The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahuti

Verse 1 (bhagavata.3.22.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच एवमाविष्कृताशेषगुणकर्मोदयो मुनिम् । सव्रीड इव तं सम्राडुपारतमुवाच ह ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca evam āviṣkṛtāśeṣa- guṇa-karmodayo munim savrīḍa iva taṁ samrāḍ upāratam uvāca ha

Maitreya said: Having thus disclosed the full measure of his virtues and deeds, when the sage fell silent, the emperor, as though overcome with modesty, addressed him.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.3.22.2)

मनुरुवाच ब्रह्मासृजत्स्वमुखतो युष्मानात्मपरीप्सया । छन्दोमयस्तपोविद्यायोगयुक्तानलम्पटान् ॥ २ ॥

manur uvāca brahmāsṛjat sva-mukhato yuṣmān ātma-parīpsayā chandomayas tapo-vidyā- yoga-yuktān alampaṭān

Manu said: Brahma, the very embodiment of the Vedas, desiring to sustain and protect himself, created you brahmanas from his own mouth, endowed with austerity, sacred knowledge, and yoga, and untouched by indulgence in sense pleasures.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.3.22.3)

तत्त्राणायासृजच्चास्मान् दोःसहस्रात्सहस्रपात् । हृदयं तस्य हि ब्रह्म क्षत्रमङ्गं प्रचक्षते ॥ ३ ॥

tat-trāṇāyāsṛjac cāsmān doḥ-sahasrāt sahasra-pāt hṛdayaṁ tasya hi brahma kṣatram aṅgaṁ pracakṣate

And for their protection, that thousand-footed Lord created us from His thousand arms; hence brahmanas are called His heart, and kshatriyas His very limbs.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.3.22.4)

अतो ह्यन्योन्यमात्मानं ब्रह्म क्षत्रं च रक्षतः । रक्षति स्माव्ययो देवः स यः सदसदात्मकः ॥ ४ ॥

ato hy anyonyam ātmānaṁ brahma kṣatraṁ ca rakṣataḥ rakṣati smāvyayo devaḥ sa yaḥ sad-asad-ātmakaḥ

For this reason, brahmanas and kshatriyas protect one another as well as themselves; and thus that imperishable Lord, who is Himself both cause and effect, protects them through each other.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.3.22.5)

तव सन्दर्शनादेवच्छिन्ना मे सर्वसंशयाः । यत्स्वयं भगवान् प्रीत्या धर्ममाह रिरक्षिषोः ॥ ५ ॥

tava sandarśanād eva cchinnā me sarva-saṁśayāḥ yat svayaṁ bhagavān prītyā dharmam āha rirakṣiṣoḥ

By the mere sight of you, all my doubts have been resolved, for you yourself, most worshipful one, have lovingly explained the duty of one who desires to protect his people.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.3.22.6)

दिष्टया मे भगवान् दृष्टो दुर्दर्शो योऽकृतात्मनाम् । दिष्टया पादरजः स्पृष्टं शीर्ष्णा मे भवतः शिवम् ॥ ६ ॥

diṣṭyā me bhagavān dṛṣṭo durdarśo yo ’kṛtātmanām diṣṭyā pāda-rajaḥ spṛṣṭaṁ śīrṣṇā me bhavataḥ śivam

By good fortune I have beheld you, worshipful one, so hard to see for those of unrestrained mind; by good fortune the auspicious dust of your feet has touched my head.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.3.22.7)

दिष्टया त्वयानुशिष्टोऽहं कृतश्चानुग्रहो महान् । अपावृतैः कर्णरन्ध्रैर्जुष्टा दिष्ट्योशतीर्गिरः ॥ ७ ॥

diṣṭyā tvayānuśiṣṭo ’haṁ kṛtaś cānugraho mahān apāvṛtaiḥ karṇa-randhrair juṣṭā diṣṭyośatīr giraḥ

By good fortune I have received your instruction, and a great favor has thereby been bestowed upon me; by good fortune, with open ears, I have taken in your pure words.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.3.22.8)

स भवान्दुहितृस्नेहपरिक्लिष्टात्मनो मम । श्रोतुमर्हसि दीनस्य श्रावितं कृपया मुने ॥ ८ ॥

sa bhavān duhitṛ-sneha- parikliṣṭātmano mama śrotum arhasi dīnasya śrāvitaṁ kṛpayā mune

O sage, may you be graciously pleased to hear, out of compassion, the plea of this humble self of mine, my heart troubled by love for my daughter.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.3.22.9)

