Chapter 7, Men, I Have Three Things I Won't Marry
Besides being the god of knowledge, Shiva is also the lord of innocence, hence he is also called the Great Lord of Freedom.
His most prominent characteristic is his unpredictable temper. If he doesn't want to manage worldly affairs for a while, he will randomly banish himself to some place, isolating himself from all external senses, so much so that even Brahma and Vishnu cannot find him.
"Brahma, it's all your son Daksha's fault. If he hadn't repeatedly hindered Sati and Shiva's marriage, how could Shiva have abandoned himself again?" Vishnu blamed.
"Didn't we agree not to get too involved in worldly affairs? This is Daksha's own choice, and I can't force him to change his mind. Besides, this is his way of expressing filial piety, which is perfectly acceptable."
"Shiva has abandoned himself again. If you don't find a way to remedy this, just wait for the world you've worked so hard to create to be destroyed!"
"Heh, when did you become so impatient? Although we can't sense Shiva, there is someone who can guide him out of this state of abandonment."
"You mean…Sati?"
Vishnu used his divine power to check on Sati's condition.
Ever since the day she danced during her coming-of-age ceremony and formed a telepathic connection with Shiva, Sati has inexplicably wanted to approach Mount Kailash, to find the man who suddenly appeared in her mind.
However, Daksha has given the border guards a strict order, forbidding Sati from approaching the north. Every time Sati tries to escape, she is always stopped by the guards and sent back to the palace.
Daksha had anticipated that Sati had been summoned by Shiva's will. If he didn't intervene, Sati would eventually sneak out of the guard lines and unite with Shiva.
Then, his revenge plan would be completely ruined.
Daksha summoned Sati to his bedchamber. His fat, large-eared face was unusually fierce, startling Sati.
"Sati, I told you long ago, you're not allowed to go near the north! Did you ignore your father's words? If you dare set foot on the border again, I will imprison you for life, making sure you can never marry and never learn the wisdom of the Vedas!"
"Father, I won't dare again. It's just that there's always a voice in my mind, as if guiding me to the snowy mountains." Sati obediently lowered her head, like a wounded little white rabbit.
"Sigh! Sati, remember, your father loves you more than any other man in the world. I would never harm you. Once your father finds you a suitable husband, you can go wherever you want with him."
At this moment, Sati's mother also came over and chimed in, "Yes, the outside world is very dangerous. You're a weak woman; if something happens to you, we'll all worry. Wait until you're married and have the ability to defend yourself before going out."
"So, after I get married, I can live in my husband's house and do whatever I want?" Sati's watery eyes widened, filled with a longing for freedom.
"No! As my daughter, Daksha, your status is incomparably noble. How can you live in your husband's house? Your husband should marry into the family and live with you in the palace."
"Alright…"
Sati deflated like a punctured balloon, leaving the palace in disappointment.
......
Brahma Realm.
Angyura, accompanied by his son Sapisht, arrived at this place, intending to pay homage to his father and, incidentally, report Daksha's tattling.
However, from behind the heavenly gates of the Brahma realm, emerged a face that Angyura found all too familiar.
"Narada, what are you doing here?"
"I've been wandering, and now I've come to the Brahma realm. Is there a problem with visiting my father, Brahma?"
"That's true. I almost forgot you're also my father's son. Wait! Didn't Daksha curse you to constantly praise Narayana?"
"My father thought I was too noisy, so he changed it for me. Now, I only need to silently recite Narayana's name in my heart, and it doesn't violate the curse."
Hearing Narayana's explanation, Angyura was shocked.
His father was a Triad God, possessing four heads to observe the affairs of the four cardinal directions. Even such a powerful deity was annoyed by Narayana's noise. That troublemaker sage really has a silver tongue; he can charm everyone from the Three-Part Gods to ordinary people.
"Long time no see. I don't know why, but I'm so happy to see you. Maybe it's the deep bond between us brothers," Anghira said, having run out of things to say, forcing a conversation.
"I know why you're happy. It's because I've taken all of Daksha's sons away to cultivate asceticism, and since he only had a daughter, your son Sapish has become the sole heir to the second line of succession."
Anghira's face twitched slightly as Narata exposed his scheme.
Sure enough, even the thickest skin gets broken when talking to this guy.
"Sage Narata, you're so clever. You saw through my father's thoughts at a glance. Perhaps I should learn more from you," Sapish said sincerely, his hands clasped together.
"Son, what I've taught you is enough. You don't need to learn from him. Come on, come on, I'll take you to see your grandfather." Anghira quickly stopped him.
Daksha had so many sons, and Narata managed to persuade them all to leave.
He was counting on his precious son, Sapish, to inherit the throne; he couldn't let Narata fool him too.
Just as he was about to pass through the heavenly gate, Narata reached out and stopped Anghira.
"Anghira, Father God has only summoned you. Sapish must stay outside."
"What?!"
"Don't worry, I'll just chat with little Sapish for a while, purify his mind. I won't do anything to him."
"Purify?" Anghira felt a chill run down his spine.
But his father, Brahma, had already summoned him. If he turned back now, who knew if he would incur his father's wrath?
Anghira stepped through the heavenly gate, turning back to instruct, "Son, stay away from your uncle. I'll be back soon."
......
The coming-of-age ceremony lasted for quite some time.
During this time, Daksha received no fewer than a thousand marriage proposals. They were from various powerful figures and deities, all vying to become Daksha's son-in-law.
Daksha called his daughter over, pointing to the mountain of marriage proposals: "Daughter, these are all men who want to marry you. You can choose whichever you like. If you choose today, I'll hold the wedding for you tomorrow."
Daksha didn't care who Sati chose, since there wasn't a single marriage proposal from Shiva among them.
"Father, I have three things I won't marry. I hope you'll allow it."
"Three things I won't marry? Very well. Our Daksha family daughter certainly needs some selection criteria. We can't let some ugly ducklings snatch up your lovely little cabbage."
Daksha agreed without hesitation.
He desperately wanted Sati to set more criteria to filter out Shiva.
"First, I won't marry a fool without extensive knowledge!"
"Second, I won't marry a strong man without great power!"
"Third, I won't marry a man who can't give me the feeling of being lovers for lifetimes!"
Upon hearing these three criteria, Daksha almost fainted.