The word apratipurusam, used in this verse, means one who has no equal. Lord Siva has no equal in the material world in regard to equality towards everyone. His wife, Sati, knew that her husband was equal towards everyone, so why in this case was he so unkind to his wife that he did not allow her to go to her fathers house? This distressed her more than she could tolerate, and she looked at her husband as if she were ready to blast him with her vision. In other words, since Lord Siva is the atma (siva also means atma), it is indicated here that Sati was prepared to commit suicide. Another meaning of the word apratipurusa is the personality who has no rival. Since Lord Siva could not be persuaded to give her permission, Sati took shelter of a womans last weapon, weeping, which forces a husband to agree to the proposal of his wife.