प्रियव्रतोत्तानपदोः स्वसेयं दुहिता मम । अन्विच्छति पतिं युक्तं वयः शीलगुणादिभिः ॥ ९ ॥

priyavratottānapadoḥ svaseyaṁ duhitā mama anvicchati patiṁ yuktaṁ vayaḥ-śīla-guṇādibhiḥ

This daughter of mine, sister of Priyavrata and Uttanapada, is seeking a husband suited to her in age, character, and every virtue.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.3.22.10)

यदा तु भवतः शीलश्रुतरूपवयोगुणान् । अशृणोन्नारदादेषा त्वय्यासीत्कृतनिश्चया ॥ १० ॥

yadā tu bhavataḥ śīla- śruta-rūpa-vayo-guṇān aśṛṇon nāradād eṣā tvayy āsīt kṛta-niścayā

The moment she heard from Narada of your character, learning, beauty, age, and virtues, her heart became fixed and resolved upon you alone.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.3.22.11)

तत्प्रतीच्छ द्विजाग्र्येमां श्रद्धयोपहृतां मया । सर्वात्मनानुरूपां ते गृहमेधिषु कर्मसु ॥ ११ ॥

tat pratīccha dvijāgryemāṁ śraddhayopahṛtāṁ mayā sarvātmanānurūpāṁ te gṛhamedhiṣu karmasu

Therefore, O foremost of brahmanas, accept her, whom I offer to you in good faith, wholly suited to you in the duties of household life.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.3.22.12)

उद्यतस्य हि कामस्य प्रतिवादो न शस्यते । अपि निर्मुक्तसङ्गस्य कामरक्तस्य किं पुनः ॥ १२ ॥

udyatasya hi kāmasya prativādo na śasyate api nirmukta-saṅgasya kāma-raktasya kiṁ punaḥ

To refuse a desire that presents itself unbidden is not commendable even for one free of all attachment; how much less, then, for one who is inclined toward desire?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.3.22.13)

य उद्यतमनादृत्य कीनाशमभियाचते । क्षीयते तद्यशः स्फीतं मानश्चावज्ञया हतः ॥ १३ ॥

ya udyatam anādṛtya kīnāśam abhiyācate kṣīyate tad-yaśaḥ sphītaṁ mānaś cāvajñayā hataḥ

He who disregards what is freely offered and goes instead to beg from a miser sees his widespread fame diminish, his honor destroyed by the contempt of others.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.3.22.14)

अहं त्वाशृणवं विद्वन् विवाहार्थं समुद्यतम् । अतस्त्वमुपकुर्वाणः प्रत्तां प्रतिगृहाण मे ॥ १४ ॥

ahaṁ tvāśṛṇavaṁ vidvan vivāhārthaṁ samudyatam atas tvam upakurvāṇaḥ prattāṁ pratigṛhāṇa me

O learned one, I have heard that you are prepared for marriage; therefore, since you have not vowed lifelong celibacy, accept this offering of mine.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.3.22.15)

ऋषिरुवाच बाढमुद्वोढुकामोऽहमप्रत्ता च तवात्मजा । आवयोरनुरूपोऽसावाद्यो वैवाहिको विधिः ॥ १५ ॥

ṛṣir uvāca bāḍham udvoḍhu-kāmo ’ham aprattā ca tavātmajā āvayor anurūpo ’sāv ādyo vaivāhiko vidhiḥ

The sage said: Indeed, I do wish to marry, and your daughter is not yet promised to anyone; this, the first form of the marriage rite, is fitting for the two of us.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.3.22.16)

कामः स भूयान्नरदेव तेऽस्याः पुत्र्याः समाम्नायविधौ प्रतीतः । क एव ते तनयां नाद्रियेत स्वयैव कान्त्या क्षिपतीमिव श्रियम् ॥ १६ ॥

kāmaḥ sa bhūyān naradeva te ’syāḥ putryāḥ samāmnāya-vidhau pratītaḥ ka eva te tanayāṁ nādriyeta svayaiva kāntyā kṣipatīm iva śriyam

O King, may this desire of your daughter, one recognized within the Vedic tradition, be fulfilled; who indeed would fail to honor your daughter, who by her own radiance seems to outshine even her own jewels?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.3.22.17)

