Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 33

Activities of Kapila

3.33.1

मैत्रेय उवाच एवं निशम्य कपिलस्य वचो जनित्री सा कर्दमस्य दयिता किल देवहूति: । विस्रस्तमोहपटला तमभिप्रणम्य तुष्टाव तत्त्वविषयाङ्कितसिद्धिभूमिम् ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvaca evam nisamya kapilasya vaco janitri sa kardamasya dayita kila devahutih visrasta-moha-patala tam abhipranamya tustava tattva-visayankita-siddhi-bhumim

Sri Maitreya said: Thus Devahuti, the mother of Lord Kapila and wife of Kardama Muni, became freed from all ignorance concerning devotional service and transcendental knowledge. She offered her obeisances unto the Lord, the author of the basic principles of the Sankhya system of philosophy, which is the background of liberation, and she satisfied Him with the following verses of prayer.

3.33.2

देवहूतिरुवाच अथाप्यजोऽन्त:सलिले शयानं भूतेन्द्रियार्थात्ममयं वपुस्ते । गुणप्रवाहं सदशेषबीजं दध्यौ स्वयं यज्जठराब्जजात: ॥ २ ॥

devahutir uvaca athapy ajo ’ntah-salile sayanam bhutendriyarthatma-mayam vapus te guna-pravaham sad-asesa-bijam dadhyau svayam yaj-jatharabja-jatah

Devahuti said: Brahma is said to be unborn because he takes birth from the lotus flower which grows from Your abdomen while You lie in the ocean at the bottom of the universe. But even Brahma simply meditated upon You, whose body is the source of unlimited universes.

3.33.3

स एव विश्वस्य भवान्विधत्ते गुणप्रवाहेण विभक्तवीर्य: । सर्गाद्यनीहोऽवितथाभिसन्धिर् आत्मेश्वरोऽतर्क्यसहस्रशक्ति: ॥ ३ ॥

sa eva visvasya bhavan vidhatte guna-pravahena vibhakta-viryah sargady aniho ’vitathabhisandhir atmesvaro ’tarkya-sahasra-saktih

My dear Lord, although personally You have nothing to do, You have distributed Your energies in the interactions of the material modes of nature, and for that reason the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation take place. My dear Lord, You are self-determined and are the Supreme Personality of Godhead for all living entities. For them You created this material manifestation, and although You are one, Your diverse energies can act multifariously. This is inconceivable to us.

3.33.4

स त्वं भृतो मे जठरेण नाथ कथं नु यस्योदर एतदासीत् । विश्वं युगान्ते वटपत्र एक: शेते स्म माया-शिशुरङ्‌घ्रिपान: ॥ ४ ॥

sa tvam bhrto me jatharena natha katham nu yasyodara etad asit visvam yugante vata-patra ekah sete sma maya-sisur anghri-panah

As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, You have taken birth from my abdomen. O my Lord, how is that possible for the supreme one, who has in His belly all the cosmic manifestation? The answer is that it is possible, for at the end of the millennium You lie down on a leaf of a banyan tree, and just like a small baby, You lick the toe of Your lotus foot.

3.33.5

त्वं देहतन्त्र: प्रशमाय पाप्मनां निदेशभाजां च विभो विभूतये । यथावतारास्तव सूकरादयस् तथायमप्यात्मपथोपलब्धये ॥ ५ ॥

tvam deha-tantrah prasamaya papmanam nidesa-bhajam ca vibho vibhutaye yathavataras tava sukaradayas tathayam apy atma-pathopalabdhaye

My dear Lord, You have assumed this body in order to diminish the sinful activities of the fallen and to enrich their knowledge in devotion and liberation. Since these sinful people are dependent on Your direction, by Your own will You assume incarnations as a boar and as other forms. Similarly, You have appeared in order to distribute transcendental knowledge to Your dependents.

3.33.6

यन्नामधेयश्रवणानुकीर्तनाद् यत्प्रह्वणाद्यत्स्मरणादपि क्‍वचित् । श्वादोऽपि सद्य: सवनाय कल्पते कुत: पुनस्ते भगवन्नु दर्शनात् ॥ ६ ॥

yan-namadheya-sravananukirtanad yat-prahvanad yat-smaranad api kvacit svado ’pi sadyah savanaya kalpate kutah punas te bhagavan nu darsanat

To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.

