Creation and Criticism

Sage Kardama was a sage of rigorous penance and reparation, and when Sri Hari – Vishnu blessed the devotee, he requested, ‘O Lord, the human beings live in delusion and celestial power. Give pleasures of the senses.’

A very realistic petition it appeared and the sage thought of a man with normal failings of love, passion and material hunger.

He married Devahuti, one of the nine daughters of Manu and Satarupa. Through the sage, Devahuti learnt the ultimate principles of Prakriti, Purusa and Iswara and then, the realised soul Kardama left for the divine abode.

Before marriage, the sage told Swayambhuva Manu of the laws of truth and dharma essential for the kings and rulers. In truth, dharma and its principles provided deliverance to the kings. Manu revealed the intents and got the princess married to sage Kardama. Devahuti was devoted, sacrificed comforts at the feet of the sage Kardama, and took care to make him happy an image of the lord, and so she grew weak. The sage admiredd the saintly woman for the intense bhakti she exhibited toward him. However, he was still to fulfill the promise he had given to King Manu. To please his sagacious wife Devahuti, the mighty sage created a palace of heavenly joy.

Now, it was a journey to the life of divine and stimulating joys, and they visited the three worlds and the terrestrial regions of miracles and divine beauty, and enjoyed life. It was also a divine experience for the sagely couple while they went on a voyage of the heavenly regions belonging to the lord of gods Indra, the lord of Fire, the lord of dharma, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and the lord of the Mountains Shiva.

Devahuti pursued doctrines of severity, worshipped the lord with reverence and dedication, restrained defiant senses, and adhered to religious teachings and so sanctified the mortal frame. Life of simplicity, tapa and penance delighted Vishnu. Later on, she gave birth to nine daughters and a little after, Kapila, an incarnation of lord Vishnu took birth. It opened the gates to the infinite areas of knowledge divine and the spirit, and she identified ‘the self’ with the ‘Supreme Lord’. Kardama and Devahuti spoke eloquently of worldly knowledge and wisdom, of a life of austerity and penance, and of devotion to a cause of humankind and spiritual enlightenment, and taught art of meaningful objective life to man and humanity with contemporary undertones.

Once upon a time, the wise men and the scholars of history considered seriously, and thought about the dynasty of Swayambhuva Manu, the most revered and eminent. Devahuti the princess, who married sage Kardama belonged to the lineage of Manu. The lord blessed Devahuti with eight limbs of Yoga. How sage Kardama married princess Devahuti carried an interesting background. Kardama practiced penance and meditation on the riverbank of Saraswati for ten thousand years. He was engaged in rigorous worship, deep tapa, meditation, austerity and Yajnas, concentrated on Sri Hari, and thus, at last, pleased the supreme Lord. The Supreme Soul appeared before sage Kardama in the image of sacred divine word – the Vedas.

Kardama prostrated in a spirit of divine ecstasy before the lord. The Supreme Lord smiled and blessed. The sage touched feet of the lord and out of deep feelings of devotion and bhakti, eulogized him for the blessings and generosity he granted to the living beings and the devotees. He was grateful to the Supreme Creator, who offered shelter to devotees under the benign umbrella of virtues and blessings. Out of love and devotion, he made an appeal. He wished the lord to provide devotees a few pleasures of senses when they could live with power of inscrutable Maya (the deluding potency and divine energy). He also spoke of the splendid wreath of basil leaves – thought as a form of infinite Maya.

The lord did not keep devotees in tension and anticipation. The great sage prayed for the blessing of pleasures of the senses for the devotees (the mortals) and the lord was ready to bless he knew. The lord told of King Swayambhuva Manu, a son of Brahma, who governed with the power of truth and righteousness. Queen Satarupa knew the secrets of dharma he told. The lord revealed that Satarupa would marry one of the daughters to him, who would give birth to nine daughters from the seed of sage Kardama. The sage would obey instructions of the lord and finally, attain self-realization. Sage Kardama would teach Devahuti and nine daughters a system of philosophy relating to the ultimate principles of life (Prakrti, Purusa, Iswara) and knowledge. The lord revealed future events and left for the heavenly abode.