यां हर्म्यपृष्ठे क्वणदङ्घ्रिशोभां विक्रीडतीं कन्दुकविह्वलाक्षीम् । विश्वावसुर्न्यपतत्स्वाद्विमाना- द्विलोक्य सम्मोहविमूढचेताः ॥ १७ ॥

yāṁ harmya-pṛṣṭhe kvaṇad-aṅghri-śobhāṁ vikrīḍatīṁ kanduka-vihvalākṣīm viśvāvasur nyapatat svād vimānād vilokya sammoha-vimūḍha-cetāḥ

I have heard that Vishvavasu, catching sight of her at play on the palace roof, her feet lovely with tinkling anklets, her eyes distracted by the ball-game, fell from his own celestial chariot, his mind utterly overcome with infatuation.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.3.22.18)

तां प्रार्थयन्तीं ललनाललाम- मसेवितश्रीचरणैरदृष्टाम् । वत्सां मनोरुच्चपदः स्वसारं को नानुमन्येत बुधोऽभियाताम् ॥ १८ ॥

tāṁ prārthayantīṁ lalanā-lalāmam asevita-śrī-caraṇair adṛṣṭām vatsāṁ manor uccapadaḥ svasāraṁ ko nānumanyeta budho ’bhiyātām

What wise man would fail to welcome her, this very jewel among women, unseen by those who have never served the feet of the goddess of fortune, the beloved daughter of Manu and sister of Uttanapada, who now comes seeking me of her own free will?

Verse 19 (bhagavata.3.22.19)

अतो भजिष्ये समयेन साध्वीं यावत्तेजो बिभृयादात्मनो मे । अतो धर्मान् पारमहंस्यमुख्यान् शुक्लप्रोक्तान् बहु मन्येऽविहिंस्रान् ॥ १९ ॥

ato bhajiṣye samayena sādhvīṁ yāvat tejo bibhṛyād ātmano me ato dharmān pāramahaṁsya-mukhyān śukla-proktān bahu manye ’vihiṁsrān

Therefore I shall accept this chaste woman, but on this one condition: that once she has borne my own seed, I shall then take up, with the deepest regard, the foremost duties of the paramahamsas, taught by the pure Lord Himself, and utterly free of violence.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.3.22.20)

यतोऽभवद्विश्वमिदं विचित्रं संस्थास्यते यत्र च वावतिष्ठते । प्रजापतीनां पतिरेष मह्यं परं प्रमाणं भगवाननन्तः ॥ २० ॥

yato ’bhavad viśvam idaṁ vicitraṁ saṁsthāsyate yatra ca vāvatiṣṭhate prajāpatīnāṁ patir eṣa mahyaṁ paraṁ pramāṇaṁ bhagavān anantaḥ

He from whom this wondrous universe arose, in whom it will one day dissolve, and in whom it presently abides, that Lord of the Prajapatis, the boundless Supreme Being, is for me the highest authority.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.3.22.21)

मैत्रेय उवाच स उग्रधन्वन्नियदेवाबभाषे आसीच्च तूष्णीमरविन्दनाभम् । धियोपगृह्णन् स्मितशोभितेन मुखेन चेतो लुलुभे देवहूत्याः ॥ २१ ॥

maitreya uvāca sa ugra-dhanvann iyad evābabhāṣe āsīc ca tūṣṇīm aravinda-nābham dhiyopagṛhṇan smita-śobhitena mukhena ceto lulubhe devahūtyāḥ

Maitreya said: O great bowman Vidura, having spoken only this much, Kardama fell silent, absorbed in his thoughts of the lotus-naveled Lord; and by his smiling countenance, Devahuti's very heart was captivated.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.3.22.22)

सोऽनुज्ञात्वा व्यवसितं महिष्या दुहितुः स्फुटम् । तस्मै गुणगणाढ्याय ददौ तुल्यां प्रहर्षितः ॥ २२ ॥

so ’nu jñātvā vyavasitaṁ mahiṣyā duhituḥ sphuṭam tasmai guṇa-gaṇāḍhyāya dadau tulyāṁ praharṣitaḥ

He, having clearly perceived the fixed decision of the Queen and his daughter, joyfully gave that daughter, herself a treasury of virtues, to the sage who was rich in every virtue.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.3.22.23)

शतरूपा महाराज्ञी पारिबर्हान्महाधनान् । दम्पत्योः पर्यदात्प्रीत्या भूषावासः परिच्छदान् ॥ २३ ॥

śatarūpā mahā-rājñī pāribarhān mahā-dhanān dampatyoḥ paryadāt prītyā bhūṣā-vāsaḥ paricchadān

