NBS#29 The Appearance of Lord Kapila Jan. 2016 | Page 4

Issue no 29, Page — 4

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over the world, cutting the knot of ignorance and false
knowledge. The chief of perfected sages, approved by
the äcäryas of Sankhya philosophy, he will take the
name Kapila in this world and will increase your fame.
Having reassured the couple, Brahma, along with
the Kumaras and Narada, departed for Satyaloka on
his swan carrier. After Brahma departed, Kardama, as
ordered by him, according to scriptural rules, then gave
his daughters to the creators of population. Kardama
gave his daughter Kala to Marichi, and Anasuya to
Atri. He gave Shraddha to Angira, and Havirbhu to
Pulastya. He gave qualified Gati to Pulaha, the chaste
Kriya to Kratu, Khyati to Bhrigu, and Arundhati to
Vasishtha. He gave Shanti, by whom sacrifice becomes
successful, to Atharva. He took care of those best
of brähmaëas who he had got married, along with
their wives. Then those sages, married, taking leave of
Kardama, returned their hermitages in joy.
Understanding that the Lord, chief of the deities,
had appeared, Kardama approached Him in a solitary
place and, offering respects, spoke to Him. Oh! In
this world, the devatäs become pleased with persons
burning in material existence from their sinful actions
only after a long time. The yogis attempt to see Your
impersonal feature in solitary places by complete
samädhi through yoga, but this realization is achieved
only after many births. The Supreme Lord, who favors
His devotees, not considering our neglect of Him,
has today appeared in the house of a materialist.
You, the Supreme Lord, desiring to give a method of
knowledge, and increasing the honor of the devotees,
have descended in my house to make your words
true.
O Lord! although You have no material form, You
have Your own innumerable forms. They truly are
Your transcendental forms, which are pleasing to
Your devotees. I surrender unto Kapila, whose other
form is prakåti, who is also the jiva, the mahat-tattva,
time, sütra, ahaìkära, the devatäs of the directions,
the universe inhabited by Your internal energy, and
the possessor of independent energies. Now I ask
something from You, the master of the progeny. I have
become free of debt because of You, and fulfilled all
my desires. Taking the renounced order, I will wander
about without lamentation, remembering You in my
heart.
The Lord said: What is spoken by Me is
authoritative for the people, for ultimate and worldly
affairs. Similarly, I have taken birth because of what I
said to you-- that I would be your son. Thus my words
are true. Please understand that I have appeared in this
world to explain the principles suitable for realizing the
self for those desiring liberation from the subtle body.

nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Understand that this path, difficult to know, was lost in
time. I have taken this form to introduce this knowledge
again. You have requested me, so then depart when
you please. Having conquered unconquerable death
by offering your activities to Me, you should worship
Me for immortality. Seeing Me, self-effulgent, dwelling
in the hearts of all beings, as antaryamé in your heart
by your intelligence, free from lamentation, you will
achieve fearlessness. I will give My mother spiritual
knowledge which ends all karmas, by which she will
also attain fearlessness.
After Kapila had spoken to Him in this way, Kardama,
pleased, circumambulated him and left for the forest.
Accepting the vow of silence, taking exclusive shelter
of the Lord, he wandered the earth alone, without fire
and without shelter. He fixed his mind on the Brahman
which is beyond auspicious and inauspicious, which
has spiritual qualities and is devoid of material qualities,
and which is realized by pure bhakti. He was devoid
of false ego and possessiveness, and did not see with
duality. He regarded everything equally, and perceived
the state of bhakti within himself. His intelligence was
peaceful, not functioning externally. He was sober, like
an ocean without waves.
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 3: The Status
Quo » Chapter 24. The Renunciation of Kardama Muni » Verses:5– 44.
Translation by His Holiness Bhanu Swami ·

Why Did Kardama Muni Leave Home ?
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Kardama Muni was to leave his family life to
completely engage in the service of the Lord. But
since he knew that the Lord Himself, as Kapila, had
taken birth in his home as his own son, why was he
preparing to leave home to search out self-realization
or God realization? God Himself was present in his
home—why should he leave home?
Such a question may certainly arise. But here it is said
that whatever is spoken in the Vedas and whatever
is practiced in accordance with the injunctions of the
Vedas is to be accepted as authoritative in society.
Vedic authority says that a householder must leave
home after his fiftieth year. Païcäçordhvaà vanaà
vrajet: o ne must leave his family life and enter the forest
after the age of fifty. This is an authoritative statement
of the Vedas, based on the division of social life into
four departments of activity—brahmacäré, gåhastha,
vänaprastha and sannyäsa.
Kardama Muni practiced yoga very rigidly as a
brahmacäré before his marriage, and he became so