Sage Kardama was aware of future as the lord revealed and the events he unfolded before, would take shape in the near future. He visualised a life of fulfillment, pleasure and meaning. He desired earthly pleasures for the devotees so that they could live a complete life. It was totality of experience and knowledge the sage sought. Without living a life of a householder, a man could not boast of a full and whole life. When he left for the heavenly abode, sage Kardama stayed in the hermitage and waited for the right time because he believed in destiny.

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At an auspicious moment, King Swayambhuva Manu, queen Satarupa and daughter Devahuti arrived at the ashrama with regal spectacle. A great scene of earthly splendour and royal brilliance enchanted. He found an aura of righteousness, truth, peace, love and dharma engulfing the three Worlds. The royal entourage presented a magnificent treat to the eyes of beholders. Soon, the royal couple and entourage entered the sage’s hermitage. King Manu bowed before sage Kardama in reverence and the holy man greeted and blessed the king and the queen, and granted majestic honour and respect. It was an age and time of truth and a word spoken appeared to have effective existence.

Sage Kardama told King Manu, “You frequently go about, visit people and the entire kingdom. Vicious people fear, go underground and if noticed anywhere, face threat to life or an end of a despicable life. At the same time, the virtuous flourish, and truth and dharma prevail.” It naturally pleased Manu.

He further praised and said, “If irreverent men come to govern then the moral laws ruling various classes of society will break and quite evidently, a very dreadful state will emerge and so, the noble men will suffer the burden of unrighteous people.” He told politely. If the law of dharma and truth determine psyche of the rulers and the kings, untruth and adharma vanish he said again.

“Do not to think of anything else but kingdom, people and dharma, which alone were the keys to salvation.” The holy man advised. A wonderful and divine talk continued.

At last, Kardama said, “Whatever it is, O great king, tell, what objective brought you to the ashrama. Reveal the grand purpose and I shall try to fulfill.”

The sage’s unlimited praise and tributes cheered up, vanquished and humbled Manu. Kardama paid homage to the exalted virtues, exploits of the king, who now, lived life of a recluse. Because of the divine objective, Kardama advised Manu to perform majestic duties devotedly and faithfully. Manu did not lack in eulogizing virtues of tapa, penance, meditation, austerity and yoga (deep concentration) of Kardama, who was averse to earthly pleasures. He spoke of the duties of Brahmins and Ksatriyas, who protected each other and then, looked after the worldly affairs. If the king performs functions in intensity of genuineness, people live happily in peace. Thus, the immutable and absolute lord was the cause and the effect, and protected all the classes without distinction or prejudice.

King Manu said, “Your darshana dispelled inner suspicions and you affectionately underlined the duties of a king anxious to protect people. I am fortunate that you blessed and I came to the hermitage, for it is difficult for others, who do not subdue frailties of mind and heart to perceive realities. Now, that you advise genuinely and spell out the duties of kings, I am indebted to you for the great favour you did through alluring words and inspiration.”

He was quiet as peace and tranquility of Ashrama offered supreme quietude. He sat as if before an embodiment of truth and serenity. He had arrived with a purpose and wanted to unveil his inner wish but was hesitant.

Silence prevailed and Manu, the king looked at the sage’s calm face closely. After early faltering, said, “O sage, I am worried because of deep love for daughter Devahuti. So, kindly listen to the request I make. Devahuti is the sister of Prayavrata and Uttanapada and I am in search of a worthy match. The young man should possess qualities of age, head and heart. She heard from sage Narada about your noble character, learning, attractive figure, young age and virtues, and decided to accept you as husband. Therefore, O holy sage, accept Devahuti as wife. O Brahmin, I offer princess to you as wife with feelings of deep reverence.

Fit and suitable, she will be a perfect homemaker and discharge household duties. You do not ignore the objective of pleasure and delight of life sans attachment. Why talk of a man addicted to the pleasures of senses? O sage, do not spurn the offer. A man, who rejects a gift, shows disrespect, and then if he begs, it humiliates him and humbles reputation and pride because of impudence. I learn you are willing to marry. You respect the principles of celibacy I know and you are not averse to worldly pleasures. However, I understand you pledged to live a life of celibacy. I want you accept princess as wife.”

Kardama said, “You are right. I wish to marry her and understand you did not agree to marry Devahuti to anyone else and so, not betrothed yet. I am ready to accept her as wife.” He understood what constituted a full man. King Manu also offered firm and ample reasons, and was pragmatic.

