Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 24
मैत्रेय उवाच निर्वेदवादिनीमेवं मनोर्दुहितरं मुनि: । दयालु: शालिनीमाह शुक्लाभिव्याहृतं स्मरन् ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvaca nirveda-vadinim evam manor duhitaram munih dayaluh salinim aha suklabhivyahrtam smaran
Recalling the words of Lord Visnu, the merciful sage Kardama replied as follows to Svayambhuva Manu’s praiseworthy daughter, Devahuti, who was speaking words full of renunciation.
ऋषिरुवाच मा खिदो राजपुत्रीत्थमात्मानं प्रत्यनिन्दिते । भगवांस्तेऽक्षरो गर्भमदूरात्सम्प्रपत्स्यते ॥ २ ॥
rsir uvaca ma khido raja-putrittham atmanam praty anindite bhagavams te ’ksaro garbham adurat samprapatsyate
The sage said: Do not be disappointed with yourself, O princess. You are actually praiseworthy. The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead will shortly enter your womb as your son.
धृतव्रतासि भद्रं ते दमेन नियमेन च । तपोद्रविणदानैश्च श्रद्धया चेश्वरं भज ॥ ३ ॥
dhrta-vratasi bhadram te damena niyamena ca tapo-dravina-danais ca sraddhaya cesvaram bhaja
You have undertaken sacred vows. God will bless you. Hence you should worship the Lord with great faith, through sensory control, religious observances, austerities and gifts of your money in charity.
स त्वयाराधित: शुक्लो वितन्वन्मामकंयश: । छेत्ता ते हृदयग्रन्थिमौदर्यो ब्रह्मभावन: ॥ ४ ॥
sa tvayaradhitah suklo vitanvan mamakam yasah chetta te hrdaya-granthim audaryo brahma-bhavanah
The Personality of Godhead, being worshiped by you, will spread my name and fame. He will vanquish the knot of your heart by becoming your son and teaching knowledge of Brahman.
मैत्रेय उवाच देवहूत्यपि संदेशं गौरवेण प्रजापते: । सम्यक् श्रद्धाय पुरुषं कूटस्थमभजद्गुरुम् ॥ ५ ॥
maitreya uvaca devahuty api sandesam gauravena prajapateh samyak sraddhaya purusam kuta-stham abhajad gurum
Sri Maitreya said: Devahuti was fully faithful and respectful toward the direction of her husband, Kardama, who was one of the Prajapatis, or generators of human beings in the universe. O great sage, she thus began to worship the master of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart.
तस्यां बहुतिथे काले भगवान्मधुसूदन: । कार्दमं वीर्यमापन्नो जज्ञेऽग्निरिव दारुणि ॥ ६ ॥
tasyam bahu-tithe kale bhagavan madhusudanah kardamam viryam apanno jajne ’gnir iva daruni
After many, many years, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Madhusudana, the killer of the demon Madhu, having entered the semen of Kardama, appeared in Devahuti just as fire comes from wood in a sacrifice.
अवादयंस्तदा व्योम्नि वादित्राणि घनाघना: । गायन्ति तं स्म गन्धर्वा नृत्यन्त्यप्सरसो मुदा ॥ ७ ॥
avadayams tada vyomni vaditrani ghanaghanah gayanti tam sma gandharva nrtyanty apsaraso muda
At the time of His descent on earth, demigods in the form of raining clouds sounded musical instruments in the sky. The celestial musicians, the Gandharvas, sang the glories of the Lord, while celestial dancing girls known as Apsaras danced in joyful ecstasy.
पेतु: सुमनसो दिव्या: खेचरैरपवर्जिता: । प्रसेदुश्च दिश: सर्वा अम्भांसि च मनांसि च ॥ ८ ॥
petuh sumanaso divyah khe-carair apavarjitah prasedus ca disah sarva ambhamsi ca manamsi ca
At the time of the Lord’s appearance, the demigods flying freely in the sky showered flowers. All the directions, all the waters and everyone’s mind became very satisfied.