3.33.7

अहो बत श्वपचोऽतो गरीयान् यज्जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते नाम तुभ्यम् । तेपुस्तपस्ते जुहुवु: सस्‍नुरार्या ब्रह्मानूचुर्नाम गृणन्ति ये ते ॥ ७ ॥

aho bata sva-paco ’to gariyan yaj-jihvagre vartate nama tubhyam tepus tapas te juhuvuh sasnur arya brahmanucur nama grnanti ye te

Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.

3.33.8

तं त्वामहं ब्रह्म परं पुमांसं प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्यात्मनि संविभाव्यम् । स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहं वन्दे विष्णुं कपिलं वेदगर्भम् ॥ ८ ॥

tam tvam aham brahma param pumamsam pratyak-srotasy atmani samvibhavyam sva-tejasa dhvasta-guna-pravaham vande visnum kapilam veda-garbham

I believe, my Lord, that You are Lord Visnu Himself under the name of Kapila, and You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman! The saints and sages, being freed from all the disturbances of the senses and mind, meditate upon You, for by Your mercy only can one become free from the clutches of the three modes of material nature. At the time of dissolution, all the Vedas are sustained in You only.

3.33.9

मैत्रेय उवाच ईडितो भगवानेवं कपिलाख्य: पर: पुमान् । वाचाविक्लवयेत्याह मातरं मातृवत्सल: ॥ ९ ॥

maitreya uvaca idito bhagavan evam kapilakhyah parah puman vacaviklavayety aha mataram matr-vatsalah

Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapila, satisfied by the words of His mother, towards whom He was very affectionate, replied with gravity.

3.33.10

कपिल उवाच मार्गेणानेन मातस्ते सुसेव्येनोदितेन मे । आस्थितेन परां काष्ठामचिरादवरोत्स्यसि ॥ १० ॥

kapila uvaca margenanena matas te susevyenoditena me asthitena param kastham acirad avarotsyasi

The Personality of Godhead said: My dear mother, the path of self-realization which I have already instructed to you is very easy. You can execute this system without difficulty, and by following it you shall very soon be liberated, even within your present body.

3.33.11

श्रद्धत्स्वैतन्मतं मह्यं जुष्टं यद्ब्रह्मवादिभि: । येन मामभयं याया मृत्युमृच्छन्त्यतद्विद: ॥ ११ ॥

sraddhatsvaitan matam mahyam justam yad brahma-vadibhih yena mam abhayam yaya mrtyum rcchanty atad-vidah

My dear mother, those who are actually transcendentalists certainly follow My instructions, as I have given them to you. You may rest assured that if you traverse this path of self-realization perfectly, surely you shall be freed from fearful material contamination and shall ultimately reach Me. Mother, persons who are not conversant with this method of devotional service certainly cannot get out of the cycle of birth and death.

3.33.12

मैत्रेय उवाच इति प्रदर्श्य भगवान्सतीं तामात्मनो गतिम् । स्वमात्रा ब्रह्मवादिन्या कपिलोऽनुमतो ययौ ॥ १२ ॥

maitreya uvaca iti pradarsya bhagavan satim tam atmano gatim sva-matra brahma-vadinya kapilo ’numato yayau

Sri Maitreya said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapila, after instructing His beloved mother, took permission from her and left His home, His mission having been fulfilled.

3.33.13

सा चापि तनयोक्तेन योगादेशेन योगयुक् । तस्मिन्नाश्रम आपीडे सरस्वत्या: समाहिता ॥ १३ ॥

sa capi tanayoktena yogadesena yoga-yuk tasminn asrama apide sarasvatyah samahita

As instructed by her son, Devahuti also began to practice bhakti-yoga in that very asrama. She practiced samadhi in the house of Kardama Muni, which was so beautifully decorated with flowers that it was considered the flower crown of the River Sarasvati.

