Shloka 5
Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness
स वै देवर्षिवर्यस्तां मानवीं समनुव्रताम् । दैवाद्गरीयस: पत्युराशासानां महाशिष: ॥ ४ ॥ कालेन भूयसा क्षामां कर्शितां व्रतचर्यया । प्रेमगद्गदया वाचा पीडित: कृपयाब्रवीत् ॥ ५ ॥
sa vai devarṣi-varyas tāṁ mānavīṁ samanuvratām daivād garīyasaḥ patyur āśāsānāṁ mahāśiṣaḥ
মনুর কন্যা, যিনি স্বামীর প্রতি সম্পূর্ণ অনুগতা ও পতিব্রতা ছিলেন, তিনি কर्दম মুনিকে বিধির থেকেও শ্রেষ্ঠ মনে করে তাঁর কাছ থেকে মহা আশীর্বাদ প্রত্যাশা করতেন। দীর্ঘকাল সেবা ও ব্রতাচরণে তিনি দুর্বল ও কৃশ হয়ে পড়েন। তাঁর অবস্থা দেখে দেবর্ষিশ্রেষ্ঠ কर्दম করুণায় বিহ্বল হয়ে প্রেমে গদ্গদ কণ্ঠে কথা বললেন।
The wife is expected to be of the same category as the husband. She must be prepared to follow the principles of the husband, and then there will be happy life. If the husband is a devotee and the wife is materialistic, there cannot be any peace in the home. The wife must see the tendencies of the husband and must be prepared to follow him. From Mahābhārata we learn that when Gāndhārī understood that her would-be husband, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, was blind, she immediately began to practice blindness herself. Thus she covered her eyes and played the part of a blind woman. She decided that since her husband was blind, she must also act like a blind woman, otherwise she would be proud of her eyes, and her husband would be seen as inferior. The word samanuvrata indicates that it is the duty of a wife to adopt the special circumstances in which the husband is situated. Of course, if the husband is as great as Kardama Muni, then a very good result accrues from following him. But even if the husband is not a great devotee like Kardama Muni, it is the wife’s duty to adapt herself according to his mentality. That makes married life very happy. It is also mentioned herein that by following the strict vows of a chaste woman, Princess Devahūti became very skinny, and therefore her husband became compassionate. He knew that she was the daughter of a great king and yet was serving him just like an ordinary woman. She was reduced in health by such activities, and he became compassionate and addressed her as follows.
FAQs
This verse highlights Devahūti’s steady devotion (samanuvratā), willingness to serve, and disciplined vow-practice, even to the point of physical hardship.
Seeing her emaciated and worn by long austerity and service, Kardama was emotionally moved; his love and mercy compelled him to address her gently.
It teaches that sincere service and discipline should be met with empathy and care—true spirituality in family life includes compassion, not neglect.