Empress Shatarupa lovingly gave the couple a rich dowry: ornaments, garments, and articles for their household.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.3.22.24)

प्रत्तां दुहितरं सम्राट् सदृक्षाय गतव्यथः । उपगुह्य च बाहुभ्यामौत्कण्ठ्योन्मथिताशयः ॥ २४ ॥

prattāṁ duhitaraṁ samrāṭ sadṛkṣāya gata-vyathaḥ upaguhya ca bāhubhyām autkaṇṭhyonmathitāśayaḥ

The Emperor, his burden lifted now that he had given his daughter to a worthy husband, embraced her with both arms, his heart stirred and troubled by the pain of parting.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.3.22.25)

अशक्नुवंस्तद्विरहं मुञ्चन् बाष्पकलां मुहुः । आसिञ्चदम्ब वत्सेति नेत्रोदैर्दुहितुः शिखाः ॥ २५ ॥

aśaknuvaṁs tad-virahaṁ muñcan bāṣpa-kalāṁ muhuḥ āsiñcad amba vatseti netrodair duhituḥ śikhāḥ

Unable to bear the pain of losing her, weeping again and again, he cried, 'O mother! O child!' and drenched his daughter's hair with the tears from his own eyes.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.3.22.26)

आमन्त्र्य तं मुनिवरमनुज्ञातः सहानुगः । प्रतस्थे रथमारुह्य सभार्यः स्वपुरं नृपः ॥ २६ ॥

āmantrya taṁ muni-varam anujñātaḥ sahānugaḥ pratasthe ratham āruhya sabhāryaḥ sva-puraṁ nṛpaḥ

Taking leave of that foremost sage, and having received his permission, the King, together with his retinue, mounted his chariot with his queen and set off for his own capital.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.3.22.27)

उभयोऋर्षिकुल्यायाः सरस्वत्याः सुरोधसोः । ऋषीणामुपशान्तानां पश्यन्नाश्रमसम्पदः ॥ २७ ॥

ubhayor ṛṣi-kulyāyāḥ sarasvatyāḥ surodhasoḥ ṛṣīṇām upaśāntānāṁ paśyann āśrama-sampadaḥ

Along the way, he saw, on both the lovely banks of the Sarasvati so dear to the sages, the flourishing hermitages of the tranquil seers.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.3.22.28)

तमायान्तमभिप्रेत्य ब्रह्मावर्तात्प्रजाः पतिम् । गीतसंस्तुतिवादित्रैः प्रत्युदीयुः प्रहर्षिताः ॥ २८ ॥

tam āyāntam abhipretya brahmāvartāt prajāḥ patim gīta-saṁstuti-vāditraiḥ pratyudīyuḥ praharṣitāḥ

Learning of their lord's approach, the people of Brahmavarta, overjoyed, came out to meet him with songs, hymns of praise, and musical instruments.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.3.22.29)

बर्हिष्मती नाम पुरी सर्वसम्पत्समन्विता । न्यपतन् यत्र रोमाणि यज्ञस्याङ्गं विधुन्वतः ॥ २९ ॥

barhiṣmatī nāma purī sarva-sampat-samanvitā nyapatan yatra romāṇi yajñasyāṅgaṁ vidhunvataḥ

There stood the city named Barhishmati, blessed with every kind of prosperity, the very place where the hairs of the sacrificial Lord, in His boar form, had fallen as He shook His body.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.3.22.30)

कुशाः काशास्त एवासन् शश्वद्धरितवर्चसः । ऋषयो यैः पराभाव्य यज्ञघ्नान् यज्ञमीजिरे ॥ ३० ॥

kuśāḥ kāśās ta evāsan śaśvad-dharita-varcasaḥ ṛṣayo yaiḥ parābhāvya yajña-ghnān yajñam ījire

Those very hairs became kusha and kasha grasses, forever green, and with these the sages, having overcome the disturbers of sacrifice, worshiped the Lord of sacrifice.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.3.22.31)

कुशकाशमयं बर्हिरास्तीर्य भगवान्मनुः । अयजद्यज्ञपुरुषं लब्धा स्थानं यतो भुवम् ॥ ३१ ॥

kuśa-kāśamayaṁ barhir āstīrya bhagavān manuḥ ayajad yajña-puruṣaṁ labdhā sthānaṁ yato bhuvam

The worshipful Manu, spreading a seat woven of kusha and kasha grass, worshiped the Lord of sacrifice, from whom he had obtained his rule over the earth.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.3.22.32)

