Shloka 12
Kapila’s Advent: Brahmā’s Confirmation, the Marriage of the Nine Daughters, and Kardama’s Renunciation
ब्रह्मोवाच त्वया मेऽपचितिस्तात कल्पिता निर्व्यलीकत: । यन्मे सञ्जगृहे वाक्यं भवान्मानद मानयन् ॥ १२ ॥
brahmovāca tvayā me ’pacitis tāta kalpitā nirvyalīkataḥ yan me sañjagṛhe vākyaṁ bhavān mānada mānayan
Lord Brahmā said: My dear son Kardama, you accepted my words without duplicity and with due reverence; thus you have properly honored me. Whatever instructions I gave, you carried out, and thereby you have shown me respect.
Lord Brahmā, as the first living entity within the universe, is supposed to be the spiritual master of everyone, and he is also the father, the creator, of all beings. Kardama Muni is one of the Prajāpatis, or creators of the living entities, and he is also a son of Brahmā. Brahmā praises Kardama because he carried out the orders of the spiritual master in toto and without cheating. A conditioned soul in the material world has the disqualification of cheating. He has four disqualifications: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to be illusioned, he is prone to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. But if one carries out the order of the spiritual master by disciplic succession, or the paramparā system, he overcomes the four defects. Therefore, knowledge received from the bona fide spiritual master is not cheating. Any other knowledge which is manufactured by the conditioned soul is cheating only. Brahmā knew well that Kardama Muni exactly carried out the instructions received from him and that he actually honored his spiritual master. To honor the spiritual master means to carry out his instructions word for word.
FAQs
It teaches that genuine respect is shown by sincerely accepting and fulfilling the words of a revered authority—without hypocrisy or deceit.
Because Kardama honored Brahmā by taking his instruction to heart and acting accordingly, demonstrating humility and truthful obedience.
Practice integrity in mentorship and guidance: receive good counsel respectfully, avoid pretense, and follow through with steady action.