After a pause, Kardama said, “It will be an endearing relation. Who would not accept Devahuti as a wife? She outshines natural splendour of brilliance of ornaments easily. Once Viswavasu, a Gandharava looked at the divine beauty of your daughter from the aerial car. Her beauty bewildered and out of intense obsession, he fell down I know. Now, the divine beauty Devahuti implores is an honour. I find no man, who would refuse to accept princess as wife. She is a sacred jewel and a symbol of womanhood, a daughter of a great king and a sister of Uttanapada. People not devoted to goddess Laksmi, cannot even dream of a glimpse of Devahuti’s feet. Therefore, O king, I accept her as wife with a condition.”

After a pause, he said, “I would stay with her and perform household duties as dharma until she bears a ray of the Supreme Spirit in the womb through me. Thereafter, I will devote life to the practice of self-control, discipline, tapa and penance as the Supreme Lord advised. A path of penance will not destroy but people will characterize it as life of a recluse. So, life will be devoted to immortal lord Sri Hari, a ruler even of Prajapatis (the lords of created beings).”

He uttered a solemn truth, fell silent and meditated on the Supreme Lord. He appeared an incarnation of virtues as he concentrated on the lord of a lotus-adorned navel. The divine smiles on the holy face of Kardama captivated Devahuti. The king knew the inner feelings and intents of queen Satarupa and Devahuti, and therefore, did not hesitate to offer the hand of princess to virtuous sage Kardama and thus, Devahuti got a right man as husband.

Happy Satarupa gave many valuable gifts like gold, jewels, costly clothes and household articles, which she felt were suitable to the status of a queen. With a very heavy heart, the king and the queen took leave of sage Kardama. Biding adieu to the daughter they withdrew. They did not know the mind of the holy man.

They came back to the capital and when people heard, they were overjoyed and celebrated the occasion. People greeted the royal couple with devotional songs, music and lyrics of praise. He ruled over a vast kingdom for a long time. He was not only a great and powerful king but also knew the art of life. Even when certain sages asked, he promptly agreed and taught people varied sacred duties of men in general. He was quick in kingly functions and assuaged the sufferings of people, and put emphasis on dharma. He was conscious of the different grades in society, stages in life and limitations of a ruler.

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If Manu was an emperor of splendour and grandeur, Devahuti, a holy woman also carved out a special place so that women follow. She was virtuous and pure. After the royal parents left the Ashrama, she understood the mind of husband Kardama. She was now, dedicated to Kardama as if he was lord Shiva. Her devotion to Kardama was intense, and for her, it was equal to undergoing tapa. She attended to the sage every day and was particular about the sage’s comforts. She renounced thoughts and feelings of lust and passion, deceit, malice, greed and avariciousness, sin, ego, pride and vanity, and never cared to think of forbidden areas.

She was ever ready to dedicate comforts and life to the service of sage Kardama and thus, was cautious and devotional, and satisfied Kardama. She won the heart of the holy man. She was modest, soft, faithful, loyal and devoted, and unsullied in fidelity, reverence, and exhibited utmost restraint on senses. Sage Kardama was greater than even the god and the Providence she knew. Devahuti nursed hopes but did not wish to disturb sage’s meditation and devotion.

She did not express feelings of pain and even while engaged in austere penance, she served Kardama, and therefore, began to appear frail and emaciated. She was also devoted to religious duties and adhered firmly to the dictums of dharma. Kardama, a celestial sage was a bit remorseful when he noticed Devahuti’s weak and pale physique.

Feelings of empathy and kindness deeply troubled, and worries for the loyal wife mounted vastly and, therefore, one day, in intensity of love, he said in wavering and muffled intonation, “O pious daughter of Manu, you proved enormous respect for me, and I am satisfied and delighted. Wonderful devotion and service to me has pleased. All living beings love and respect mortal bodies but without caring for physical frames, you, without resentment continuously served, and was never upset that you were weak.”

He said again, “I attained mystical powers, blessings and vision through the intensity of tapa, deep meditation, penance and yoga and I am free from fear and grief. You are equally a beneficiary of the divine and godly powers because you served me well with no groan.” He was emotional it seemed and expressed genuine gratitude to Devahuti for the wonderful support and love when he was engaged in austere penance.

