Stories From The Bhagawatham - Kapila And Devahuti

 

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Devahuti’s days passed by in the Ashram, with the young Kapila taking care of her.

“I am tired of this life that has been spent in satisfying the senses." She told her son one day. "You are the sun that has come to dispel the darkness of ignorance from human minds. I am asking you to help me. teach me the path of peace, of mukti. Help me to find freedom from the bondage of birth and death.”

Kapila was only too eager to share his knowledge with his mother. “I will share with you, mother, the knowledge of the only yoga that can help to destroy the cycle of pain and pleasure. I have shared this knowledge with the ancient sages, and today I am sharing it with you.”

“Mother, it is our own mind which is the cause of bondage and freedom as well. The mind turns away from the inner self and runs after the objects that the senses perceive. It seeks happiness and pleasure from external objects and keeps running after them. This same mind, when turned inwards, will attach itself to the divinity within, and will become the cause of freedom from the senses. This is the first step towards the goal of liberation.”

“When the feelings of “I”, “me” and “mine” disappear, the mind becomes free from all negative vices such as anger, lust, jealousy, etc. It will stay unaffected by pleasure or pain. When the mind is filled with detachment, devotion and knowledge, it will be able to perceive the inherent divinity within every living thing.”

“Mother, of all the paths to reach the divine, Bhakti or devotion is the easiest and surest. There is no other path that will grant you liberation as quickly as the path of devotion. Attachment will always be there in the human mind. Let it be there, only do not feed it with sense objects. Change the object of attachment. Rather than staying attached to the things of the world, get attached to the divine. Attachment to a higher ideal will snap away other ties. Diverting your attachment from worldly objects to the divine will not be easy. However, satsang or good company will make this easier. When you adopt the company of sadhus, or wise beings, it would become easier to abandon your attachment to worldly things.”

“How will you recognize real sadhus, you may wonder. I will tell you. They do not let suffering, pain or other physical vices affect them. They are full of compassion, and view everyone as their own. They love all beings equally. They are always at peace, for their minds are tranquil and clear. They never leave the path of righteousness. Their thoughts are always centered on the divine and they have no other obligations or relations. The troubles of the world do not trouble them. They are free from any kind of attachment. Mother, please pray that your mind gets attached to such people, for they are capable of helping you break away from all attachments. Constant company of Sadhus will lead to Bhakti. And once you attain Bhakti, everything else will seem insignificant. Only the divine will matter.”

Devahuti asked him, “Please tell me, those who do not have knowledge of Vedas or other scriptures, how do they reach you? Which is the path for them?”

“It is only through Bhakti.” Kapila said. “Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion to the divine will burn away the bondage of karma and the senses. Bhakti will not only lead you to oneness with the divine, it will also free you from the allure of worldly objects. Mukti is sure to follow those on the path of Bhakti.”

“My Bhaktas will never be destroyed. The wheel of time which seems like a formidable weapon will not harm my devotees. My Bhaktas do not have to fear anything since everything is under my control. It is in fear of me that the wind blows, the sun shines, rains shower from the heavens, the fire burns and death keeps a watch on everything and everyone. But true yogis who have conquered their minds are afraid of nothing, and in the end, they reach Me only.”

Kapila further taught the knowledge of Atma Vidya to Devahuti. Having fulfilled his mission on the earth, of propagating Sankhya Yoga, he took leave of his mother and left the ashram.

Devahuti spent the rest of her days as taught by her son. Although she missed her husband and her son, she tried to bring her mind to the divine, as her son had guided her. In her mind, she always thought of Kapila while contemplating on the divine. Through yoga, meditation and the knowledge gained from her son, Devahuti attained the lotus feet of Lord Narayana.  The spot where she attained mukti was considered as teertha by the Devas and it is believed that her body became one with the river. Celestial beings came to dip in this river to purify themselves.

Having learnt Brahma Vidya and Atma Vidya from her own son, Devahuti, daughter of Manu and mother of Rishi Kapila Vasudeva, is considered as the greatest among Jivanmuktas.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!