Canto 3: The Status Quo
SB3.33

Canto 3 · Chapter 33 · 37 verses · 1 story

Activities of Kapila

Devahūti follows Kapila’s instructions and attains liberation; Kapila travels onward and receives prayers and offerings.

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Connected storiesKardama Muni
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → DevahūtiEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Devahūti, Lord Kapila

The story · Freed from ignorance about devotional service and transcendental knowledge, Devahūti offered obeisances to Kapila and recognized Him as Lord Viṣṇu Himself. He assured her that faithfully following His instructions would free her from material contamination and bring her to Him. Constantly meditating upon her son, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, she became detached from her beautiful home. By following His teachings, she attained liberation from material bondage and achieved the Lord as Supersoul without difficulty. Kapila traveled northward, receiving prayers and respect, and the ocean offered Him a place of residence.

What it teaches · Devahūti’s life shows the result of faithfully practicing the Lord’s instructions. Meditation and devotional service brought her freedom from material bondage and attainment of the Lord.

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.

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.

The very example of Devahūti was that when she was not married, she was under the care of her father, Svāyambhuva Manu, and then Svāyambhuva Manu gave her to Kardama Muni in charity.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.33.13 (Text 13)

She practiced samādhi in the house of Kardama Muni, which was so beautifully decorated with flowers that it was considered the flower crown of the river Sarasvatī.

Read the story in SB 3.21–22