Shloka 19
Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow
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
অতএব আমি এই সতী কন্যাকে পত্নীরূপে গ্রহণ করব, এই শর্তে যে সে আমার দেহজাত বীর্য ধারণ করে সন্তান প্রসব করবে; তারপর আমি পরমহংসদের গৃহীত, ভগবান বিষ্ণুপ্রোক্ত, ঈর্ষাহীন ভক্তিধর্মের পথ অবলম্বন করব।
Kardama Muni expressed his desire for a very beautiful wife to Emperor Svāyambhuva and accepted the Emperor’s daughter for marriage. Kardama Muni was in the hermitage practicing complete celibacy as a brahmacārī, and although he had the desire to marry, he did not want to be a householder for the whole span of his life because he was conversant with the Vedic principles of human life. According to Vedic principles, the first part of life should be utilized in brahmacarya for the development of character and spiritual qualities. In the next part of life, one may accept a wife and beget children, but one should not beget children like cats and dogs.
FAQs
This verse shows Kardama Muni modeling a progression: first honoring household responsibilities and bodily maintenance in a regulated way, and later embracing paramahaṁsa-dharma—higher renunciation centered on pure, nonviolent spirituality.
In the context of their marriage, Kardama assures Devahuti he will properly fulfill his responsibilities as a husband for an appropriate time, and then transition to the elevated spiritual path taught by Lord Viṣṇu (Śukla).
Perform duties responsibly without exploitation, cultivate nonviolence in thought and action, and gradually simplify life—making devotion and inner purity the primary goal as attachments lessen.