He thought for some time, looked at the angelic and very happy face, and said, “O holy woman, I confer on you a divine and supernatural vision and hereafter, you’ll enjoy the divine blessings, and then, earthly pleasures will enrich and gratify you. Joys, even if heavenly, are just of no use and are a mere contraction of eyebrow of the almighty Lord, who wields infinite power and destroys short-lived pleasures. You find nothing beyond. You attained the objects of enjoyment with the strength of abundant dedication and fidelity. You have the divine eye, and take pleasure in the pervasive joys of the world and the world beyond. O holy girl, people, who own everything, cannot attain such pleasures because unfortunately, they are besotted with sins of ego and pride. They do not have the divine eye to enjoy pleasures. False notions of regal dignity do not permit genuine pleasures.”

Very soft and gratifying utterances of Kardama delighted Devahuti. She felt relieved, smiles brightened up the quiet and radiant face as she recognized that sage Kardama was a supreme yogic guru, who knew different forms of worship and religious disciplines and etiquettes. For some time, they sat quietly. After a pause, she gathered spirits, looked at the sage’s calm face, and said out of humility, modesty and intense love.

“O holy Brahmin, I know what you said. It is quite natural. You are the lord of unfailing yogic powers, exert divine potency (Maya), and so possess the pleasures of heaven. O lord, time has come to fulfill a promise you gave to father King Manu at the time of marriage… that you will enjoy passions and comforts of married life (the life of a householder) and sow the holy seed. It is possible if you…intimate contact is a divine necessity to fulfill the word given to father Manu.” She was hesitant, a bit shy and silent for a while.

After a short break, she said again, “It is a rare boon for a virtuous wife to give birth to children through a highly venerable husband. O sage, tell what suitable arrangements are required before the union. Kindly instruct so that I arrange ubtan (an Ayurvedic beauty paste) and massage the body properly so that I look fresh, beautiful and pleasing. I require perfumes, food suited to the occasion and essential attractive, glorifying and beautifying valuables, which make union effective and loveable and so, guidelines of the scriptures need proper care.”

She was conscious of the sacredness of creation. She looked demurely at the sage and said in low voice, “I look weak, and wish to make emaciated body fit and healthy, and in the intensity of passions, I wish union, and eagerly wait for a passionate blending of bodies and souls. A suitable place and house for the divine union is required, which should look befitting for the sacred occasion. A great creation is involved you know and, therefore, I want you to give a careful thought.” The wise and sincere saintly woman captivated sage Kardama.

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He listened to her with deep affection and delight and so, wanted to oblige beloved Devahuti. He meditated deeply and with the wonderful yogic powers created an aerial car almost a huge mansion, a splendid palace, a structure containing pleasures and joys of life available on a mere wish, and which could fly anywhere. It was the most gorgeous and dazzling mansion decorated with various jewels and had pillars adorned with precious stones. Finely endowed with every form of wealth, the divine palace was to grow and grow and not shrink at all, and then, the divinity-filled beauties, glories, bliss and happiness of the material world yielded joys and delight to enrich life sage Kardama anticipated.

The vast and magnificent mansion contained provisions of household articles with mystical and magical qualities. The grandeur of mansion was a treat to the eyes and appeared pleasure giving in all seasons and it pleased everyone with celestial articles. Well-decorated with multi-coloured buntings, colourful flags, garlands and wreaths of flowers of various hues attracted the bees and flying insects and then, tapestries of linen, cotton and silk and fine woven fabrics of various kinds and colours decorated the mansion to add magic to the entire palace of enjoyment. In fact, a colossal and grand palace with wonderful cushions, beds, fans and seats pleased the eyes and excited passions and love. Unique engravings on the walls and pavements of emerald and coral daisies enhanced its beauty.

It was difficult to describe the glory and beauty. Fantastically decorated doors, windows, thresholds, walls and roofs, looked awesome. He decorated the mansion with coral, diamond, jewels, pearls, and sapphire and fitted it with the crown golden pinnacles and rubies so that it looks amazing. He executed the plan with great care and naturally, it offered a divine look to the beholders. Furnished with amazing canopies and costly golden trappings it looked grand. Many swans, pigeons and birds added charm. It had comfortable playgrounds, bedrooms, lavish sitting rooms, inner and outer yards for fun and it surprised even the creator. A divine creation looked marvelous to the sage, who created it for beloved Devahuti.

