Shloka 18
Manu Offers Devahūti to Kardama; The Sage Accepts with a Devotional Vow
तां प्रार्थयन्तीं ललनाललाम- मसेवितश्रीचरणैरदृष्टाम् । वत्सां मनोरुच्चपद: स्वसारं को नानुमन्येत बुधोऽभियाताम् ॥ १८ ॥
tāṁ prārthayantīṁ lalanā-lalāmam asevita-śrī-caraṇair adṛṣṭām vatsāṁ manor uccapadaḥ svasāraṁ ko nānumanyeta budho ’bhiyātām
តើបណ្ឌិតណាមិនស្វាគមន៍នាង—គ្រឿងអលង្ការនៃស្ត្រីទាំងឡាយ កូនស្រីជាទីស្រឡាញ់របស់មនុ និងប្អូនស្រីរបស់ឧត្តានបាទ—នៅពេលនាងមកដោយខ្លួនឯងដើម្បីសុំដៃខ្ញុំ? អ្នកដែលមិនបានបម្រើព្រះបាទដ៏ប្រណីតរបស់ព្រះស្រី (លក្ខ្មី) សូម្បីតែមើលឃើញនាងក៏មិនអាច។
Kardama Muni praised the beauty and qualification of Devahūti in different ways. Devahūti was actually the ornament of all ornamented beautiful girls. A girl becomes beautiful by putting ornaments on her body, but Devahūti was more beautiful than the ornaments; she was considered the ornament of the ornamented beautiful girls. Demigods and Gandharvas were attracted by her beauty. Kardama Muni, although a great sage, was not a denizen of the heavenly planets, but it is mentioned in the previous verse that Viśvāvasu, who came from heaven, was also attracted by the beauty of Devahūti. Besides her personal beauty, she was the daughter of Emperor Svāyambhuva and sister of King Uttānapāda. Who could refuse the hand of such a girl?
FAQs
This verse implies that true appreciation of divine, exalted qualities comes through devotion—those who have not served the Lord’s feet are described as unable to truly “see” such glory.
In the narrative, Devahuti is presented as exceptionally virtuous and destined for a great spiritual role, becoming the mother of Lord Kapila; therefore the wise naturally approve her approach and proposal.
Cultivate bhakti (service, remembrance, and humility) before judging spiritual worth—devotion refines perception and helps one recognize genuine virtue and divine purpose.