तत्कर्दमाश्रमपदं सरस्वत्या परिश्रितम् । स्वयम्भू: साकमृषिभिर्मरीच्यादिभिरभ्ययात् ॥ ९ ॥
tat kardamasrama-padam sarasvatya parisritam svayambhuh sakam rsibhir maricy-adibhir abhyayat
Brahma, the first-born living being, went along with Marici and other sages to the place of Kardama’s hermitage, which was surrounded by the River Sarasvati.
भगवन्तं परं ब्रह्म सत्त्वेनांशेन शत्रुहन् । तत्त्वसंख्यानविज्ञप्त्यै जातं विद्वानज: स्वराट् ॥ १० ॥
bhagavantam param brahma sattvenamsena satru-han tattva-sankhyana-vijnaptyai jatam vidvan ajah svarat
Maitreya continued: O killer of the enemy, the unborn Lord Brahma, who is almost independent in acquiring knowledge, could understand that a portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His quality of pure existence, had appeared in the womb of Devahuti just to explain the complete state of knowledge known as sankhya-yoga.
सभाजयन् विशुद्धेन चेतसा तच्चिकीर्षितम् । प्रहृष्यमाणैरसुभि: कर्दमं चेदमभ्यधात् ॥ ११ ॥
sabhajayan visuddhena cetasa tac-cikirsitam prahrsyamanair asubhih kardamam cedam abhyadhat
After worshiping the Supreme Lord with gladdened senses and a pure heart for His intended activities as an incarnation, Brahma spoke as follows to Kardama and Devahuti.
ब्रह्मोवाच त्वया मेऽपचितिस्तात कल्पिता निर्व्यलीकत: । यन्मे सञ्जगृहे वाक्यं भवान्मानद मानयन् ॥ १२ ॥
brahmovaca tvaya me ’pacitis tata kalpita nirvyalikatah yan me sanjagrhe vakyam bhavan manada manayan
Lord Brahma said: My dear son Kardama, since you have completely accepted my instructions without duplicity, showing them proper respect, you have worshiped me properly. Whatever instructions you took from me you have carried out, and thereby you have honored me.
एतावत्येव शुश्रूषा कार्या पितरि पुत्रकै: । बाढमित्यनुमन्येत गौरवेण गुरोर्वच: ॥ १३ ॥
etavaty eva susrusa karya pitari putrakaih badham ity anumanyeta gauravena guror vacah
Sons ought to render service to their father exactly to this extent. One should obey the command of his father or spiritual master with due deference, saying, Yes, sir
इमा दुहितर: सत्यस्तव वत्स सुमध्यमा: । सर्गमेतं प्रभावै: स्वैर्बृंहयिष्यन्त्यनेकधा ॥ १४ ॥
ima duhitarah satyas tava vatsa sumadhyamah sargam etam prabhavaih svair brmhayisyanty anekadha
Lord Brahma then praised Kardama Muni’s nine daughters, saying: All your thin-waisted daughters are certainly very chaste. I am sure they will increase this creation by their own descendants in various ways.
अतस्त्वमृषिमुख्येभ्यो यथाशीलं यथारुचि । आत्मजा: परिदेह्यद्य विस्तृणीहि यशो भुवि ॥ १५ ॥
atas tvam rsi-mukhyebhyo yatha-silam yatha-ruci atmajah paridehy adya vistrnihi yaso bhuvi
Therefore, today please give away your daughters to the foremost of the sages, with due regard for the girls’ temperaments and likings, and thereby spread your fame all over the universe.
वेदाहमाद्यं पुरुषमवतीर्णं स्वमायया । भूतानां शेवधिं देहं बिभ्राणं कपिलं मुने ॥ १६ ॥
vedaham adyam purusam avatirnam sva-mayaya bhutanam sevadhim deham bibhranam kapilam mune
O Kardama, I know that the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now appeared as an incarnation by His internal energy. He is the bestower of all desired by the living entities, and He has now assumed the body of Kapila Muni.
ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगेन कर्मणामुद्धरन् जटा: । हिरण्यकेश: पद्माक्ष: पद्ममुद्रापदाम्बुज: ॥ १७ ॥
jnana-vijnana-yogena karmanam uddharan jatah hiranya-kesah padmaksah padma-mudra-padambujah
By mystic yoga and the practical application of knowledge from the scriptures, Kapila Muni, who is characterized by His golden hair, His eyes just like lotus petals and His lotus feet, which bear the marks of lotus flowers, will uproot the deep-rooted desire for work in this material world.
एष मानवि ते गर्भं प्रविष्ट: कैटभार्दन: । अविद्यासंशयग्रन्थिं छित्त्वा गां विचरिष्यति ॥ १८ ॥
esa manavi te garbham pravistah kaitabhardanah avidya-samsaya-granthim chittva gam vicarisyati
Lord Brahma then told Devahuti: My dear daughter of Manu, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead who killed the demon Kaitabha is now within your womb. He will cut off all the knots of your ignorance and doubt. Then He will travel all over the world.
अयं सिद्धगणाधीश: साङ्ख्याचार्यै: सुसम्मत: । लोके कपिल इत्याख्यां गन्ता ते कीर्तिवर्धन: ॥ १९ ॥
ayam siddha-ganadhisah sankhyacaryaih susammatah loke kapila ity akhyam ganta te kirti-vardhanah
Your son will be the head of all the perfected souls. He will be approved by the acaryas expert in disseminating real knowledge, and among the people He will be celebrated by the name Kapila. As the son of Devahuti, He will increase your fame.
मैत्रेय उवाच तावाश्वास्य जगत्स्रष्टा कुमारै: सहनारद: । हंसो हंसेन यानेन त्रिधामपरमं ययौ ॥ २० ॥
maitreya uvaca tav asvasya jagat-srasta kumaraih saha-naradah hamso hamsena yanena tri-dhama-paramam yayau
Sri Maitreya said: After thus speaking to Kardama Muni and his wife Devahuti, Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, who is also known as Hamsa, went back to the highest of the three planeary systems on his swan carrier with the four Kumaras and Narada.
गते शतधृतौ क्षत्त: कर्दमस्तेन चोदित: । यथोदितं स्वदुहितृ: प्रादाद्विश्वसृजां तत: ॥ २१ ॥
gate sata-dhrtau ksattah kardamas tena coditah yathoditam sva-duhitrh pradad visva-srjam tatah
O Vidura, after the departure of Brahma, Kardama Muni, having been ordered by Brahma, handed over his nine daughters, as instructed, to the nine great sages who created the population of the world.
मरीचये कलां प्रादादनसूयामथात्रये । श्रद्धामङ्गिरसेऽयच्छत्पुलस्त्याय हविर्भुवम् ॥ २२ ॥ पुलहाय गतिं युक्तां क्रतवे च क्रियां सतीम् । ख्यातिं च भृगवेऽयच्छद्वसिष्ठायाप्यरुन्धतीम् ॥ २३ ॥
maricaye kalam pradad anasuyam athatraye sraddham angirase ’yacchat pulastyaya havirbhuvam pulahaya gatim yuktam kratave ca kriyam satim khyatim ca bhrgave ’yacchad vasisthayapy arundhatim
Kardama Muni handed over his daughter Kala to Marici, and another daughter, Anasuya, to Atri. He delivered Sraddha to Angira, and Havirbhu to Pulastya. He delivered Gati to Pulaha, the chaste Kriya to Kratu, Khyati to Bhrgu, and Arundhati to Vasistha.