The sage appeared puzzled when he looked at Devahuti because she did not appear contented. Kardama could read the minds of the people with yogic eye. Devahuti did not want a fabulous divine palace. This he understood and therefore, the princess was not charmed.

He thought, looked at Devahuti and said, “O shy Devahuti, take bath in the lake not very far off and then, board the divine mansion-like aircraft lord Vishnu consecrated. The divine lake fulfills desires of human beings, and the aerial mansion bestows joys, grants boons and fulfills earnest wishes of living beings.” Devahuti, at that time, did not look very beautiful. Dirty, filthy and muddy clothes, matted hair with wrinkled layer of dust gave unclean and wretched look.

The holy woman, a Sadhvi devoted to the service of husband appeared pitiable, weak and withered with coats of dust on body and perhaps, it was a deliberate act so that passions and lust do not agitate body. However, she entered the holy lake and in the depths of lake, she observed one thousand young women-attendants emitting enchanting fragrance.

The entourage of beauty greeted Devahuti reverentially and as she took bath, young girls messaged costly oil. Gently sweet and aromatic Devahuti with costly attire and many fabulous and precious golden and jeweled ornaments looked brilliant, glorious and charming. Devahuti’s neck, wrists, waists, fingers, arms and anklets adorned with jewels and gold ornaments, amazed. The gold bedecked girdle of jewels cast a magic spell. Devahuti of divine gaze and looks emerged divinely blessed and adorned but observed utmost self-restraint and was least worried about the physique and health.

As a devoted wife, maybe, she wanted to assist Kardama engaged in tapa and penance. Young entourage beautified Devahuti and she looked awesome. Now, a striking and divine young woman of devastating physical charms stood to please or perhaps seduce the sage, for she nursed a great objective a man of modern insight may fail to recognise.

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Thereafter, Devahuti and sage Kardama mounted a gorgeous divine aerial mansion. One thousand young women (Vidyadharas – mystic beings, semi-gods of magic powers) helped princess Devahuti as she ascended the aircraft, and cared for her physical comforts. Kardama never lost yogic glow and shine. Therefore, the pleasure aircraft provided abundant joys whether earthly or divine to the sage and beloved Devahuti. A journey of pleasure and joys profuse continued for many years in the valley of Mount Meru, and in natural splendor, the holy couple lived an enriching life. The luxuries to enjoy and cherish beauty and grandeur of heavenly gardens Surasana, Nandana Pushabhadra and various pleasure resorts bestowed unique fulfillment.

They were enamoured to see the pleasure grounds of the guardians of the four quarters, the places of joys where the gods and the lords of paradise (Indra, Fire-Agni, and the lord of dharma – Punishment- Yama, Niriti, Varuna- the lord of Water, the Wind-Vayu, the lord of Riches- Kubera and Shiva) enjoyed with the divine spouses. Afterward, they wandered in the eight directions to which one could turn in search of an auspicious fruit. All the places blessed with the divine joy were cool, gentle, soft, musical, calming, fragrant, and aromatic breezes blew to stimulate passion and love as a tuneful waterfall from a heavenly stream offered soothing experience. Thus, the journey was a voyage to exciting pleasures and a pilgrimage to the triple world. They enjoyed a journey of intense ecstasy as sage Kardama took Devahuti to the terrestrial globe of many wonders.

After the end of the journey and the realization of a holy purpose, they returned to the hermitage. Now, the sage visualised an elevating time for more pleasure and fulfillment. Devahuti wanted union of bodies and souls, and so to satisfy her desires, the sage of splendid divine and yogic powers, divided ‘the self’ into nine divine figures and assumed different beautiful shapes and thereafter, enjoyed life for years but it appeared just a moment.

He gave Devahuti the pleasures of the material and the celestial worlds. They spent many years in the aerial car and shared charming moments of pleasures. Devahuti did not know and failed to realize that time had lost meaning. Intense enjoyment blessed with yogic powers it was and they continued to live in joy and delight for thousands of years, and forgot everything else. Strangely enough, they were still unconscious. Kardama knew what disturbed the mind of Devahuti and therefore, felt it was time to fulfill the most cherished yearning. Afterward, she gave birth to nine little daughters of virtues of intellect, heart and physique.

