, going uninvited to another's dwelling, becomes diminished; what then of lesser beings? Such a journey is, in every case, a thing to be despised."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.48.28)

तस्मात्त्वया मया चापि दक्षस्य यजनं प्रति । न गन्तव्यं विशेषेण सत्यमुक्तं मया प्रिये

tasmāttvayā mayā cāpi dakṣasya yajanaṁ prati | na gantavyaṁ viśeṣeṇa satyamuktaṁ mayā priye

"Therefore, my beloved, neither you nor I should go to Daksha's sacrifice, especially under these circumstances; this I have told you in all truth."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.48.29)

तथारिभिर्न व्यथते ह्यर्दितोऽपि शरैर्जनः । स्वानां दुरुक्तिभिर्मर्मताडितः स यथा मतः

tathāribhirna vyathate hyardito'pi śarairjanaḥ | svānāṁ duruktibhirmarmatāḍitaḥ sa yathā mataḥ

"A person, even when wounded by an enemy's arrows, does not suffer so much as when struck to the very heart by the cruel words of his own kin — so it is held."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.48.30)

विद्यादिभिर्गुणैः षड्भिरसदन्यैः सतां स्मृतौ । हतायां भूयसां धाम न पश्यन्ति खलाः प्रिये

vidyādibhirguṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhirasadanyaiḥ satāṁ smṛtau | hatāyāṁ bhūyasāṁ dhāma na paśyanti khalāḥ priye

"My beloved, when, through learning and the other virtues, the honored standing of the good is destroyed by the wicked, such base persons no longer see the greatness that was there."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.48.31)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवमुक्ता सती तेन महेशेन महात्मना । उवाच रोषसंयुक्ता शिवं वाक्यविदां वरम्

brahmovāca | evamuktā satī tena maheśena mahātmanā | uvāca roṣasaṁyuktā śivaṁ vākyavidāṁ varam

Brahma said: Thus addressed by the great-souled Mahesha, Sati, now filled with indignation, spoke to Shiva, foremost among the eloquent.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.48.32)

सत्युवाच । यज्ञःस्यात्सफलो येन स त्वं शम्भोऽखिलेश्वर । अनाहूतोऽसि तेनाद्य पित्रा मे दुष्टकारिणा

satyuvāca | yajñaḥsyātsaphalo yena sa tvaṁ śambho'khileśvara | anāhūto'si tenādya pitrā me duṣṭakāriṇā

Sati said: "O Shambhu, Lord of all, you, by whose very presence any sacrifice becomes fruitful, have today been left uninvited by my own father, whose deeds are so wicked."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.48.33)

तत्सर्वं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि भव भावं दुरात्मनः । सुरर्षीणां च सर्वेषामागतानां दुरात्मनाम्

tatsarvaṁ jñātumicchāmi bhava bhāvaṁ durātmanaḥ | surarṣīṇāṁ ca sarveṣāmāgatānāṁ durātmanām

"O Bhava, I wish to know all of this — the mind of that evil-souled man, and the mind too of all those evil-souled divine sages who have gone there."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.48.34)

तस्माच्चाद्यैव गच्छामि स्वपितुर्यजनं प्रभो । अनुज्ञां देहि मे नाथ तत्र गन्तुं महेश्वर

tasmāccādyaiva gacchāmi svapituryajanaṁ prabho | anujñāṁ dehi me nātha tatra gantuṁ maheśvara

"Therefore, my Lord, I shall go this very day to my father's sacrifice; O Master, O Maheshvara, grant me your leave to go there."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.48.35)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तो भगवान् रुद्रस्तया देव्या शिवः स्वयम् । विज्ञाताखिलदृक् द्रष्टा सतीं सूतिकरोऽब्रवीत्

brahmovāca | ityukto bhagavān rudrastayā devyā śivaḥ svayam | vijñātākhiladṛk draṣṭā satīṁ sūtikaro'bravīt