3.33.14

अभीक्ष्णावगाहकपिशान्जटिलान्कुटिलालकान् । आत्मानं चोग्रतपसा बिभ्रती चीरिणं कृशम् ॥ १४ ॥

abhiksnavagaha-kapisan jatilan kutilalakan atmanam cogra-tapasa bibhrati cirinam krsam

She began to bathe three times daily, and thus her curling black hair gradually became gray. Due to austerity, her body gradually became thin, and she wore old garments.

3.33.15

प्रजापते: कर्दमस्य तपोयोगविजृम्भितम् । स्वगार्हस्थ्यमनौपम्यं प्रार्थ्यं वैमानिकैरपि ॥ १५ ॥

prajapateh kardamasya tapo-yoga-vijrmbhitam sva-garhasthyam anaupamyam prarthyam vaimanikair api

The home and household paraphernalia of Kardama, who was one of the Prajapatis, was developed in such a way, by dint of his mystic powers of austerity and yoga, that his opulence was sometimes envied by those who travel in outer space in airplanes.

3.33.16

पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्‍मपरिच्छदा: । आसनानि च हैमानि सुस्पर्शास्तरणानि च ॥ १६ ॥

payah-phena-nibhah sayya danta rukma-paricchadah asanani ca haimani susparsastaranani ca

The opulence of the household of Kardama Muni is described herein. The bedsheets and mattresses were all as white as the foam of milk, the chairs and benches were made of ivory and were covered by cloths of lace with golden filigree, and the couches were made of gold and had very soft pillows.

3.33.17

स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नप्रदीपा आभान्ति ललना रत्नसंयुता: ॥ १७ ॥

svaccha-sphatika-kudyesu maha-marakatesu ca ratna-pradipa abhanti lalana ratna-samyutah

The walls of the house were made of first-class marble, decorated with valuable jewels. There was no need of light, for the household was illuminated by the rays of these jewels. The female members of the household were all amply decorated with jewelry.

3.33.18

गृहोद्यानं कुसुमितै रम्यं बह्वमरद्रुमै: । कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनं गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतम् ॥ १८ ॥

grhodyanam kusumitai ramyam bahv-amara-drumaih kujad-vihanga-mithunam gayan-matta-madhuvratam

The compound of the main household was surrounded by beautiful gardens, with sweet, fragrant flowers and many trees which produced fresh fruit and were tall and beautiful. The attraction of such gardens was that singing birds would sit on the trees, and their chanting voices, as well as the humming sound of the bees, made the whole atmosphere as pleasing as possible.

3.33.19

यत्र प्रविष्टमात्मानं विबुधानुचरा जगु: । वाप्यामुत्पलगन्धिन्यां कर्दमेनोपलालितम् ॥ १९ ॥

yatra pravistam atmanam vibudhanucara jaguh vapyam utpala-gandhinyam kardamenopalalitam

When Devahuti would enter that lovely garden to take her bath in the pond filled with lotus flowers, the associates of the denizens of heaven, the Gandharvas, would sing about Kardama’s glorious household life. Her great husband, Kardama, gave her all protection at all times.

3.33.20

हित्वा तदीप्सिततममप्याखण्डलयोषिताम् । किञ्चिच्चकार वदनं पुत्रविश्लेषणातुरा ॥ २० ॥

hitva tad ipsitatamam apy akhandala-yositam kincic cakara vadanam putra-vislesanatura

Although her position was unique from all points of view, saintly Devahuti, in spite of all her possessions, which were envied even by the ladies of the heavenly planes, gave up all such comforts. She was only sorry that her great son was separated from her.

3.33.21

वनं प्रव्रजिते पत्यावपत्यविरहातुरा । ज्ञाततत्त्वाप्यभून्नष्टे वत्से गौरिव वत्सला ॥ २१ ॥

vanam pravrajite patyav apatya-virahatura jnata-tattvapy abhun naste vatse gaur iva vatsala

Devahuti’s husband had already left home and accepted the renounced order of life, and then her only son, Kapila, left home. Although she knew all the truths of life and death, and although her heart was cleansed of all dirt, she was very aggrieved at the loss of her son, just as a cow is affected when her calf dies.

