Shloka 52
Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness
ब्रह्मन्दुहितृभिस्तुभ्यं विमृग्या: पतय: समा: । कश्चित्स्यान्मे विशोकाय त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वनम् ॥ ५२ ॥
brahman duhitṛbhis tubhyaṁ vimṛgyāḥ patayaḥ samāḥ kaścit syān me viśokāya tvayi pravrajite vanam
Hỡi bậc brāhmaṇa, các con gái của ngài sẽ tìm được những người chồng xứng đáng và về nhà chồng. Nhưng khi ngài xuất gia làm sannyāsī vào rừng, ai sẽ an ủi nỗi sầu của con?
It is said that the father himself becomes the son in another form. The father and son are therefore considered to be nondifferent. A widow who has her son is actually not a widow, because she has the representative of her husband. Similarly, Devahūti is indirectly asking Kardama Muni to leave a representative so that in his absence she might be relieved of her anxieties by a suitable son. A householder is not expected to remain at home for all his days. After getting his sons and daughters married, a householder can retire from household life, leaving his wife in the charge of the grown-up sons. That is the social convention of the Vedic system. Devahūti is indirectly asking that in his absence from home there be at least one male child to give her relief from her anxieties. This relief means spiritual instruction. Relief does not mean material comforts. Material comforts will end with the end of the body, but spiritual instruction will not end; it will go on with the spirit soul. Instruction in spiritual advancement is necessary, but without having a worthy son, how could Devahūti advance in spiritual knowledge? It is the duty of the husband to liquidate his debt to his wife. The wife gives her sincere service to the husband, and he becomes indebted to her because one cannot accept service from his subordinate without giving him something in exchange. The spiritual master cannot accept service from a disciple without awarding him spiritual instruction. That is the reciprocation of love and duty. Thus Devahūti reminds her husband, Kardama Muni, that she has rendered him faithful service. Even considering the situation on the basis of liquidating his debt toward his wife, he must give a male child before he leaves. Indirectly, Devahūti requests her husband to remain at home a few days more, or at least until a male child is born.
FAQs
This verse shows Devahuti’s dependence on the Lord for becoming viśoka—free from grief—implying that true relief from sorrow comes through shelter of the Supreme and His guidance, not merely worldly support.
In the narrative, Devahuti fears separation because Kapila is about to renounce and go to the forest; she pleads that without Him, she will have no one to dispel her lamentation and grant spiritual fulfillment.
Turn the pain of separation into deeper spiritual refuge—seek the Lord’s shelter through sincere prayer, hearing sacred teachings, and steady practice, recognizing that lasting freedom from grief comes from inner realization, not external circumstances.