Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 21
Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation
Siddhapada
वनं प्रव्रजिते पत्यावपत्यविरहातुरा । ज्ञाततत्त्वाप्यभून्नष्टे वत्से गौरिव वत्सला ॥ २१ ॥
vanaṁ pravrajite patyāv apatya-virahāturā jñāta-tattvāpy abhūn naṣṭe vatse gaur iva vatsalā
夫が出家して家を去り、さらに唯一の子カピラも去ったとき、デーヴァフーティーは子との別離に胸を痛めた。生死の真理を知り心が清らかであっても、子牛を失った母牛のように深く嘆いた。
A woman whose husband is away from home or has taken the renounced order of life should not be very sorry, because she still has the presence of her husband’s representative, her son. It is said in the Vedic scriptures, ātmaiva putro jāyate: the husband’s body is represented by the son. Strictly speaking, a woman is never widowed if she has a grown son. Devahūti was not very much affected while Kapila Muni was there, but upon His departure she was very afflicted. She grieved not because of her worldly relationship with Kardama Muni but because of her sincere love for the Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse shows that even one who knows spiritual truth can be momentarily overwhelmed by deep bodily relationships like parental affection, indicating that realized knowledge must mature into steady detachment and devotion.
The comparison highlights the power of vatsalya (parental affection): Devahuti, though spiritually informed, felt intense separation when her “calf” (child) was absent, just as a cow anxiously searches for its lost calf.
It teaches compassionate self-awareness: love family sincerely, but recognize how attachment can disturb inner steadiness, and balance relationships with spiritual practice, surrender, and remembrance of the soul’s eternal nature.