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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 22: Verses 1-16
The sage Kardama accepts the hand of Devahuti
Maltreya continued : The emperor felt abashed as it were to hear his exalted virtues and exploits thus extolled and replied to the sage, who was leading a retired life (as follows): The Manu said : The Cosmic Being, who is Veda personified, evolved you (the Brahmanas), rich in austere penance, learning and Yoga (concentration of mind), and averse to the pleasures of sense, from his mouth for the protection (continuance) of his own
self in the form of the Vedas. And for the protection of the Brahmanas the same thousand-footed Being evolved us (the Ksatriyas) from His thousand arms. Hence they speak of the Brahmana race as His heart and the Ksatriya race as His outer limbs (arms). That is why the Brahmana and the Ksatriya protect each other as well as their own self; while, as a matter of fact, the Lord Himself, who is both the cause and the effect and yet immutable, protects them (through each other). All my doubts have been resolved by your very sight inasmuch as your holiness has of your own accord lovingly pointed out the
[1]duties of a king who is anxious to protect his subjects. It is my good fortune that I have been able to see you; for you cannot be easily perceived by those who have not subdued their mind. And I am all the more fortunate in that I have touched with my head the blessed dust of your feet. Luckily enough I have been instructed by you (in the duties of kings) and thus a great favour has been bestowed on me; and thank God I have listened with open (eager) ears to your charming words. Be graciously pleased to listen, O sage, to the prayer of my humble self, troubled in mind due to affection for my daughter (Devahuti). This daughter of mine, a sister to Priyavrata and Uttanapada, is on the look-out for a match worthy of her in point of age, character and good qualities etc. The moment she heard from the sage Narada of your noble character, learning, comely appearance, young age and other virtues, she fixed her mind on you. Therefore, accept her (as your wife), O chief of the Brahmanas, since I offer her with reverence (to you) and because she is in everyway fit to be your helpmate in (the discharge of) your household duties. It is not commendable-even on the part of one who is absolutely free from attachment, much less of him who is addicted to the pleasures of sense-to spurn an object of desire that has come of itself. He who rejects an object offered to him and begs it of a miser loses his widespread reputation and his pride is humbled by the disrespectful behaviour of others. I heard of you, O wise man, that you were prepared to marry. Therefore, accept her hand, which is being offered by me, since you have not taken a vow of perpetual celibacy. The sage replied : Certainly I have a desire to marry and your daughter too has not yet been affianced (to anyone else). Hence our marriage according to (what is known as) the Brahma [2] method (the best of all methods) will be quite in the fitness of things. That desire of mine, which has been duly recognized in the procedure laid down in your scriptures (for conducting the nuptials), may be realized through this daughter of yours. Who would not accept with honour (the hand of) your daughter (Devahuti), who overshadows as it were by her artless splendour the very lustre of her ornaments?
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