॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 13 October 2022 - III.21 - Kardama’s penance and Sri Hari’s blessing to him.
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Vidura is still curious about how the population increased manifold. Was it only through the biological union of the Manus and their wives?
In answer, Sage Maitreya narrates how Kardama, one of the Prajapatis, chartered to produce offspring, went about it.
Kardama went to the bank of the river Saraswati and performed severe penance for ten thousand years. Unable to realise the vision of the Lord, he then resorted to the path of devotion, including worship, singing the glories of the Lord, and so on. This was also so intense that it was answered quickly as it was in Krita Yuga (Satya Yuga).
Lord Sri Hari, with His lotus-like eyes, appeared in front of Kardama. The Lord was effulgent like the sun, wearing a garland of white lotuses and water lilies. The Lord was clad in spotless yellow silk, and His lotus face was fringed with slick dark locks of curly hair. Adorned with a crown and earrings, He held His characteristic conch, disc and mace in three of His hands and a white lily in the fourth. His glance in a happy, smiling mood would captivate the heart of any devotee. His chest bore the Srivatsa mark and He wore the Kaustubha gem in a necklace and He was poised atop Garuda.
Kardama prayed fervently to the Lord, singing His praises, somewhat reluctant to present his request initially. Finally he spoke:
तथा स चाहं परिवोढुकाम: समानशीलां गृहमेधधेनुम् । उपेयिवान्मूलमशेषमूलं दुराशय: कामदुघाङ्घ्रिपस्य ॥
T: "Dear Lord, my submission is rather mundane. I wish to marry a suitable damsel to carry on my work of extending the progeny. She should match me in attributes and serve the same role at home as the holy cow does, conferring benediction, in the act of a Yajna. Please don’t mind this request for such a girl, as you are the divine Kamadhenu and can grant me such a wife."
Touching upon the way the Lord runs the Wheel of Time, with its inexorable way of creating and taking away lives, Kardama said that he should be blessed to do his own duty in creation. Kardama says that the Lord is the Supreme Being, the Cause of all creation, who spins out the universe like a spider weaves his web, and finally consumes it back into Himself like a spider is supposed to swallow up the web once the act is over.
***
Lord Maha Vishnu replied in nectarine words.
“Kardama, having come to know what was in your mind, I have already arranged for that for which you have worshipped Me well through your mental and sensory discipline. For my true devotee, there is never any frustration.”
“Emperor Svayambhuva Manu, the son of Lord Brahma, who is well known for his righteous acts, has his seat in Brahmavarta and rules over the earth with its seven oceans. The day after tomorrow, oh, sage, that celebrated emperor will come here with his queen, Shatarupa, to meet you. He has a grown-up daughter with beautiful black eyes, ready for marriage. She has a good character and all good qualities. She is also searching for a good husband. My dear Kardama, her parents will come to offer her in marriage to you.”
“She will bear nine daughters from you, and through the daughters you beget, the other sages will duly beget more children. You will also attain self-realisation.”
सहाहं स्वांशकलया त्वद्वीर्येण महामुने । तव क्षेत्रे देवहूत्यां प्रणेष्ये तत्त्वसंहिताम् ॥
T: “Finally, let me tell you, oh sage, that I shall take birth with a small portion of Myself as your son through Devahuti. I shall give my mother spiritual instruction in the Sankhya way.”
Blessing Kardama thus, Lord Maha Vishnu disappeared and went away to Vaikuntha. The sage stood listening as the hymns forming the basis of the Sama Veda were vibrated by the flapping wings of the Lord’s carrier, Garuda.
***
Kardama stayed on at the spot described as Bindu Sarovara near Saraswati. Just then Svayambhuva Manu arrived with his queen and the princess, on the very day informed by the Lord. They marvelled at the holy Bindu Sarovara with its sweet water that attracted all life forms. The place resonated with the sweet songs of the birds.
Entering that most sacred spot with his daughter, King Svayambhuva Manu saw the sage sitting in his hermitage, having just propitiated the sacred fire by pouring oblations into it. His body shone most brilliantly; though he had engaged in austere penance for a long time, he was not emaciated, for the Lord had cast His affectionate sidelong glance upon him and he had also heard the nectarine words of the Lord. The sage was tall, his eyes were large, like the petals of a lotus, and he had matted locks on his head. He was clad in hermit’s clothes and looked like an unpolished gem.
The sage received the King with due honour. The king fell silent and Kardama spoke.
“Oh King, your travel is surely intended to protect the virtuous and kill the demons, since you embody the protecting energy of Sri Hari. On occasion, you play the various gods like the Sun, the Moon, Agni, Vayu and Yama too. Also Dharma and Varuna. Your travels to subdue Adharma and uphold Dharma are your divinely appointed duties."
(The implication is that every king is the Lord’s deputy discharging duties to all.)
“May I ask, therefore, oh, King, what brings you to me? Whatever it may be, I shall carry it out without reservation.”
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
