Shloka 12
Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation
Siddhapada
मैत्रेय उवाच इति प्रदर्श्य भगवान्सतीं तामात्मनो गतिम् । स्वमात्रा ब्रह्मवादिन्या कपिलोऽनुमतो ययौ ॥ १२ ॥
maitreya uvāca iti pradarśya bhagavān satīṁ tām ātmano gatim sva-mātrā brahma-vādinyā kapilo ’numato yayau
মৈত্রেয় বললেন—এইভাবে ভগবান কপিল তাঁর সাধ্বী মাতাকে আত্মগতির পথ প্রদর্শন করে উপদেশ দিলেন। ব্রহ্মবাদিনী মাতার অনুমতি নিয়ে, কর্তব্য সম্পন্ন করে, তিনি গৃহ ত্যাগ করে প্রস্থান করলেন।
The mission of the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Kapila was to distribute the transcendental knowledge of Sāṅkhya philosophy, which is full of devotional service. Having imparted that knowledge to His mother — and, through His mother, to the world — Kapiladeva had no more need to stay at home, so He took permission from His mother and left. Apparently He left home for spiritual realization, although He had nothing to realize spiritually because He Himself is the person to be spiritually realized. Therefore this is an example set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead while acting like an ordinary human being so that others might learn from Him. He could, of course, have stayed with His mother, but He indicated that there was no need to stay with the family. It is best to remain alone as a brahmacārī, sannyāsī or vānaprastha and cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout one’s whole life. Those who are unable to remain alone are given license to live in household life with wife and children, not for sense gratification but for cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Kapila clearly revealed to Devahuti the soul’s supreme destination—liberation through realized knowledge supported by devotion—after which His instruction was complete.
Because His purpose—showing His mother the path and goal of spiritual realization—was fulfilled, and with Devahuti’s consent as a realized ‘brahma-vādinī’, He left to continue His divine mission.
Receive teachings with sincerity, practice steadily (devotion, purification, and discernment), and honor the completion of guidance by applying it in life rather than only collecting more instruction.