अथर्वणेऽददाच्छान्तिं यया यज्ञो वितन्यते । विप्रर्षभान् कृतोद्वाहान् सदारान् समलालयत् ॥ २४ ॥
atharvane ’dadac chantim yaya yajno vitanyate viprarsabhan krtodvahan sadaran samalalayat
He delivered Santi to Atharva. Because of Santi, sacrificial ceremonies are well performed. Thus he got the foremost brahmanas married, and he maintained them along with their wives.
ततस्त ऋषय: क्षत्त कृतदारा निमन्त्र्य तम् । प्रातिष्ठन्नन्दिमापन्ना: स्वं स्वमाश्रममण्डलम् ॥ २५ ॥
tatas ta rsayah ksattah krta-dara nimantrya tam pratisthan nandim apannah svam svam asrama-mandalam
Thus married, the sages took leave of Kardama and departed full of joy, each for his own hermitage, O Vidura.
स चावतीर्णं त्रियुगमाज्ञाय विबुधर्षभम् । विविक्त उपसङ्गम्य प्रणम्य समभाषत ॥ २६ ॥
sa cavatirnam tri-yugam ajnaya vibudharsabham vivikta upasangamya pranamya samabhasata
When Kardama Muni understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the chief of all the demigods, Visnu, had descended, Kardama approached Him in a secluded place, offered obeisances and spoke as follows.
अहो पापच्यमानानां निरये स्वैरमङ्गलै: । कालेन भूयसा नूनं प्रसीदन्तीह देवता: ॥ २७ ॥
aho papacyamananam niraye svair amangalaih kalena bhuyasa nunam prasidantiha devatah
Kardama Muni said: Oh, after a long time the demigods of this universe have become pleased with the suffering souls who are in material entanglement because of their own misdeeds.
बहुजन्मविपक्वेन सम्यग्योगसमाधिना । द्रष्टुं यतन्ते यतय: शून्यागारेषु यत्पदम् ॥ २८ ॥
bahu-janma-vipakvena samyag-yoga-samadhina drastum yatante yatayah sunyagaresu yat-padam
After many births, mature yogis, by complete trance in yoga, endeavor in secluded places to see the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
स एव भगवानद्य हेलनं नगणय्य न: । गृहेषु जातो ग्राम्याणां य: स्वानां पक्षपोषण: ॥ २९ ॥
sa eva bhagavan adya helanam na ganayya nah grhesu jato gramyanam yah svanam paksa-posanah
Not considering the negligence of ordinary householders like us, that very same Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in our homes just to support His devotees.
स्वीयं वाक्यमृतं कर्तुमवतीर्णोऽसि मे गृहे । चिकीर्षुर्भगवान् ज्ञानं भक्तानां मानवर्धन: ॥ ३० ॥
sviyam vakyam rtam kartum avatirno ’si me grhe cikirsur bhagavan jnanam bhaktanam mana-vardhanah
Kardama Muni said: You, my dear Lord, who are always increasing the honor of Your devotees, have descended in my home just to fulfill Your word and disseminate the process of real knowledge.
तान्येव तेऽभिरूपाणि रूपाणि भगवंस्तव । यानि यानि च रोचन्ते स्वजनानामरूपिण: ॥ ३१ ॥
tany eva te ’bhirupani rupani bhagavams tava yani yani ca rocante sva-jananam arupinah
My dear Lord, although You have no material form, You have Your own innumerable forms. They truly are Your transcendental forms, which are pleasing to Your devotees.
त्वां सूरिभिस्तत्त्वबुभुत्सयाद्धा सदाभिवादार्हणपादपीठम् । ऐश्वर्यवैराग्ययशोऽवबोध- वीर्यश्रिया पूर्तमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३२ ॥
tvam suribhis tattva-bubhutsayaddha sadabhivadarhana-pada-pitham aisvarya-vairagya-yaso-’vabodha- virya-sriya purtam aham prapadye
My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the reservoir that always deserves to receive worshipful homage from all great sages eager to understand the Absolute Truth. You are full in opulence, renunciation, transcendental fame, knowledge, strength and beauty, and therefore I surrender myself unto Your lotus feet.