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The birth of Kapila – After living the life of a householder, Kardama was ready to live as an ascetic, Vishnu as Kapila takes birth through the holy woman

An understanding reached long back, at the time of wedding, proved true and therefore, Kardama did not retreat. Now, it was time for the sage to go and adopt the life of a recluse. Devahuti knew that he would go. She had nursed a secret desire for a long time. She gave birth to nine divine daughters and was satisfied. Now, she burnt with an ardent desire of a son. It was a difficult moment to reveal inner thoughts and feelings. Therefore, out of shyness with head bent low, she scratched the ground with the thumb of foot and controlled tears but wore a smile on the lips. A feeling of agitation and agony troubled deeply.

After a few moments, in low and soft but captivating voice, she said, “I know O holy sage that you fulfilled all the promises. I, as a wife take shelter at the holy feet and entreat before you. You grant immunity from whatever I say, for words may not appeal. O monk, listen carefully. The daughters will go when they find suitable men and then, I would live alone and none would be around to lessen sorrows and sufferings born of loneliness. At that time, you will undergo penance in the forest. I tell you O holy man I enjoyed the objects of senses adequately but ignored the Supreme Spirit. I was unaware of your transcendent glory and so I loved you truly, and as a devoted wife I was lost in the joys of life and was attached to objects of the senses.”

She did not conceal and tried to convince, and was genuinely true. She was under the influence of the lord’s deluding powers and potency and so failed to seek liberation from the bondages of mundane life even after the celestial love of the sage, the fountainhead of divine beatitude and delight.

Devahuti tended keenly a desire as an ordinary woman and therefore, opened up heart and it was not a slip or an offense. A woman gives birth to a child and fulfills a divine mission. Creation is possible if a person enjoys the blessings of Brahma. Earlier, Devahuti (a daughter of Manu), a virtuous and worthy woman, had revealed inner wishes casually out of detachment but it was an expression of earnestness and dedication to Kardama. At that time, many questions had disturbed the sage.

Sage Kardama thought deeply, smiled and spread aura of kindness and charity, did not cause delay and asked her to recall words of Vishnu.

As she tried to ponder over the words of Vishnu, he spoke gently, “O holy woman, you are immaculate and faultless in conduct. Do not worry. The eternal lord will soon bless you because you are a woman of sacred vows. God bless you. Pursue tenets of austerity, and worship the lord with reverence and devotion, control wayward senses, and observe religious teachings contained in holy books and the great lord would sanctify you.”

“Asceticism, tapa and penance will propitiate lord Vishnu. He will take birth through you and spread fame and knowledge I attained, and later, break knots of ignorance. At that time, he will initiate you to the knowledge of the Spirit and then, you would identify ‘the self’ with the ‘Supreme Lord.”

Sage Kardama said as his face brightened up with divine glow. Revelation astonished. Devahuti was immensely pleased that lord Vishnu will take birth through her.

Devahuti, a woman of virtues, truth and faith was respectful and when the monk spoke of the birth of Vishnu through her, immense devotion filled her, and rightly, she experienced ecstatic moments of divine joy. Henceforth, she was devoted to Vishnu. After a long time, lord Vishnu, the slayer of demon Madhu, manifested through the generative fluid (of Kardama) like fire emerging out of firewood and so, the lord descended on earth.

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As the lord landed on earth, obviously various gods, the celestial beings and many in guises played on musical instruments, as thundering roars of laughter filled surroundings. Gandharvas (the celestial musicians) sang in praise of the lord. The celestial nymphs danced in joy abundant, nature in unusual beauty and tranquil ointment blessed the place and holy woman, as lord Vishnu arrived on earth. Brahma, the self-born, Marichi and many sages arrived at the Ashrama of Kardama as river Saraswati surrounded the holy souls. He knew that the lord was none other than the Supreme Brahma, who had arrived as pure Sattva to spread the knowledge of Sankhya (a system of philosophy) and determine the nature and the feature of basic principles.

The Supreme Brahma said, “You truly obey and worship me and also respect others. I am happy.”

