Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 3
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
जज्ञे च कर्दमगृहे द्विज देवहूत्यां स्त्रीभि: समं नवभिरात्मगतिं स्वमात्रे । ऊचे ययात्मशमलं गुणसङ्गपङ्क- मस्मिन् विधूय कपिलस्य गतिं प्रपेदे ॥ ३ ॥
jajñe ca kardama-gṛhe dvija devahūtyāṁ strībhiḥ samaṁ navabhir ātma-gatiṁ sva-mātre ūce yayātma-śamalaṁ guṇa-saṅga-paṅkam asmin vidhūya kapilasya gatiṁ prapede
Puis le Seigneur apparut comme l’avatāra Kapila, fils du prajāpati brāhmaṇa Kardama et de son épouse Devahūti, avec neuf filles. Il enseigna à Sa mère la réalisation du Soi; ainsi, en cette même vie, elle se lava de la boue de l’attachement aux guṇas et atteignit la délivrance, la voie de Kapila.
The instructions of Lord Kapila to His mother Devahūti are fully described in the Third Canto (Chapters 25-32) of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and anyone who follows the instructions can achieve the same liberation obtained by Devahūti. The Lord spoke Bhagavad-gītā, and thereby Arjuna achieved self-realization, and even today anyone who follows the path of Arjuna can also attain the same benefit as Śrī Arjuna. The scriptures are meant for this purpose. Foolish, unintelligent persons make their own interpretations by imagination and thus mislead their followers, causing them to remain in the dungeon of material existence. However, simply by following the instructions imparted by Lord Kṛṣṇa or Lord Kapila, one can obtain the highest benefit, even today.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord appeared as Kapila in the home of the brāhmaṇa Kardama through Devahūti, and taught His mother the path of self-realization leading to liberation.
Because Devahūti, as His mother, sought freedom from material entanglement; Kapila instructed her so she could wash away the impurity born of association with the material modes and attain the Lord’s supreme destination.
By reducing identity with habits and environments that intensify passion and ignorance, and adopting sādhana—hearing sacred teachings, cultivating devotion, and practicing inner discipline—to purify consciousness toward the self and the Lord.