परं प्रधानं पुरुषं महान्तं कालं कविं त्रिवृतं लोकपालम् । आत्मानुभूत्यानुगतप्रपञ्चं स्वच्छन्दशक्तिं कपिलं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३३ ॥
param pradhanam purusam mahantam kalam kavim tri-vrtam loka-palam atmanubhutyanugata-prapancam svacchanda-saktim kapilam prapadye
I surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, descended in the form of Kapila, who is independently powerful and transcendental, who is the Supreme Person and the Lord of the sum total of matter and the element of time, who is the fully cognizant maintainer of all the universes under the three modes of material nature, and who absorbs the material manifestations after their dissolution.
आ स्माभिपृच्छेऽद्य पतिं प्रजानां त्वयावतीर्णर्ण उताप्तकाम: । परिव्रजत्पदवीमास्थितोऽहं चरिष्ये त्वां हृदि युञ्जन् विशोक: ॥ ३४ ॥
a smabhiprcche ’dya patim prajanam tvayavatirnarna utapta-kamah parivrajat-padavim asthito ’ham carisye tvam hrdi yunjan visokah
Today I have something to ask from You, who are the Lord of all living entities. Since I have now been liberated by You from my debts to my father, and since all my desires are fulfilled, I wish to accept the order of an itinerant mendicant. Renouncing this family life, I wish to wander about, free from lamentation, thinking always of You in my heart.
श्री भगवानुवाच मया प्रोक्तं हि लोकस्य प्रमाणं सत्यलौकिके । अथाजनि मया तुभ्यं यदवोचमृतं मुने ॥ ३५ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca maya proktam hi lokasya pramanam satya-laukike athajani maya tubhyam yad avocam rtam mune
The Personality of Godhead Kapila said: Whatever I speak, whether directly or in the scriptures, is authoritative in all respects for the people of the world. O Muni, because I told you before that I would become your son, I have descended to fulfill this truth.
एतन्मे जन्म लोकेऽस्मिन्मुमुक्षूणां दुराशयात् । प्रसंख्यानाय तत्त्वानां सम्मतायात्मदर्शने ॥ ३६ ॥
etan me janma loke ’smin mumuksunam durasayat prasankhyanaya tattvanam sammatayatma-darsane
My appearance in this world is especially to explain the philosophy of Sankhya, which is highly esteemed for self-realization by those desiring freedom from the entanglement of unnecessary material desires.
एष आत्मपथोऽव्यक्तो नष्ट: कालेन भूयसा । तं प्रवर्तयितुं देहमिमं विद्धि मया भृतम् ॥ ३७ ॥
esa atma-patho ’vyakto nastah kalena bhuyasa tam pravartayitum deham imam viddhi maya bhrtam
This path of self-realization, which is difficult to understand, has now been lost in the course of time. Please know that I have assumed this body of Kapila to introduce and explain this philosophy to human society again.
गच्छ कामं मयापृष्टो मयि संन्यस्तकर्मणा । जित्वा सुदुर्जयं मृत्युममृतत्वाय मां भज ॥ ३८ ॥
gaccha kamam mayaprsto mayi sannyasta-karmana jitva sudurjayam mrtyum amrtatvaya mam bhaja
Now, being sanctioned by Me, go as you desire, surrendering all your activities to Me. Conquering insurmountable death, worship Me for eternal life.
मामात्मानं स्वयंज्योति: सर्वभूतगुहाशयम् । आत्मन्येवात्मना वीक्ष्य विशोकोऽभयमृच्छसि ॥ ३९ ॥
mam atmanam svayam-jyotih sarva-bhuta-guhasayam atmany evatmana viksya visoko ’bhayam rcchasi
In your own heart, through your intellect, you will always see Me, the supreme self-effulgent soul dwelling within the hearts of all living entities. Thus you will achieve the state of eternal life, free from all lamentation and fear.
