Shloka 56
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
अथापि पृच्छे त्वां वीर यदर्थं त्वमिहागत: । तद्वयं निर्व्यलीकेन प्रतिपद्यामहे हृदा ॥ ५६ ॥
athāpi pṛcche tvāṁ vīra yad-arthaṁ tvam ihāgataḥ tad vayaṁ nirvyalīkena pratipadyāmahe hṛdā
Ainda assim, ó rei valente, pergunto com que propósito vieste aqui. Seja qual for, nós o cumpriremos com coração sincero, sem qualquer reserva.
When a guest comes to a friend’s house, it is understood that there is some special purpose. Kardama Muni could understand that such a great king as Svāyambhuva, although traveling to inspect the condition of his kingdom, must have had some special purpose to come to his hermitage. Thus he prepared himself to fulfill the King’s desire. Formerly it was customary that the sages used to go to the kings and the kings used to visit the sages in their hermitages; each was glad to fulfill the other’s purpose. This reciprocal relationship is called bhakti-kārya. There is a nice verse describing the relationship of mutual beneficial interest between the brāhmaṇa and the kṣatriya ( kṣatraṁ dvijatvam ). Kṣatram means “the royal order,” and dvijatvam means “the brahminical order.” The two were meant for mutual interest. The royal order would give protection to the brāhmaṇas for the cultivation of spiritual advancement in society, and the brāhmaṇas would give their valuable instruction to the royal order on how the state and the citizens can gradually be elevated in spiritual perfection.
FAQs
This verse shows Manu’s dharmic mood: he asks the visitor’s purpose and promises to respond with a “nirvyalīka” (without deceit) heart—an ideal standard of truthful hospitality.
In the narrative, Manu approaches Kardama Muni to understand his intention and to fulfill it properly, indicating respect and readiness to serve a higher, dharmic purpose.
Approach conversations and requests transparently—ask the real need, avoid hidden motives, and commit to honest action aligned with duty and conscience.