Shloka 1
मैत्रेय उवाच पितृभ्यां प्रस्थिते साध्वी पतिमिङ्गितकोविदा । नित्यं पर्यचरत्प्रीत्या भवानीव भवं प्रभुम् ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvāca pitṛbhyāṁ prasthite sādhvī patim iṅgita-kovidā nityaṁ paryacarat prītyā bhavānīva bhavaṁ prabhum
ମୈତ୍ରେୟ କହିଲେ—ପିତାମାତା ପ୍ରସ୍ଥାନ କରିବା ପରେ, ପତିଙ୍କ ମନୋଭାବ ବୁଝିପାରୁଥିବା ସାଧ୍ବୀ ଦେବହୂତି, ଭବାନୀ ଯେପରି ପ୍ରଭୁ ଶିବଙ୍କୁ ସେବା କରନ୍ତି, ସେପରି ନିତ୍ୟ ପ୍ରେମରେ ପତିଙ୍କୁ ସେବା କଲେ।
The specific example of Bhavānī is very significant. Bhavānī means the wife of Bhava, or Lord Śiva. Bhavānī, or Pārvatī, the daughter of the King of the Himālayas, selected Lord Śiva, who appears to be just like a beggar, as her husband. In spite of her being a princess, she undertook all kinds of tribulations to associate with Lord Śiva, who did not even have a house, but was sitting underneath the trees and passing his time in meditation. Although Bhavānī was the daughter of a very great king, she used to serve Lord Śiva just like a poor woman. Similarly, Devahūti was the daughter of an emperor, Svāyambhuva Manu, yet she preferred to accept Kardama Muni as her husband. She served him with great love and affection, and she knew how to please him. Therefore she is designated here as sādhvī, which means “a chaste, faithful wife.” Her rare example is the ideal of Vedic civilization. Every woman is expected to be as good and chaste as Devahūti or Bhavānī. Today in Hindu society, unmarried girls are still taught to worship Lord Śiva with the idea that they may get husbands like him. Lord Śiva is the ideal husband, not in the sense of riches or sense gratification, but because he is the greatest of all devotees. Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: Śambhu, or Lord Śiva, is the ideal Vaiṣṇava. He constantly meditates upon Lord Rāma and chants Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Lord Śiva has a Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, which is called the Viṣṇusvāmī sampradāya. Unmarried girls worship Lord Śiva so that they can expect a husband who is as good a Vaiṣṇava as he. The girls are not taught to select a husband who is very rich or very opulent for material sense gratification; rather, if a girl is fortunate enough to get a husband as good as Lord Śiva in devotional service, then her life becomes perfect. The wife is dependent on the husband, and if the husband is a Vaiṣṇava, then naturally she shares the devotional service of the husband because she renders him service. This reciprocation of service and love between husband and wife is the ideal of a householder’s life.
FAQs
This verse highlights steady loving service, chastity/virtue, and sensitivity to a devotee’s needs—Devahūti serves Kardama Muni constantly, understanding his intentions.
To show Devahūti’s exemplary, affectionate service: like Pārvatī’s devoted attendance upon Śiva, Devahūti served her husband with faithful love and attentiveness.
Practice consistent, affectionate service in relationships—especially in family life—by being attentive, supportive, and steady in duty, while keeping devotion and purity of intention.