मात्र आध्यात्मिकीं विद्यां शमनीं सर्वकर्मणाम् । वितरिष्ये यया चासौ भयं चातितरिष्यति ॥ ४० ॥
matra adhyatmikim vidyam samanim sarva-karmanam vitarisye yaya casau bhayam catitarisyati
I shall also describe this sublime knowledge, which is the door to spiritual life, to My mother, so that she also can attain perfection and self-realization, ending all reactions to fruitive activities. Thus she also will be freed from all material fear.
मैत्रेय उवाच एवं समुदितस्तेन कपिलेन प्रजापति: । दक्षिणीकृत्य तं प्रीतो वनमेव जगाम ह ॥ ४१ ॥
maitreya uvaca evam samuditas tena kapilena prajapatih daksini-krtya tam prito vanam eva jagama ha
Sri Maitreya said: Thus when Kardama Muni, the progenitor of human society, was spoken to in fullness by his son, Kapila, he circumambulated Him, and with a good, pacified mind he at once left for the forest.
व्रतं स आस्थितो मौनमात्मैकशरणो मुनि: । नि:सङ्गो व्यचरत्क्षोणीमनग्निरनिकेतन: ॥ ४२ ॥
vratam sa asthito maunam atmaika-sarano munih nihsango vyacarat ksonim anagnir aniketanah
The sage Kardama accepted silence as a vow in order to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and take shelter of Him exclusively. Without association, he traveled over the surface of the globe as a sannyasi, devoid of any relationship with fire or shelter.
मनो ब्रह्मणि युञ्जानो यत्तत्सदसत: परम् । गुणावभासे विगुण एकभक्त्यानुभाविते ॥ ४३ ॥
mano brahmani yunjano yat tat sad-asatah param gunavabhase viguna eka-bhaktyanubhavite
He fixed his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, who is beyond cause and effect, who manifests the three modes of material nature, who is beyond those three modes, and who is perceived only through unfailing devotional service.
निरहंकृतिर्निर्ममश्च निर्द्वन्द्व: समदृक् स्वदृक् । प्रत्यक्प्रशान्तधीर्धीर: प्रशान्तोर्मिरिवोदधि: ॥ ४४ ॥
nirahankrtir nirmamas ca nirdvandvah sama-drk sva-drk pratyak-prasanta-dhir dhirah prasantormir ivodadhih
Thus he gradually became unaffected by the false ego of material identity and became free from material affection. Undisturbed, equal to everyone and without duality, he could indeed see himself also. His mind was turned inward and was perfectly calm, like an ocean unagitated by waves.
वासुदेवे भगवति सर्वज्ञे प्रत्यगात्मनि । परेण भक्तिभावेन लब्धात्मा मुक्तबन्धन: ॥ ४५ ॥
vasudeve bhagavati sarva-jne pratyag-atmani parena bhakti-bhavena labdhatma mukta-bandhanah
He thus became liberated from conditioned life and became self-situated in transcendental devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone.
आत्मानं सर्वभूतेषु भगवन्तमवस्थितम् । अपश्यत्सर्वभूतानि भगवत्यपि चात्मनि ॥ ४६ ॥
atmanam sarva-bhutesu bhagavantam avasthitam apasyat sarva-bhutani bhagavaty api catmani
He began to see that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is seated in everyone’s heart, and that everyone is existing on Him, because He is the Supersoul of everyone.
इच्छाद्वेषविहीनेन सर्वत्र समचेतसा । भगवद्भक्तियुक्तेन प्राप्ता भागवती गति: ॥ ४७ ॥
iccha-dvesa-vihinena sarvatra sama-cetasa bhagavad-bhakti-yuktena prapta bhagavati gatih
Freed from all hatred and desire, Kardama Muni, being equal to everyone because of discharging uncontaminated devotional service, ultimately attained the path back to Godhead.