The great lord told that he rendered correct services to His father. Like a true son, the people revered, for it was in truth, a divine function.

He told, “O sage Kardama, your beautiful and chaste daughters, O worthy child, will increase progeny and so, it will multiply manifold through the descendents. It is an auspicious occasion and so you give away girls to the sages namely Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha … in marriage based on the qualities and virtues of the young girls. Intrinsic worth, fondness, temperament and beauty should determine the union and if you do it, eminence will spread and glorify.”

The Supreme revealed that the Ancient Person had already descended on earth through the deluding potency and the wonderful creative energy in the person of Kapila. Kardama was calm and beholden to the divine gift.

The Supreme turned to Devahuti, “With golden hair, lotus like eyes, and feet and soles bearing the signs of a lotus flower is lord Vishnu, who is born to you O holy Devahuti. He will spread the message and the principles of knowledge and tear off the roots of Karma through the strength of scriptures. O holy woman, he will cut the knot of ignorance, false images, visions, illusions and delusions, wander around the world, teach and extol the principles of knowledge. He will be the lord of Siddhas. The teachers of Sankhya philosophy (a system that determines the nature of the principles governing life) will revere him and the entire world will know him as sage Kapila, who would glorify you.”

It was an unrivaled amazing gift. The Supreme chose Devahuti, a woman of marvelous spiritual strength as a path to descend on earth in mortal form to teach the Sankhya system of philosophy.

Brahma assured the woman, the holy monk, and so, the most blessed couple proudly took care of ‘the great reason’ and to fulfill the divine wish he was to live, exist and spread the messages of divinity and knowledge. Supreme Brahma chose the Ashrama as a holy abode and descended. Later on, Brahma the Creator, sage Sanaka and brothers, and Narada mounted the celestial swan and returned to Brahmloka (Satyloka) thought as the highest sphere that stretches beyond the three worlds and left behind sage Marichi and many sages to espouse the divine cause and fulfill the heavenly wish already defined. Kardama married off nine daughters to the sages as ordained. He knew he was a medium to execute the divine plan.

As ordained, Kardama fulfilled the divine objective after the birth of nine daughters whereas Kapila (the Supreme Lord) took birth as the son of Kardama and Devahuti.

As the Supreme Brahma instructed, Kardama, without wasting time, strictly adhered to the injunctions of scriptures and offered fantastic and virtuous daughters Kala, Ansuya, Sradha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Khyati, Arundhati and Santi to Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasistha and Atharva respectively. The lords of the created beings, the sages wielded authority on scriptures, Yajnas and the sacrificial rituals of import. The created beings of the three worlds venerated and worshipped the holy men immensely. He solemnized marriages of the sages properly and obeyed injunctions of scriptures, and after the marriage, religiously propitiated the sages and the spouses. After the marriage, the great sages with wives took leave of Kardama and Devahuti, and imbued with the spirit of joy and ecstasy went to respective hermitages, for each one was ordained to fulfill the celestial Decree.

The holy couple was alone after bidding adieu to the newly married couples. Kardama thought of past, of sin and of guilt he carried for a long time because the pleasure jaunts with Devahuti disturbed him immensely. He learnt of a great secret.

He thought, “Lord Vishnu, an embodiment of three pairs of divine attributes – power and affluence, piety and distinction, wisdom and dispassion, took birth as a son.”

He was anxious and so went to the lord when alone and spoke hesitantly, “O god, people suffer because of Karmas of sin and guilt but when they act virtuously and dedicate ‘the selves’ to the lord, the gods are happy and after a long time, show grace and bless. However, the truth striving souls seek it and try to realize truth in lonely places and undergo intense penance. The souls of penance mature after many births and reach truth of the lord, and thereafter, promote the cause of devotees while the lord protects and blesses the virtuous souls. This time, the lord appeared in the house of a worldly man, not caring for ignominy it would bring. O lord, you alone transcend various forms worthy of you. It is a mystery. I am puzzled.”

The lord listened to Kardama quietly with benign meaningful smile but said nothing.

