॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 15 October 2022 - III.23 - Devahuti serves Sage Kardama with love and diligence. In return, he gives her a heavenly time and they beget nine daughters. But Devahuti is still anxious.
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मैत्रेय उवाच
पितृभ्यां प्रस्थिते साध्वी पतिमिङ्गितकोविदा । नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या भवानीव भवं प्रभुम् ॥
T: Maitreya continued: “After the departure of her parents, Devahuti was a model wife of devotion and service to her husband Sage Kardama, much like Bhavani (Parvati), the wife of Lord Shiva, serves her husband.”
Devahuti controlled her senses, working diligently to cater to her husband’s every need. He was given to meditation and austerities, and after a long time, he noticed how withered and dull his wife had become.
कर्दम उवाच
तुष्टोऽहमद्य तव मानवि मानदाया: शुश्रूषया परमया परया च भक्त्या ।
यो देहिनामयमतीव सुहृत्स देहो नावेक्षित: समुचित: क्षपितुं मदर्थे ॥
T: Kardama spoke: “Dear lady, I am very pleased today by your service to me full of affection and devotion.But I notice that you have let your body grow weak and emaciated, which is unlike any normal person who loves this body. It seems you have suffered all for my sake.”
“Devahuti, by the Lord’s grace, I have attained a high state of consciousness beyond fear and sorrow, unattached to any material enjoyments. I can give you the same experience.”
Devahuti replied, somewhat bashfully, “My Lord, I know your attainments. Thank you for offering to share your experience. But at the time of our marriage, you promised that our physical union would beget children. Having children is a great thing for any chaste woman, especially with such a glorious husband.”
“Oh, Lord, kindly do what it takes to restore my body that has grown emaciated through unfulfilled passion, and make it fit for you. Also, kindly arrange for a suitable house for us to live in as husband and wife.”
Maitreya narrates that the sage understood at once what was to be done. He used his mystical powers to create an unbelievable aerial mansion that Vyasa paints a most fantastic picture of. I shall quote only two verses.
दिव्योपकरणोपेतं सर्वकालसुखावहम् । पट्टिकाभि: पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिरलंकृतम् ॥
स्रग्भिर्विचित्रमाल्याभिर्मञ्जुशिञ्जत्षडङ्घ्रिभि: । दुकूलक्षौमकौशेयैर्नानावस्रैर्विराजितम् ॥
T: The fully furnished mansion was heavenly in all seasons, fitted with Festoons and artistic decorations, floral arrangements that attracted humming bees, and fabulous tapestries. It was a seven storied affair. Imagine something like the luxury cruise QEII as an aerial vehicle not sparing any beautification.
Understanding what was in her mind, Kardama asked Devahuti lovingly to go and wash herself in the Bindu Sarvoara, blessed by Maha Vishnu himself. It was fed by the cool and crystalline waters of Saraswati.
As Devahuti went into the water, she was surrounded by a thousand beautiful young damsels who had emerged to serve her as handmaids. They gave her a wonderful bath that got rid of all the accumulated dirt in her body and hair. They anointed her, dressed her up, and she emerged as a divinely attractive woman. They fed her some divine food and drink too. Looking at herself in the mirror, Devahuti was astonished. Her countenance shone, with beautiful teeth and charming eyebrows. Her eyes, distinguished by lovely moist corners, defeated the beauty of lotus buds. Her face was surrounded by dark curling tresses.
Devahuti went to her husband. Boarding the aerial mansion, Sage Kardama Muni his consort shone as charmingly as the moon amid the stars in the sky, which causes rows of lilies to open in ponds at night. They thus went on a long overdue honeymoon and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. They circumambulated the globe and saw many sights, enjoying every moment intensely.
प्रेक्षयित्वा भुवो गोलं पत्न्यै यावान् स्वसंस्थया । बह्वाश्चर्यं महायोगी स्वाश्रमाय न्यवर्तत ॥
T: After travelling around the globe and seeing great sights full of many wonders, the great Sage Kardama returned with Devahuti to their hermitage.
Kardama now cloned himself into nine personalities and impregnated Devahuti with nine seeds which bore her nine beautiful daughters. Vyasa says that their period of physical union and joy lasted a hundred autumns.
Devahuti now saw that Kardama was preparing to leave. She approached him and looking down, scratching the earth with her toe, she spoke.
देवहूतिरुवाच
सर्वं तद्भगवान्मह्यमुपोवाह प्रतिश्रुतम् । अथापि मे प्रपन्नाया अभयं दातुमर्हसि ॥
ब्रह्मन्दुहितृभिस्तुभ्यं विमृग्या: पतय: समा: । कश्चित्स्यान्मे विशोकाय त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वनम् ॥
साहं भगवतो नूनं वञ्चिता मायया दृढम् । यत्त्वां विमुक्तिदं प्राप्य न मुमुक्षेय बन्धनात् ॥
T: Devahuti said, “My Lord, you have fulfilled your promise. How time has fled in our long period of joyful cohabitation! But I am surrendered to you, and you need to address my insecurity. Our daughters will soon grow up and go away with their husbands. Who will give me solace after you take up sannyasa? It seems Maya has engulfed me and I have failed to pursue liberation from material bondage, despite being so close to you.”
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
