Chapter 240

"Vishnu, ruler of the world; Lakshmi, Goddess of the world, accept my respect."

Then, Daksha opened his arms and said to everyone:

"I, Daksha, son of Brahma, am conducting the grandest Fire Sacrifice in the world. This Fire Sacrifice will serve as a symbol of the great festival, recreating the festival initiated by Brahma, Vishnu, the World Vishnu, and Kavia, the Lord of the Himalayas who is still on his way, at the place of creation."

"The wishes of all who participate in this Fire Sacrifice will be fulfilled."

"The gods will be nourished by the fire."

"The Yaksha and Nara received the essence of the Fire Sacrifice."

"Mortals and Asura, according to their Caste, will receive offerings of jewels, gold, and other precious items."

"All the ghosts and spirits present will receive offerings from the ritual for the dead and be released."

"All birds, beasts, and insects will be given a share of the food sprinkled during the Fire Sacrifice."

"Such Perfection Fire Sacrifice has never been seen in this world before! And no one in the Future will be able to perform it!"

Daksha spoke with great arrogance, but it was only natural, given that the Fire Sacrifice was indeed absolutely Perfection.

Then, Daksha, his wife, and all the children present sat down in a circle around the burning Sacrificial Altar.

"My whole family is here, so now let's start the fire--"

"I haven't even arrived yet and you're already starting the Fire Sacrifice, Father."

Just as the ceremony was about to Daksha, a voice came from behind him, drawing the attention of everyone present.

But Daksha did not turn around, only coldly uttering a sentence:

"I've already said, no one is allowed to enter this place without an invitation."

"No, no, no, my father would never do that to me. You're only angry because you love me..."

"... Sati."

Daksha stood up, glaring at Sati. "You've certainly picked up that clown's glib tongue perfectly."

The Daksha's disdain for Shiva reached such an extent greatly surprised everyone present.

"Sati, there's an old saying that goes, 'Even a noble person will become lowly if they associate with lowly people.'"

Daksha waved his hand at the people around him, "Today, with the Blessed Vishnu on my side, how can that skull-bearer cause trouble!"

When Vishnu heard Daksha repeat the promise he had made to him, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

But Daksha continued his angry rant, "Shiva, that hypocrite, that fool who lives in the Forest!"

Seeing his master being insulted like this, Nandi glared at Daksha and charged at Daksha menacingly, but was stopped by Sati was equally Wrath.

She walked towards Daksha, clasped her hands together, and her eyes were misty with tears:

"A daughter's responsibility is to uphold her father's honor and the harmony of her family. For your glory, and for the safe completion of this Fire Sacrifice, I decided to return here."

Seeing this, Sati, feeling that she had failed to persuade the two to reconcile, turned around and prepared to leave.

However, Daksha was already enraged by him, and he looked at Sati with a mocking expression.

"Ha, today you're concerned about your father's honor, dignity, and reputation? What were you doing back then! Did you have such thoughts then? When you married that disrespectful scoundrel without any regard for my feelings, did you care about me at all!"

When you chose Shiva as your partner, my pure society could never tolerate that barbaric Shiva!

If you ever cared about my feelings, you wouldn't have let that guy with the skull enter my life and my culture in this way!

What are you thinking? What are you trying to achieve by coming here? Do you really think that by begging me, I will invite that hypocrite?

I will touch his feet! To pay homage to him! And then ask my son-in-law for a blessing!

"Enough! Father! Stop talking!"

Seeing her father getting more and more agitated, even the usually calm Sati couldn't help but loudly retort.

"As your daughter, I have fulfilled my duty to uphold your honor! Now, as your wife, I will not allow you to tarnish the dignity and honor of my beloved!"

Then Sati looked at the gods and continued, "Why are you all silent! Isn't insulting my Great God an insult to you all?!"

The gods, led by Indra, the Heavenly Emperor of Gods, lowered their heads and remained silent; even the Rishi and Asura did not utter a word.

"Waaaaah--"

However, a low growl could still be heard from somewhere, sounding like someone was being gagging.

"You're insane! You're crazy to mess with Daksha!"

Kama looked at Vritra was about to loudly cheer for Sati, but was immediately covered in the mouth by the Love God himself.

"... Fine, can you stop biting so hard?! I can't let go..."

Sati may have heard it, or she may not have; in any case, she took a breath, wiped away her tears, and greeted the two Aspected God with a smile.

"Grandfather, you are the creator. Aren't all living and non-living things in this world derived from you? How can you allow the Great God to be humiliated before you? Give me an Answer, Grandfather! Answer me! How can you enjoy this sacrificial ceremony that insults the Great God? Or has your love for your son outweighed your duty...?"

In response to Sati's question, Brahma softly replied:

"Yes, child, even your grandfather is powerless today. I am bound by the rules I set for myself, Sati, I am helpless. I am Aspected God of the same kind as the Great God. I was beheaded for lying, but I do not hate the Great God. Sati, whenever there is Fire Sacrifice, I have to appear there, whether I like it or not. Please forgive me, Sati."

"What kind of rules are there that even you can't break...?"

"This rule has become a curse, son. When a son is capable enough to fulfill his duties to his family, a father can only offer advice; whether or not he accepts it is up to Daksha. I've tried to persuade him, but he's become arrogant and has lost his rational judgment."

Upon seeing Brahma's response, Sati could only clasp her hands together and look towards Vishnu.

"Narayana, you know everything, please give me an Answer."

Daksha, who had been quite composed when faced with Sati's questioning of Brahma, immediately raised his finger at Sati upon seeing this:

"Enough! Sati! Shut up! You've said too much!"