3.33.22

तमेव ध्यायती देवमपत्यं कपिलं हरिम् । बभूवाचिरतो वत्स नि:स्पृहा ताद‍ृशे गृहे ॥ २२ ॥

tam eva dhyayati devam apatyam kapilam harim babhuvacirato vatsa nihsprha tadrse grhe

O Vidura, thus always meditating upon her son, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapiladeva, she very soon became unattached to her nicely decorated home.

3.33.23

ध्यायती भगवद्रूपं यदाह ध्यानगोचरम् । सुत: प्रसन्नवदनं समस्तव्यस्तचिन्तया ॥ २३ ॥

dhyayati bhagavad-rupam yad aha dhyana-gocaram sutah prasanna-vadanam samasta-vyasta-cintaya

Thereafter, having heard with great eagerness and in all detail from her son, Kapiladeva, the eternally smiling Personality of Godhead, Devahuti began to meditate constantly upon the Visnu form of the Supreme Lord.

3.33.24-25

भक्तिप्रवाहयोगेन वैराग्येण बलीयसा । युक्तानुष्ठानजातेन ज्ञानेन ब्रह्महेतुना ॥ २४ ॥ विशुद्धेन तदात्मानमात्मना विश्वतोमुखम् । स्वानुभूत्या तिरोभूतमायागुणविशेषणम् ॥ २५ ॥

bhakti-pravaha-yogena vairagyena baliyasa yuktanusthana-jatena jnanena brahma-hetuna visuddhena tadatmanam atmana visvato-mukham svanubhutya tirobhuta- maya-guna-visesanam

She did so with serious engagement in devotional service. Because she was strong in renunciation, she accepted only the necessities of the body. She became situated in knowledge due to realization of the Absolute Truth, her heart became purified, she became fully absorbed in meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all misgivings due to the modes of material nature disappeared.

3.33.26

ब्रह्मण्यवस्थितमतिर्भगवत्यात्मसंश्रये । निवृत्तजीवापत्तित्वात्क्षीणक्लेशाप्तनिर्वृति: ॥ २६ ॥

brahmany avasthita-matir bhagavaty atma-samsraye nivrtta-jivapattitvat ksina-klesapta-nirvrtih

Her mind became completely engaged in the Supreme Lord, and she automatically realized the knowledge of the impersonal Brahman. As a Brahman-realized soul, she was freed from the designations of the materialistic concept of life. Thus all material pangs disappeared, and she attained transcendental bliss.

3.33.27

नित्यारूढसमाधित्वात्परावृत्तगुणभ्रमा । न सस्मार तदात्मानं स्वप्ने द‍ृष्टमिवोत्थित: ॥ २७ ॥

nityarudha-samadhitvat paravrtta-guna-bhrama na sasmara tadatmanam svapne drstam ivotthitah

Situated in eternal trance and freed from illusion impelled by the modes of material nature, she forgot her material body, just as one forgets his different bodies in a dream.

3.33.28

तद्देह: परत: पोषोऽप्यकृशश्चाध्यसम्भवात् । बभौ मलैरवच्छन्न: सधूम इव पावक: ॥ २८ ॥

tad-dehah paratah poso ’py akrsas cadhy-asambhavat babhau malair avacchannah sadhuma iva pavakah

Her body was being taken care of by the spiritual damsels created by her husband, Kardama, and since she had no mental anxiety at that time, her body did not become thin. She appeared just like a fire surrounded by smoke.

3.33.29

स्वाङ्गं तपोयोगमयं मुक्तकेशं गताम्बरम् । दैवगुप्तं न बुबुधे वासुदेवप्रविष्टधी: ॥ २९ ॥

svangam tapo-yogamayam mukta-kesam gatambaram daiva-guptam na bubudhe vasudeva-pravista-dhih

Because she was always absorbed in the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, she was not aware that her hair was sometimes loosened or her garments were disarrayed.