Sage Kapila realised the presence of the Supreme lord and to him he appeared as the Primordial Matter, the Spirit or the Principle of cosmic intelligence, the Time Spirit, the threefold attributes Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic the attributes of pure and natural activities, an essence of stimulation and movement. Sattvic qualities spread peace and harmony. Rajasic indicated motion and energy and similar attributes, whereas Tamasic stood for laziness, volatility, amorality, ego, various worlds, and the guardians.

He oversaw everything and was the Consciousness. Now, he realised the truth and the commandments of the Supreme Brahma, who had earlier asked him to get married, and beget children. He was a sage, who reached the highest through the Supreme lord, who blessed him with the worldly pleasures (the earthly and the spiritual). Now, he felt he did whatever the Supreme Creator expected. Therefore, he decided to tread the path of ascetics, and concentrate only on the Supreme lord, so that in future, he is free from the bondages.

At that time, the Supreme lord said, “Whatever I say is truth. O monk, whatever I speak of the Vedic and earthly matters whether secular or sacred, is the truth. I told you I would take birth in your house. I proved it and took birth through you and Devahuti as Kapila. My birth will benefit people, who seek release from the burden of subtle bodies through self-realization. I learnt from the cultured sages and men of tapa that the path of self-knowledge is mysterious and obscure. Only an ardent seeker strives hard to attain the sacred objective and therefore, I took birth.

He continued, “O great sage, you go wherever you want. Conquer death though it is very difficult. You concentrate and dedicate life to me and attain immortality. Know that I, the supreme self-effulgent Spirit, dwell in the hearts of all through you (intellect) and so you will be free from sorrows, and achieve a fearless state. In due course of time, I shall impart spiritual knowledge to mother Devahuti. The knowledge and power of virtues liberate a man from bondages of actions and so, she will not fear transmigration and shall attain supreme joy.”

Afterward, sage Kapila was lost in deep deliberation.

Kardama heard sage Kapila, went around him as a mark of respect and later, straightway left for the forest filled with divine joy and love. A unique definition to a relationship between a son and a father emerges while it does not ignore the divine principle of life and birth where Devahuti stood tall to oversee what a father and a son achieve.

Sage Kardama took a vow of non-violence, renounced sacrificial fire and dwelling, and began to roam around the entire globe away from the worldly attachment. He concentrated mind on the Supreme Creator and attained union with the lord. Kardama was a sage on earth, who moved to the world of spirit, tapa (penance), deep devotion and meditation, and thus, was a realised soul. Later on, as ordained, he lived as an ordinary man but still, was a man of divine powers and deluding potency that he had attained earlier through intense tapa, and thereafter, enjoyed a life of pleasures, and consequently, gave to the world, a great sage – god personified, an incarnation of god.

Discipline and intense devotion to a cause makes life meaningful. It is not essential that a man always lives an austere life, sits alone and detached. It is a way of life when one lives among the men of the world and practices certain principles that work as guidelines to future generations. To that extent, Kardama lived life of a sage and a man of world as well, and as a man of profound wisdom and knowledge before whom, even the great lord bowed. It is possible, sometime in future, very near or possibly, very far away in future, a man with the virtuous attributes and power of wisdom appears and teaches humanity, the men of the world the art of living life lost in infected attitude of materialistic pursuits of greed, violence and selfishness.

A troubled and wise modern man may hope that someone appears and propounds the principles of life of virtues, truth, honesty, devotion, tapa and worldly pleasures and then, ultimately leads to the path of salvation even if it is open to a few – a wishful thought but to yearn for the well-being of future is not a sin. That way, sage Kardama and Devahuti convey a special message to humankind.

About the Author:

PCK Prem (PC Katoch Of Garh-Malkher, Palampur, Himachal, A Former Academician, Civil Servant And Member Himachal Public Service Commission, Shimla), an author of more than fifty-five books, is a poet, novelist, short story writer, translator and a critic in English and Hindi. Associated with several social/ literary organizations, he has brought out eleven volumes of poetry besides six books on criticism, four books on ancient literature, two on folk tales, six novels and three collections of short fiction. In Hindi, he authored twenty novels, nine books on short fiction and a collection of poems besides critical articles, reviews and critiques published in various national and international journals and anthologies. PCK Prem - Echoing Time and Civilizations 2015 and The Spirit of Age and Ideas (in the Novels of PCK Prem) in 2016 and Kathasagar of PCK Prem are books on him.