Daksha walked quickly to Sati and looked directly at her:

"You have overstepped your bounds. What are you thinking? My Narayana, the Yaksha, Nara, humans, Asura, and Naga have come to participate in the Fire Sacrifice out of their love and respect for me. Do you think that Father Brahma and the World Vishnu are sitting here just to receive offerings?"

Associating with that naked beggar might even make you forget that it was your father who taught the world the way to wealth!

This is precisely why Brahma, the World Honored Vishnu, and the Lord of the Himalayas came to participate in the Fire Sacrifice. The gods also accepted the offerings for this reason. And the World Honored Vishnu I venerate today, stands by my side because he made a promise to me."

With that, Daksha smiled slowly:

"He's not on your hypocritical husband's side."

Vishnu could no longer bear to look at Daksha's shamelessness and could only turn his head away.

"Enough!"

Sati retorted again, "Everyone here is subject to you for some reason! But my Great God is different from them! Yes, and so is Kavia, he is different too, he will surely refute you! Father, if the culture you created brings wealth, it also breeds Greed and Desire! If accumulating wealth is part of what you do, then it will inevitably lead to thieves stealing—"

"Shut up."

Daksha was initially wary of Kavia mentioned by Sati, but Sati's words immediately ignited his anger.

He absolutely cannot tolerate or accept the existence of thieves in everything he has created!

"Today you actually say that thieves exist within everything your father created. It is this culture I created that gave you knowledge, Church you language, and told you what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are. Yet today you call this culture thieves... By associating with that shameless scoundrel, I think you have also become shameless! Your presence here proves precisely—"

With the Wrath look in his face, Daksha pointed fiercely at Sati:

"You are utterly shameless! To me, you died the day you chose Shiva, and what invitation can a dead man receive!"

"... Father, you can never escape the Sin insulting the one I love."

Finally, as Sati gazed at the raging fire burning in the center, she made a decision.

Then, she said, word by word, "In the name of my Great God, I now throw myself, this very body, into this sacrificial fire."

This statement not only drew the attention of everyone present, but even Daksha, who was still Wrath, was shocked.

Everyone immediately stood up, clasped their hands together, and shook their heads silently at Sati.

Then, to Daksha's astonishment, Sati walked past him step by step toward the sacrificial fire.

"No, Sati, look at your mother! It was my fault, please don't do that, I beg you, please don't do that..."

Sati's mother and many sisters tried to stop Sati, but they could only weep and wail, not daring to say anything more.

And finally Sati's mother shouted at Daksha:

"Daksha, if anything happens to my daughter, I will also turn myself to ashes in this fire!"

However, Sati's mind was made up at this moment, and it seemed that nothing could persuade her otherwise.

"Stop, Sati."

Just then, Vishnu had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"Your decision will bring immense pain to Great God. Have you considered that? This decision will bring misfortune to everyone, Sati."

"Narayana, you are the guardian deity of my family. To disobey your will is tantamount to death for me. Great God is clearly doing this for my own good, yet I have been so arrogant and suspicious."

Sati spoke with certainty, her voice devoid of hostility towards Vishnu, "I understand that this body of mine is unworthy of my Shiva. Even if I become Shiva's wife, the identity of Daksha forever be a stain on my life. I must discard this Flesh."

"... To know Fate, to witness everything unfold, yet to be powerless to stop it—this is the tragedy of us as Aspected God, Sati."

Vishnu turned his gaze to Daksha, "Daksha, we can't stay here any longer."

"My Narayana, my Lord, you promised me you would protect me."

"When Calamity strikes you, I will be there for you, Daksha. Take care of yourself."

Having said this, Vishnu departed with Lakshmi.

"Daksha! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

Even Brahma couldn't help but get angry again in public, "Do you really want to watch your daughter jump into this burning Sacrificial Altar? Sati is not only your child, but also Shiva's wife!"

"That's her stain!"

In a fit of Wrath, Daksha exclaimed, "She's Shiva's wife? In my eyes, he's not even a beast, let alone a god!"

"Shut up, Daksha! Stop insulting Shiva! This body of mine must be destroyed!"

Sati finally stopped referring to Daksha as her father; in other words, her Wrath toward her father and her Wrath in Shiva's advice had reached its peak.

Immediately afterwards, Sati clasped her hands together and continued:

"Agni, appear and grant my wish."

The fire god Agni emerged from the burning Sacrificial Altar, clasped his hands together, and gently shook his head:

"Please forgive me, Wife of the Great God, I am powerless to burn your body, I cannot do it, please forgive me."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Sati fell silent.

At this moment, Daksha laughed with extreme disdain, his eyes glaring fiercely at Sati.

"Haha, what a wonderful performance! That clown who invented stage acting Church you how to put on airs. Following that swindler, you've also become unable to distinguish right from wrong."

"..."

"What! Why aren't you saying a word! I'm talking to you! Let me tell you, Sati, today my hatred can no longer be suppressed! In my heart, that worthless skeleton wielder has no status whatsoever! He doesn't deserve the slightest respect!"

"... If the fire of the fire Agni is ineffective, then I will use the Dance of Yoga to completely incinerate it--"

"Don't do that, Sati."

At this moment, with the appearance of White Stairs and blue light, the Fourth-Aspected God Kavia, finally arrived at the Fire Sacrifice.

Immediately, everyone around shouted in unison:

"Homage to the Lord of the Himalayas."

"Homage to the Lord of the Himalayas."

"Homage to the Lord of the Himalayas."

Even the Wrath Daksha forced a smile and clasped his hands together in prayer towards Kavia:

"Lord of the Holy Mountain, Kavia, I salute you."

"... Kavia, do you also intend to participate in such Ritual that insults the Great God...?"

"Sati murmured, her face filled with grief and indignation."

"No."

Kavia shook his head. "I came only because of you. I once blessed your marriage with Shiva with happiness and fulfillment. How could I stand by and watch you die?"