3.33.30

एवं सा कपिलोक्तेन मार्गेणाचिरत: परम् । आत्मानं ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं भगवन्तमवाप ह ॥ ३० ॥

evam sa kapiloktena margenaciratah param atmanam brahma-nirvanam bhagavantam avapa ha

My dear Vidura, by following the principles instructed by Kapila, Devahuti soon became liberated from material bondage, and she achieved the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as Supersoul, without difficulty.

3.33.31

तद्वीरासीत्पुण्यतमं क्षेत्रं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । नाम्ना सिद्धपदं यत्र सा संसिद्धिमुपेयुषी ॥ ३१ ॥

tad virasit punyatamam ksetram trailokya-visrutam namna siddha-padam yatra sa samsiddhim upeyusi

The palace where Devahuti achieved her perfection, my dear Vidura, is understood to be a most sacred spot. It is known all over the three worlds as Siddhapada.

3.33.32

तस्यास्तद्योगविधुतमार्त्यं मर्त्यमभूत्सरित् । स्रोतसां प्रवरा सौम्य सिद्धिदा सिद्धसेविता ॥ ३२ ॥

tasyas tad yoga-vidhuta- martyam martyam abhut sarit srotasam pravara saumya siddhida siddha-sevita

Dear Vidura, the material elements of her body have melted into water and are now a flowing river, which is the most sacred of all rivers. Anyone who bathes in that river also attains perfection, and therefore all persons who desire perfection go bathe there.

3.33.33

कपिलोऽपि महायोगी भगवान्पितुराश्रमात् । मातरं समनुज्ञाप्य प्रागुदीचीं दिशं ययौ ॥ ३३ ॥

kapilo ’pi maha-yogi bhagavan pitur asramat mataram samanujnapya prag-udicim disam yayau

My dear Vidura, the great sage Kapila, the Personality of Godhead, left His father’s hermitage with the permission of His mother and went towards the northeast.

3.33.34

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैर्मुनिभिश्चाप्सरोगणै: । स्तूयमान: समुद्रेण दत्तार्हणनिकेतन: ॥ ३४ ॥

siddha-carana-gandharvair munibhis capsaro-ganaih stuyamanah samudrena dattarhana-niketanah

While He was passing in the northern direction, all the celestial denizens known as Caranas and Gandharvas, as well as the munis and the damsels of the heavenly planes, prayed and offered Him all respects. The ocean offered Him oblations and a place of residence.

3.33.35

आस्ते योगं समास्थाय साङ्ख्याचार्यैरभिष्टुत: । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामुपशान्त्यै समाहित: ॥ ३५ ॥

aste yogam samasthaya sankhyacaryair abhistutah trayanam api lokanam upasantyai samahitah

Even now Kapila Muni is staying there in trance for the deliverance of the conditioned souls in the three worlds, and all the acaryas, or great teachers, of the system of Sankhya philosophy are worshiping Him.

3.33.36

एतन्निगदितं तात यत्पृष्टोऽहं तवानघ । कपिलस्य च संवादो देवहूत्याश्च पावन: ॥ ३६ ॥

etan nigaditam tata yat prsto ’ham tavanagha kapilasya ca samvado devahutyas ca pavanah

My dear son, since you have inquired from me, I have answered. O sinless one, the descriptions of Kapiladeva and His mother and their activities are the purest of all pure discourses.

3.33.37

य इदमनुश‍ृणोति योऽभिधत्ते कपिलमुनेर्मतमात्मयोगगुह्यम् । भगवति कृतधी: सुपर्णकेताव् उपलभते भगवत्पदारविन्दम् ॥ ३७ ॥ एष साक्षाद्धरेरंशो जातो लोकरिरक्षया । इयं च तत्परा हि श्रीरनुजज्ञेऽनपायिनी ॥ ६ ॥

ya idam anusrnoti yo ’bhidhatte kapila-muner matam atma-yoga-guhyam bhagavati krta-dhih suparna-ketav upalabhate bhagavat-padaravindam

The description of the dealings of Kapiladeva and His mother is very confidential, and anyone who hears or reads this narration becomes a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is carried by Garuda, and he thereafter enters into the abode of the Supreme Lord to engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.