॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Tuesday, 25 October 2022 III.33 - Devahuti prays to Bhagavan Kapila and attains liberation.
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Concluding his narration of the avatara of Bhagavan Kapila and His instruction to His mother Devahuti, Sage Maitreya narrated how Devahuti became freed from all ignorance concerning Bhakti and Jnana. She prayed to Bhagavan Kapila:
“Lord, even Brahma, born in the lotus from Your navel, prayed to You. You are indeed beyond any need for activity, but out of Your own will, you take avataras. This is indeed inconceivable."
स त्वं भृतो मे जठरेण नाथ कथं नु यस्योदर एतदासीत् ।
विश्वं युगान्ते वटपत्र एक: शेते स्म माया-शिशुरङ्घ्रिपान: ॥
तं त्वामहं ब्रह्म परं पुमांसं प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्यात्मनि संविभाव्यम् ।
स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहं वन्दे विष्णुं कपिलं वेदगर्भम् ॥
T: “Oh, Lord, You, in whose abdomen all universe resides, have deigned to be born in my womb! What a wonder! At the end of the Yuga, you will lie down on a banyan leaf as a small baby, holding and sucking your little foot!”
“You are Maha Vishnu Himself born as Kapila. You are the Para Brahman on whom sages of purified minds meditate. You remove their ignorance by Your lustre. I pray to You!”
Bhagavan Kapila spoke most lovingly to His mother.
“Mother, practise as I have told you, and you will surely attain self-realisation. You will be freed from the fearful attachments to the body. Those who do not know this path of Bhakti cannot escape the cycle of birth and death.”
Bhagavan took leave and left, His mission accomplished.
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Devahuti practised Bhakti Yoga assiduously and entered Samadhi in her husband Kardama’s cottage, which was bedecked with flowers and looked like a garland for the holy river Saraswati.
Her austerities rendered her frail and aged. Her home was luxurious and decorated with gold and jewels. It needed no external light to shine. Its gardens attracted singing birds. The whole atmosphere spoke of Nature’s grace. She was still attended upon by the heavenly damsels Sage Kardama had appointed. This ensured Devahuti’s body was not in distress.
Devahuti constantly recalled her son and missed him. The luxuries and beauty all around meant nothing to her. She pined like a cow would her dead calf.
Devahuti began to meditate constantly upon the Supreme Lord, Maha Vishnu. She realised the Absolute Truth. All her material bonds disappeared.
The place where Devahuti achieved her self-realisation is known all over the three worlds as Siddhapada. Devahuti’s body has merged into the river.
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Bhagavan Kapila proceeded north-eastward from the hermitage when He took His leave. Even now He dwells in the northeastern region, out of grace towards the siddhas and rishis who pray to Him as the preceptor of Sankhya.
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“Oh, Vidura, whoever listens to this narration of Bhagavan Kapila’s incarnation will be redeemed and attain the Lord’s lotus feet. (उपलभते भगवत्पदारविन्दम् )”
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
This concludes the third Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam.
