Shloka 51
Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness
देवहूतिरुवाच सर्वं तद्भगवान्मह्यमुपोवाह प्रतिश्रुतम् । अथापि मे प्रपन्नाया अभयं दातुमर्हसि ॥ ५१ ॥
devahūtir uvāca sarvaṁ tad bhagavān mahyam upovāha pratiśrutam athāpi me prapannāyā abhayaṁ dātum arhasi
ଦେବହୂତି କହିଲେ—ହେ ପ୍ରଭୁ, ଆପଣ ମୋତେ ଯେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କରିଥିଲେ, ସେସବୁ ପୂରଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ତଥାପି ମୁଁ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଶରଣାଗତା; ମୋତେ ଅଭୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।
Devahūti requested her husband to grant her something without fear. As a wife, she was a fully surrendered soul to her husband, and it is the responsibility of the husband to give his wife fearlessness. How one awards fearlessness to his subordinate is mentioned in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One who cannot get free from the clutches of death is dependent, and he should not become a spiritual master, nor a husband, nor a kinsman, nor a father, nor a mother, etc. It is the duty of the superior to give fearlessness to the subordinate. To take charge of someone, therefore, either as father, mother, spiritual master, relative or husband, one must accept the responsibility to give his ward freedom from the fearful situation of material existence. Material existence is always fearful and full of anxiety. Devahūti is saying, “You have given me all sorts of material comforts by your yogic power, and since you are now prepared to go away, you must give me your last award so that I may get free from this material, conditional life.”
FAQs
This verse shows that even after worldly promises are fulfilled, a surrendered devotee seeks the higher gift—abhayam—fearlessness granted by the Lord through spiritual shelter and liberation.
Because material fulfillment does not remove existential fear; Devahūti, having taken refuge in Kapila, asks for the deeper assurance—freedom from fear rooted in ignorance and bondage.
Do your duties, but anchor your security in devotion—regular prayer, remembrance, and reliance on the Lord’s guidance—seeking inner steadiness rather than only external outcomes.