Shloka 6
Kapila’s Advent: Brahmā’s Confirmation, the Marriage of the Nine Daughters, and Kardama’s Renunciation
तस्यां बहुतिथे काले भगवान्मधुसूदन: । कार्दमं वीर्यमापन्नो जज्ञेऽग्निरिव दारुणि ॥ ६ ॥
tasyāṁ bahu-tithe kāle bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ kārdamaṁ vīryam āpanno jajñe ’gnir iva dāruṇi
After many long years, the Supreme Lord, Madhusūdana, entered Kardama’s seminal potency and appeared within Devahūti, just as fire is brought forth from wood in sacrifice.
It is clearly stated here that the Lord is always the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He appeared as the son of Kardama Muni. Fire is already present in wood, but by a certain process, fire is kindled. Similarly, God is all-pervading. He is everywhere, and since He may come out from everything, He appeared in His devotee’s semen. Just as an ordinary living entity takes his birth by taking shelter of the semen of a certain living entity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts the shelter of the semen of His devotee and comes out as His son. This manifests His full independence to act in any way, and it does not mean that He is an ordinary living entity forced to take birth in a certain type of womb. Lord Nṛsiṁha appeared from the pillar of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s palace, Lord Varāha appeared from the nostril of Brahmā, and Lord Kapila appeared from the semen of Kardama, but this does not mean that the nostril of Brahmā or the pillar of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s palace or the semen of Kardama Muni is the source of the appearance of the Lord. The Lord is always the Lord. Bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ — He is the killer of all kinds of demons, and He always remains the Lord, even if He appears as the son of a particular devotee. The word kārdamam is significant, for it indicates that the Lord had some devotional affection or relationship in devotional service with Kardama and Devahūti. But we should not mistakenly understand that He was born just like an ordinary living entity from the semen of Kardama Muni in the womb of Devahūti.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord (Madhusūdana) entered Kardama Muni’s potency and was born from Devahūti—indicating a divine incarnation manifesting through pure devotees.
In the narrative of Canto 3, the Lord appears in their family to fulfill His devotee Kardama’s purpose and to instruct Devahūti (and the world) in devotional Sāṅkhya and liberation.
Just as fire manifests from wood when conditions are right, spiritual realization manifests when devotion, discipline, and sincere association are cultivated over time.