Kapila’s advice

Sage Kardama was married to Devahuthi, daughter of Svayambhuva Manu. He was blessed with nine daughters, and later Lord Narayana was born as his son. This is the Kapila avatara of the Lord. The purpose of this avatara was to spread knowledge of Sankhya yoga, which talks of the world (Prakriti), Purushan (jivatmas) and the Supreme One, elaborated P.T. Seshadri in a discourse.

Devhauthi comes to Kapila seeking advice. She wants to know the reason for our worldly attachments. Kapila says that the mind is responsible for our attachments as well as for the attainment of moksha.

When the mind seeks worldly pleasures, the result is bondage. When it thinks of the Supreme One, moksha is the result.

She then asks why we are arrogant. Kapila says that when one is attached to the body, pride (ahankara) results. Pride leads to a sense of possession. So one should conquer the indriyas and also treat sorrow and joy just the same. With such an attitude, the mind is purified. A pure mind results in jnana and vairagya (indifference to worldly objects).

Once a person has vairagya, he acquires the qualities of a sadhu. A person who has the qualities of patience, forbearance, sympathy and humility may be said to be a sadhu. Such sadhus focus the mind on the Lord. A sadhu has ananya bhakti — that is he seeks no rewards through his bhakti. “Seek the company of sadhus, for such good company will show you the path to moksha,” says Kapila to Devahuthi.

Sadhus speak of the Lord and listening to them helps us focus on the Lord. Thus Kapila shows how one thing leads to another, and his upadesa is a guide to attain moksha.