बर्हिष्मतीं नाम विभुर्यां निर्विश्य समावसत् । तस्यां प्रविष्टो भवनं तापत्रयविनाशनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

barhiṣmatīṁ nāma vibhur yāṁ nirviśya samāvasat tasyāṁ praviṣṭo bhavanaṁ tāpa-traya-vināśanam

Entering that city named Barhishmati, where he had dwelt before, the mighty Manu entered his palace, which dispelled the three kinds of suffering.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.3.22.33)

सभार्यः सप्रजः कामान् बुभुजेऽन्याविरोधतः । सङ्गीयमानसत्कीर्तिः सस्त्रीभिः सुरगायकैः । प्रत्यूषेष्वनुबद्धेन हृदा शृण्वन् हरेः कथाः ॥ ३३ ॥

sabhāryaḥ saprajaḥ kāmān bubhuje ’nyāvirodhataḥ saṅgīyamāna-sat-kīrtiḥ sastrībhiḥ sura-gāyakaiḥ praty-ūṣeṣv anubaddhena hṛdā śṛṇvan hareḥ kathāḥ

With his queen and his subjects, he enjoyed the pleasures of life without ever conflicting with dharma; celestial singers with their wives sang his pure fame, and every dawn he listened, with a devoted heart, to the tales of Hari.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.3.22.34)

निष्णातं योगमायासु मुनिं स्वायम्भुवं मनुम् । यदाभ्रंशयितुं भोगा न शेकुर्भगवत्परम् ॥ ३४ ॥

niṣṇātaṁ yoga-māyāsu muniṁ svāyambhuvaṁ manum yad ābhraṁśayituṁ bhogā na śekur bhagavat-param

Though thoroughly versed in the world's illusory enjoyments, Svayambhuva Manu, that sage devoted to the Supreme Lord, could not be made to fall from grace by them.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.3.22.35)

अयातयामास्तस्यासन् यामाःस्वान्तरयापनाः । शृण्वतो ध्यायतो विष्णोः कुर्वतो ब्रुवतः कथाः ॥ ३५ ॥

ayāta-yāmās tasyāsan yāmāḥ svāntara-yāpanāḥ śṛṇvato dhyāyato viṣṇoḥ kurvato bruvataḥ kathāḥ

His hours, though passing through the span of his life, were never wasted, for he spent them listening to, meditating upon, enacting, and speaking of the deeds of Vishnu.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.3.22.36)

स एवं स्वान्तरं निन्ये युगानामेकसप्ततिम् । वासुदेवप्रसङ्गेन परिभूतगतित्रयः ॥ ३६ ॥

sa evaṁ svāntaraṁ ninye yugānām eka-saptatim vāsudeva-prasaṅgena paribhūta-gati-trayaḥ

In this way he passed his entire Manvantara of seventy-one cycles of the four ages, absorbed in discourse on Vasudeva, and thus transcended the three ordinary destinations of rebirth.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.3.22.37)

शारीरा मानसा दिव्या वैयासे ये च मानुषाः । भौतिकाश्च कथं क्लेशा बाधन्ते हरिसंश्रयम् ॥ ३७ ॥

śārīrā mānasā divyā vaiyāse ye ca mānuṣāḥ bhautikāś ca kathaṁ kleśā bādhante hari-saṁśrayam

O son of Vyasa, how could any affliction, bodily, mental, divine, human, or elemental, ever trouble one who has taken shelter in Hari?

Verse 38 (bhagavata.3.22.38)

यः पृष्टो मुनिभिः प्राह धर्मान्नानाविदाञ्छुभान् । नृणां वर्णाश्रमाणां च सर्वभूतहितः सदा ॥ ३८ ॥

yaḥ pṛṣṭo munibhiḥ prāha dharmān nānā-vidhāñ chubhān nṛṇāṁ varṇāśramāṇāṁ ca sarva-bhūta-hitaḥ sadā

When questioned by the sages, Manu, ever devoted to the welfare of all beings, expounded the many kinds of auspicious dharma meant for humankind and for the varnas and ashramas.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.3.22.39)

एतत्त आदिराजस्य मनोश्चरितमद्भुतम् । वर्णितं वर्णनीयस्य तदपत्योदयं शृणु ॥ ३९ ॥

etat ta ādi-rājasya manoś caritam adbhutam varṇitaṁ varṇanīyasya tad-apatyodayaṁ śṛṇu

This wondrous account of the first monarch Manu, whose deeds are worthy of retelling, has now been told to you; now hear of the flourishing of his daughter.