On Vidura's request, Maitreya continued to narrate the Bhagavata, speaking
about the descendants of Manu and especially of Devahuti and Ruci, who
married respectively Kardama and Daksha.
On Brahma's order, Kardama engaged in a long meditation on the bank of
the Bindu Sarovara, a wonderful lake surrounded by the Sarasvati river: it
was a very beautiful place, the abode of noble Rishis, in the middle of
scented forests full of flowers and resounding with the songs of auspicious
bird as well as deer, elephants, monkeys, lions and mongooses. When finally
Vishnu appeared to grant him a boon, Kardama offered him beautiful
prayers and asked him for a suitable bride. The Lord blessed him, and told
him that Svayambhuva Manu and his wife Satarupa were coming to that
place, traveling with their daughter Devahuti, in search of a good husband
for her. In the future, Devahuti would have nine daughters and Vishnu
himself would appear as her son Kapila.As Vishnu had predicted, as soon as Kardama had completed his
austerities, Svayambhuva Manu arrived at the ashrama, accompanied by his
wife and daughter, and was greeted with much honor. Svayambhuva told
the Rishi that his daughter Devahuti had heard much about him and had
decided to become his wife. Kardama was happy to accept the proposal, on
the condition that - after giving children to Devahuti - he would be free to
retire from family life to engage completely in spiritual meditation.
Devahuti accepted and the marriage was solemnized. Her parents bade her
farewell, leaving many gifts for her, and then returned to their capital,
Barhismati.
Devahuti lived in the ashrama of Kardama Muni, sincerely engaged in
taking care of her great husband, observing all the religious rituals and
working hard, even neglecting her own well-being and health. After some
time, Kardama noticed that the princess had neglected the proper care of
her own body, and so he became worried and saddened.
Comforted by her husband, Devahuti reminded him about his promise to
give her children, and also asked for a suitable house where she could raise
them. Immediately Kardama Muni created, out of his own mystic powers,
an airborne palace of wonderful beauty, and filled with all sorts of wealth.
The castle was seven stories high, had floors made with emeralds with
motifs of coral daisies, and was equipped by very valuable furniture,
decorated with all types of gems and garlands of scented flowers. There
were gardens and courtyards with swans and doves - both real and artificial
- and many works of art. Kardama's power also created one thousand
maidservants who bathed Devahuti in the Bindu Sarovara, massaging her
with costly oils and dressing her with wonderful clothes and royal
ornaments. Refreshed with delicious foods and tonic drinks, Devahuti
traveled with her husband in her flying mansion for many years, visiting the
valleys of mount Meru and those around the Manasa Sarovara lake, as well
as the gardens called Vaisrambhaka, Surasana, Nandana, Puspabhadraka
and Caitrarathya. They also traveled to various other planets, freely and
without any difficulty.
Devahuti gave birth to nine daughters, but as these would leave their home
to marry, she asked her husband for a son who could stay and take care of
her. After worshiping the Supreme Lord, Devahuti gave birth to Kapila,
theavatara of Vishnu who expounded the teachings known as the Sankhya
philosophy.