Brahma said: Thus addressed by the goddess, the blessed Rudra, Shiva himself — all-knowing, all-seeing, the creator of beings — spoke to Sati.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.48.36)

शिव उवाच । यद्येवं ते रुचिर्देवि तत्र गन्तुमवश्यकम् । सुव्रते वचनान्मे त्वं गच्छ शीघ्रं पितुर्मखम्

śiva uvāca | yadyevaṁ te rucirdevi tatra gantumavaśyakam | suvrate vacanānme tvaṁ gaccha śīghraṁ piturmakham

Shiva said: "O goddess, if such is your wish, and going there is indeed necessary, then, O faithful one, go swiftly, by my leave, to your father's sacrifice."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.48.37)

एतं नन्दिनमारुह्य वृषभं सज्जमादरात् । महाराजोपचाराणि कृत्वा बहुगुणान्विता

etaṁ nandinamāruhya vṛṣabhaṁ sajjamādarāt | mahārājopacārāṇi kṛtvā bahuguṇānvitā

"Mounting this bull Nandi, duly adorned, with all the ceremonies befitting a great sovereign performed for you, and endowed with every excellent quality, go forth."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.48.38)

भूषितं वृषमारोहेत्युक्ता रुद्रेण सा सती । सुभूषिता सती युक्ता ह्यगमत्पितृमन्दिरम्

bhūṣitaṁ vṛṣamārohetyuktā rudreṇa sā satī | subhūṣitā satī yuktā hyagamatpitṛmandiram

Told by Rudra, "Mount the adorned bull," Sati, herself richly adorned and duly prepared, set out for her father's house.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.48.39)

महाराजोपचाराणि दत्तानि परमात्मना । सुच्छत्रचामरादीनि सद्वस्त्राभरणानि च

mahārājopacārāṇi dattāni paramātmanā | succhatracāmarādīni sadvastrābharaṇāni ca

The Supreme Self bestowed upon her all the ceremonies fitting for a great sovereign — a fine royal umbrella, whisks, and the rest, and excellent garments and ornaments as well.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.48.40)

गणाः षष्टिसहस्राणि रौद्रा जग्मुः शिवाज्ञया । कुतूहलयुताः प्रीता महोत्सवसमन्विताः

gaṇāḥ ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi raudrā jagmuḥ śivājñayā | kutūhalayutāḥ prītā mahotsavasamanvitāḥ

At Shiva's command, sixty thousand of his Rudra-hosts set out with her, filled with wonder and delight, amid a great festival of celebration.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.48.41)

तदोत्सवो महानासीद्यजने तत्र सर्वतः । सत्याः शिवप्रियायास्तु वामदेवगणैः कृतः

tadotsavo mahānāsīdyajane tatra sarvataḥ | satyāḥ śivapriyāyāstu vāmadevagaṇaiḥ kṛtaḥ

Then, for Sati, Shiva's beloved, a great festival, brought about by Vamadeva's hosts, filled every quarter all the way to that sacrificial ground.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.48.42)

कुतूहलं गणाश्चक्रुः शिवयोर्यश उज्जगुः । बलात्ते पुप्लुवुः प्रीत्या महावीराः शिवप्रियाः

kutūhalaṁ gaṇāścakruḥ śivayoryaśa ujjaguḥ | balātte pupluvuḥ prītyā mahāvīrāḥ śivapriyāḥ

The attendants made merry with wondrous sport, and sang aloud the glory of Shiva and Shivā; those great heroes, beloved of Shiva, leapt about with delight and force as they went.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.48.43)

सर्वथासीन्महाशोभा गमने जगदम्बिके । सुखारावः सम्बभूव पूरितं भुवनत्रयम्

sarvathāsīnmahāśobhā gamane jagadambike | sukhārāvaḥ sambabhūva pūritaṁ bhuvanatrayam

In every way, great splendor attended the going forth of the Mother of the Universe; a joyous sound arose, and all the three worlds were filled with it.