Old Enmities Surface
Daksha left, fuming. The matter as far he was concerned, would not end there-Shiva had made the mistake of emerging the more mature and dignified of the two. Shiva, too, had reason to resent Daksha. A long time ago, Brahma had asked Shiva to create mortal beings subject to death and decay. Shiva was unable to do so. Like the true yogi that he was, he took to contemplation for a whole kalpa, hoping to acquire the necessary skills. He entered the water saying, 'Here I stand' and as Sthanu, stood absolutely still, strengthening his inner self. In the meantime, Brahma had asked Daksha, his own son, to try. It led to an awakward situation. Shiva emerged to find a whole new creation in which he had played no part and for which he had so arduously prepared. He had never really forgiven either Brahma or Daksha for their insensitivity. Now things were heading for a showdown. Sati wanted to go to Daksha's sacrifice uninvited and Shiva would not stop her. On the contrary he sent huge retinue with her and she left in regal splendour, seated on Nandi.

Their relationship had deteriorated over the years. Lack of trust had turned to open disbelief and now it was a defiance of his opinions and considered advice. Their marriage was showing sings of serious wear. It was with a heavy heart that he watched her go. In a final and touching gesture of farewell he arranged for jewels and ornaments that would enhance her beauty and make her stand out in her father's gathering. She left in glory and full panoply for he knew that she would not return.

Sati reached Kanakhala, the site of the sacrifice. Her mother and sisters received her warmly but her father was cold and distant, barely acknowledge her arrival. Sati noticed that Shiva had no place and no share allotted to him. She confronted her father only to be told that he could not entertain the likes of Shiva and she should not have come either. Now that she had come, she could take her share. But if she chose to leave he would not stop her.

A cold fear gripped Sati, even as her anger blazed, hot and scathing. She first hit out at the gods. She reminded Vishnu how Shiva, as Sharabha, had vanquished him; and Brahma, of the time when his fifth head had been struck off by the tip of Shiva's little finger. She warned the whole assembly of the dire consequences that would follow if they did not leave the place. She finished with a brutal attack on her foolish father. She bore his name, she said, and owed her body to him, a worthless body fit only to be a corpse. She would burn it herself.