The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti

Kardama marries Devahūti with plans for later renunciation, and Manu returns home absorbed in Vāsudeva.

Themes of SB 3.22Dharma4 Vairāgya4 Bhakti3 Vātsalya3 from its story phase

Connected storiesMahārāja PriyavrataKing RahūgaṇaRukmiṇīBharata Mahārāja and Jaḍa Bharata

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Kardama Muni, the Supreme Lord, Svāyambhuva Manu, Śatarūpā, Devahūti

The story · Ordered by Brahmā to beget children, Kardama Muni practiced penance beside the Sarasvatī for ten thousand years. The Lord appeared to him and foretold the arrival of Manu and Śatarūpā. Manu came with his daughter and appealed to Kardama with affection and humility. Kardama agreed to marry Devahūti, on the condition that he would later take up the life of devotional service described by Lord Viṣṇu. After giving gifts to the couple, Manu and Śatarūpā returned home.

What it teaches · Kardama kept devotional service as the aim beyond household life. Manu likewise passed his time thinking of Vāsudeva and engaging in matters concerning Him.

SB 3.21.6 SB 3.22.19 SB 3.22.36 Read chapter 21 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Mahārāja Priyavrata

SB 5.1 · Priyavrata accepts the kingdom

What it teaches · Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that devotional service is transcendental to material influences. A devotee who takes shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet can overcome material distress and conquer the mind and senses.

My daughter is the sister of Priyavrata and Uttānapāda.
In the verse · SB 3.22.9 (Text 9)

The purpose of Manu’s introducing his daughter as the sister of Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, two great kings, was to convince the sage that the girl came from a great family.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.22.9 (Text 9)

Read the story in SB 5.1

King Rahūgaṇa

SB 5.10–14 · Rahūgaṇa learns from Jaḍa Bharata

What it teaches · Spiritual realization requires the mercy and association of great devotees, not merely pride in learning or social position. Their shelter opens the way out of material entanglement toward pure devotional service.

When Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa asked Jaḍa Bharata about his wonderful achievement of spiritual success, he replied to the King that spiritual success is not possible simply by following the rituals of religion or simply by converting oneself into a sannyāsī or…
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.22.6 (Text 6)

Read the story in SB 5.10–14

Rukmiṇī

SB 10.52–54 · Rukmiṇī chooses Kṛṣṇa

What it teaches · Hearing Kṛṣṇa’s qualities can awaken firm attachment to Him. The episode also warns that pride in power and possessions leads people to offend others.

Even Kṛṣṇa married Rukmiṇī by that process, and some of His sons and grandsons also married by kidnapping.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.22.16 (Text 16)

Read the story in SB 10.52–54

Bharata Mahārāja and Jaḍa Bharata

SB 5.7 · Bharata’s devoted rule and retirement SB 5.8 · Bharata’s attachment to a deer SB 5.9 · Jaḍa Bharata’s hidden devotion

What it teaches · Bharata directed both his royal duties and his retired life toward pleasing the Supreme Lord. Constant devotional service increased his love for Kṛṣṇa.

When Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa asked Jaḍa Bharata about his wonderful achievement of spiritual success, he replied to the King that spiritual success is not possible simply by following the rituals of religion or simply by converting oneself into a sannyāsī or…
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.22.6 (Text 6)

Read the story in SB 5.7

Lord Varāha

SB 2.7 · The Lord lifts the earth SB 3.13 · Lord Varāha lifts the earth SB 3.17–19 · Lord Varāha defeats Hiraṇyākṣa

What it teaches · This pastime displays the Lord’s unlimited power. Brahmā explains that understanding the Lord depends on His favor, received through unalloyed surrender to His service.

Barhiṣmatī, the capital of Svāyambhuva Manu, was exalted not because the city was very rich in wealth and opulence, but because the hairs of Lord Varāha fell at this very spot.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.22.29-30 (Texts 29-30)

Read the story in SB 2.7

Same themes in another canto

SB 5.5–6Ṛṣabhadeva teaches by words and exampleDharmaVairāgya

Both chapters carry these themes strongly in the themes map, an editorial reading of each chapter's story.

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction