etat - thus; ākhyāhi - please tell; me - to me; brahman - O brāhmaṇa; jāmātuḥ - of the son-in-law (Lord Śiva); śvaśurasya - of the father-in-law (Dakṣa); ca - and; vidveṣaḥ - quarrel; tu - as to; yataḥ - from what cause; prāṇān - her life; tatyaje - gave up; dustyajān - which is impossible to give up; satī - Sati.

My dear Maitreya, to part with one’s life is very difficult. Would you kindly explain to me how such a son-in-law and father-in-law could quarrel so bitterly that the great goddess Satī could give up her life?