FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.4.8

सौदर्यसम्प्रश्नसमर्थवार्तया मात्रा च मातृष्वसृभिश्च सादरम् । दत्तां सपर्यां वरमासनं च सा नादत्त पित्राप्रतिनन्दिता सती ॥ ८ ॥
saudarya-sampraśna-samartha-vārtayā
[saudarya-samprashna-samartha-vaartayaa]
mātrā ca mātṛ-ṣvasṛbhiś ca sādaram
[maatraa cha maatri-shvasribhish cha saadaram]
dattāṁ saparyāṁ varam āsanaṁ ca sā
[dattaam saparyaam varam aasanam cha saa]
nādatta pitrāpratinanditā satī
[naadatta pitraapratinanditaa satee]
saudarya — of her sisters sampraśna — with the greetings samartha — proper vārtayā — tidings mātrā — by her mother ca — and mātṛ-svasṛbhiḥ — by her aunts ca — and sa-ādaram — along with respect dattām — which was offered saparyām — worship, adoration varam — presents āsanam — a seat ca — and sā — she (Satī) na ādatta — did not accept pitrā — by her father apratinanditā — not being welcomed satī — Satī.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
saudarya-sampraśna-samartha-vārtayā
saudarya
of her sisters
sampraśna
with the greetings
samartha
proper
vārtayā
tidings
mātrā ca mātṛ-ṣvasṛbhiś ca sādaram
mātrā
by her mother
ca
and
mātṛ-svasṛbhiḥ
by her aunts
ca
and
sa-ādaram
along with respect
dattām
which was offered
dattāṁ saparyāṁ varam āsanaṁ ca sā
saparyām
worship, adoration
varam
presents
āsanam
a seat
ca
and
sā
she (Satī)
nādatta pitrāpratinanditā satī
na ādatta
did not accept
pitrā
by her father
apratinanditā
not being welcomed
satī
Satī.
Although she was received by her sisters and mother, she did not reply to their words of reception, and although she was offered a seat and presents, she did not accept anything, for her father neither talked with her nor welcomed her by asking about her welfare.

Satī did not accept the greetings offered by her sisters and mother, for she was not at all satisfied by her father’s silence. Satī was the youngest child of Dakṣa, and she knew that she was his pet. But now, because of her association with Lord Śiva, Dakṣa forgot all his affection for his daughter, and this very much aggrieved her. The material bodily conception is so polluted that even upon slight provocation all our relationships of love and affection are nullified. Bodily relationships are so transient that even though one is affectionate towards someone in a bodily relationship, a slight provocation terminates this intimacy.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Because of not being welcomed by her father, she did not accept the seat, gifts and worship offered with respect by her mother and sisters, along with her sisters’ suitable talk and questions. She did not accept the worship (saparyam) along with suitable (samartha) talk using skilful questions by her sisters (saudarya). She did not respond to the questions and did not touch the seat, because she was not welcomed by her father.
Satī's mother and sisters welcomed her, but she didn't respond because her father neither spoke nor welcomed her — when the head of the family withholds welcome, side-greetings cannot compensate. Recognize what is missing, not just what is present.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I accepting consolation from the periphery while the center withholds?
  • What missing welcome am I trying to compensate for with side relationships?
📝 My note

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