Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 21:29-44

Book 3: Chapter 21

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 21: Verses 29-44
The sage Kardama practises austere penance and the Lord confers a boon on him

She will bring forth nine daughters out of the seed sown in her by you, and through the daughters sprung from your loins sages (like Marici) will duly beget children. And, with your heart cleansed by properly carrying out My command and having resigned to Me the fruit of all your acts, you will finally attain to Me. Showing compassion to living beings (in your married life), you will attain Self-Realization; and, giving assurance of safety to all (as a recluse), you will perceive your own self as well as the universe identified in Me and Myself in you. Manifesting a part of My divine Being through your wife Devahuti, along with your nine daughters, O great sage, I shall instruct her in the system of philosophy (known by the name of Sankhya) that deals with the ultimate principles or categories (such as Prakrti, Purusa, Iswara and so on). Maitreya went on : Having thus spoken to him (the sage Kardama), the Lord, who reveals Himself only when the senses are turned inward, departed (for His own Abode, Vaikuntha) from (his hermitage on the strand of) the lake called Bindusarovara, which was encircled by the river Saraswati. While the sage stood looking on, the Lord left by the path leading to Vaikuntha-a path which is extolled by all great Siddhas-listening to the hymns forming the basis of the Samaveda and uttered by the wings[1] of Garuda (the lord of the feathered kingdom). Even after the departure of the Lord the worshipful sage Kardama stayed (in his hermitage) on the strand of the Bindusarovara, awaiting the time (predicted by the Lord). (On this side), Swayambhuva Manu with his spouse (Satarupa) mounted his goldplated chariot and,taking his daughter (Devahuti) along with him and journeying all over the globe, reached the aforementioned hermitage of the sage (Kardama)--who had just completed his vow (of austerity)-on the very day foretold by the Lord, O Vidura. The holy Bindusarovara-which overflowed with the water of the river Saraswati and was resorted to by hosts of eminent sages, and whose water was not only wholesome but also sweet as nectar-was so-called because drops of tears had fallen thereon from the eyes of the Lord, overwhelmed as he was by extreme compassion directed towards the sage, who had sought His protection. The lake was rich in fruits and flowers of all seasons inasmuch as it was surrounded by clusters of sacred trees and creepers affording shelter to holy beasts and birds that uttered various cries, and was adorned with rows of forest trees. It resounded with the notes of overjoyed birds and was the scene of the humming of intoxicated bees; merry, peacocks proudly danced (in the forest surrounding the lake) and merry cuckoos called one another (by their sweet notes). The lake was hemmed round by Kadamba, Campaka, Atoka, Karanja, Bakula, Asana, Kunda, Mandara, Kutaja and young mango trees, and echoed with the pleasing notes of Karandavas (a species of duck), Plavas, swans, ospreys, water-fowls, cranes, Cakrawakas and Cakoras. And it was infested with deer, boars, porcupines, Gayals (a species of wild animals closely resembling the cow), elephants, baboons, lions, monkeys, mongooses and musk-deer.

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References

  1. The Sruti says :(Brhad and Rathantara, the two metrical divisions of Samaveda, form the two wings of Garuda). It is mentioned at more than one places in the Bhagavata Itself that the hymns of the Samaveda proceed from the wings of Garuda whenever he takes a flight.

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