Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.5.1
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesEven Great Power Acts Under Kṛṣṇa
“Maitreya said: When Lord Śiva heard from Nārada that Satī, his wife, was now dead because of Prajāpati Dakṣa’s insult to her and that his soldiers had been driven away by the Ṛbhu demigods, he became greatly angry.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva hoped that Satī could explain his purity of purpose and lessen Dakṣa’s misunderstanding. Instead, Dakṣa deliberately insulted her by not receiving her properly.
- Satī is the personified material energy, with immense power to create and destroy. Yet she acts like a shadow under the direction of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Nārada brought news of Satī’s death and the defeat of Lord Śiva’s soldiers. Hearing this, Lord Śiva became exceedingly angry and decided to punish Dakṣa.
Try this today
Take a moment today to remember that even immense material power acts under Kṛṣṇa’s direction.
Ask yourself
How does Satī’s dependence on Kṛṣṇa shape my understanding of power?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.