Shloka 6
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
मैत्रेय उवाच प्रजा: सृजेति भगवान् कर्दमो ब्रह्मणोदित: । सरस्वत्यां तपस्तेपे सहस्राणां समा दश ॥ ६ ॥
maitreya uvāca prajāḥ sṛjeti bhagavān kardamo brahmaṇoditaḥ sarasvatyāṁ tapas tepe sahasrāṇāṁ samā daśa
Maitreya sprach: Auf Brahmās Geheiß — „erschaffe die Prajā“ — übte der verehrungswürdige Weise Kardama am Ufer der Sarasvatī zehntausend Jahre lang Buße.
It is understood herein that Kardama Muni meditated in yoga for ten thousand years before attaining perfection. Similarly, we have information that Vālmīki Muni also practiced yoga meditation for sixty thousand years before attaining perfection. Therefore, yoga practice can be successfully performed by persons who have a very long duration of life, such as one hundred thousand years; in that way it is possible to have perfection in yoga. Otherwise, there is no possibility of attaining the real perfection. Following the regulations, controlling the senses and practicing the different sitting postures are merely the preliminary practices. We do not know how people can be captivated by the bogus yoga system in which it is stated that simply by meditating fifteen minutes daily one can attain the perfection of becoming one with God. This age (Kali-yuga) is the age of bluffing and quarrel. Actually there is no possibility of attaining yoga perfection by such paltry proposals. The Vedic literature, for emphasis, clearly states three times that in this Age of Kali — kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva — there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative than harer nāma, chanting the holy name of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse shows Kardama Muni accepting Brahmā’s order and undertaking long austerities—tapasya is presented as a disciplined, purposeful practice aligned with divine duty, not mere self-torture.
Kardama first purified and empowered himself through tapasya so that his act of creation would be performed in harmony with Brahmā’s instruction and higher spiritual purpose.
Accept responsibility with humility, then add disciplined practice—such as regulated habits, prayer, and self-control—so your work is done with clarity, purity, and devotion.