Srimad Bhagavatam – day 169
O Lord! Even if a tribal hunter thinks of You once or chants Your divine name or offers obeisance to You just once, he becomes as respectful as a person who has performed plentiful Vedic rituals. What wonder! He is equal to the person who has performed limitless austerities, limitless Vedic rituals or has bathed in many sacred rivers. He becomes as venerable as a Somayāji. Such is the greatness of Your name! This being the case, is there any specific need to declare that the person who has been fortunate to have Your darshan will accomplish the purpose of human birth?
Taṁ tvām ahaṁ brahma paraṁ pumāṁsaṁ
Pratyak-srotasy ātmani saṁvibhāvyam
Sva-tejasā dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaṁ
Vande viṣṇuṁ kapilaṁ veda-garbham
I offer obeisance to Kapila Bhagawān, who is an incarnation of Parabrahma or Puruśottama Lord Sri Mahavishnu. He makes himself visible to those who turn their intellect away from the objects of desire and instead meditate upon Him. He destroys these worldly bondages (samsāra) which exist in the form of never ending flow of the trigunas. He is the Lord of all Vedas!” She prayed.
This is a very important hymn of Lord Kapila. It is beneficial to chant it daily. It is a sacred mantra.
Kapila affectionately heard the prayer offered by his mother. With eyes filled with compassion and a grave voice he said, “O Mother! This path which I have preached is very easy to follow. Abiding by this, very shortly you will reach the ultimate fruit known as liberation.
Those who are desirous of liberation love this preaching of Mine. It destroys this cycle of births and deaths in totality. Please always be devoted and dedicated towards the preaching I have imparted to you. You will attain Me. Those who are devoid of this knowledge will get trapped in these worldly bondages and will fear death”.
In this way Maharishi Kapila taught his mother the Self-knowledge. Listening to this, his mother obtained the knowledge of Brahma.
Seeking her permission and having completed His task, Kapila Bhagawān went away. Abiding by the yogic disciplines taught by her son, Devahuti remained in deep meditation (samādhi) in her beautifully decorated ashram located on the banks of River Saraswati.
She began to wear clothing made of tree barks. Gradually, due to the intense discipline of bathing thrice a day, her beautiful long curly braids turned ashen. Due to her dedicated austerities she began to look emaciated.
Kardama Prajāpati’s penance and transcendental powers had established her household in very exalted position. This couple was matchless. Even Celestials and Devatas desire such holy wedded life.
In her house, the beds and bedspreads were white like milk foam. Entire furniture like chairs and tables were made of ivory and gold and were spotlessly clean. The chairs were covered with delicate soft blankets. Soft pillows were placed within these chairs. Walls of the house were made of exquisite marble and were decorated with jewels.
Seasonal blooming flowers decorated the vast landscaped gardens that were adjacent to her house. Laden with many auspicious plants that belong to heaven, chirping bird-couples and humming bees, this garden sparkled brightly. The lake within this garden was filled with the fragrance of the lovely lotuses.
When Kardama Prajapati would cajole her lovingly in these waters, the Gandharvas would sing the glories of this holy couple. Even Indra’s wife would desire to obtain such fortune.
Now, Devahuti was freed from the attachment towards this mansion and the objects therein. However her heart grieved due to separation from her son. Her husband Maharishi Kardama had already taken up sanyasa (renunciation) and had left the household. Now her son left the house.
Although being Self-realized, she grieved for her son. Like the mother cow that grieves upon separation from her calf, she became restless grieving for her son. Her face wore a dejected look.
Vidura, Devahuti meditated exclusively upon her son Kapila, who was an incarnation of the Supreme. As her mind was focused upon Him, her attachment towards her household totally disappeared. She fixed her mind upon the pleasant charming face of the Lord, as described by her son. She focused upon every limb of the Lord as specified by her son and meditated upon them.
With firm detachment she practiced bhakti yoga. She engaged herself in varied pujas and other auspicious deeds. Gradually, due to this, the complete knowledge that would enable her to attain Self-realization dawned in her. Then, with an absolutely pure inner mind, she meditated upon the all-pervading essence of the Self.
Aniruddhāya namah