Kaśyapa Muni - The Progenitor and Preceptor of Vows

This article presents a thematic survey of Kaśyapa Muni's instructions, vows and statements. It organizes the profound teachings found in the Vaniquotes category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by Kasyapa Muni.

Kaśyapa Muni is one of the most important progenitors (prajāpatis) in the universe, the son of Marīci and the grandson of Lord Brahmā. He is the father of the devas (demigods), the asuras (demons), and various other species, making him a central figure in the population of the cosmos. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he appears primarily as a teacher to his wives, Diti and Aditi. He navigates the complex family dynamics of the gods and demons with spiritual wisdom, using ritualistic vows (vratas) to direct their desires toward the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His teachings offer a window into the Vedic system of eugenics, domestic duty, and ritual worship.

The Untimely Conception (Instructions to Diti)

When his wife Diti approaches him with intense lust during the evening twilight, Kaśyapa Muni attempts to dissuade her. He explains that the time of dusk is sacred to Lord Śiva and his ghostly retinue, and that sexual activity at this time is forbidden and will result in inauspicious offspring.

The Inauspicious Moment

Kaśyapa Muni warns Diti that the evening time belongs to Lord Rudra (Śiva), the king of ghosts. He explains that one must respect this time by purification and prayer, not by engaging in sense gratification which pollutes the mind.

  • "This particular time is most inauspicious because at this time the horrible-looking ghosts and constant companions of the lord of the ghosts are visible."
  • "Lord Śiva, the king of the ghosts, sitting on the back of his bull carrier, travels at this time, accompanied by ghosts who follow him for their welfare."
  • "Although no one in the material world is equal to or greater than Śiva and although his unimpeachable character is followed by great souls to dismantle the mass of nescience, he nevertheless remains as if a devil to give salvation to all devotees of Lord."
  • "Demigods like Brahmā also follow the religious rites observed by him. He is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. He is great, and therefore his devilish characteristics are simply imitation."
  • "The learned Kaśyapa said: Because of your mind's being polluted, because of defilement of the particular time, because of your negligence of my directions, and because of your being apathetic to the demigods, everything was inauspicious."

Prophecy of the Two Demons

Yielding to Diti's demand but predicting the consequences, Kaśyapa Muni foretells the birth of Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. He describes how these two sons will terrorize the universe and eventually be killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  • "O haughty one, you will have two contemptuous sons born of your condemned womb. Unlucky woman, they will cause constant lamentation to all the three worlds."
  • "They (Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu) will kill poor, faultless living entities, torture women and enrage the great souls."
  • "At that time the Lord of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the well-wisher of all living entities, will descend and kill them, just as Indra smashes the mountains with his thunderbolts."
  • "This woman, my wife, has adopted a means that follows her nature, and therefore she is not to be blamed. But I am a man. Therefore, all condemnation upon me! I am not at all conversant with what is good for me, since I could not control my senses."
  • "Even though it is not possible to repay you (Diti), I (Kaśyapa) shall satisfy your sex desire immediately for the sake of begetting children. But you must wait for only a few seconds so that others may not reproach me."

The Glory of Prahlāda

Despite the inauspicious birth of the demons, Kaśyapa Muni consoles Diti by predicting that her grandson, Prahlāda Mahārāja, will be a pure devotee. He describes the exalted qualities of Prahlāda, who will be equal to the Lord in spiritual potency.

  • "Kaśyapa said: Because of your lamentation, penitence and proper deliberation and also because of your unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and your adoration for Śiva and me, one of the sons (Prahlāda) of your son (Hiraṇyakaśipu) will be an approved devotee of Lord."
  • "Everyone will be pleased with him (Prahlāda) because the Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller of the universe, is always satisfied with a devotee who does not wish for anything beyond Him."
  • "He (Prahlāda) will be a virtuously qualified reservoir of all good qualities; he will be jolly and happy in others' happiness, distressed in others' distress, and will have no enemies. He will be a destroyer of the lamentation of all the universes."
  • "Your (Diti's) grandson (Prahlāda) will be able to see, inside and outside, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose wife is the beautiful goddess of fortune. The Lord can assume the form desired by the devotee, and His face is always beautifully decorated with earrings."
  • "Due to matured devotional service, he (Prahlāda) will certainly be situated in transcendental ecstasy and will enter the spiritual sky after quitting this material world."
  • "That topmost devotee of the Lord (Prahlāda) will have expanded intelligence and expanded influence and will be the greatest of the great souls."

The Pumsavana Vow (Ritual to Kill Indra)

Years later, when Diti desires a son to kill Indra (who had killed her other children), Kaśyapa Muni agrees but imposes the strict pumsavana vow. He cleverly sets conditions of absolute purity and non-violence, knowing that if Diti follows them, she will be purified of her envious intent.

The Conditions of the Vow

Kaśyapa Muni lists the strict prohibitions of the vow, which include hygiene, diet, and behavior. He instructs Diti not to eat leftovers, not to be angry, and not to sleep in an impure state, effectively forcing her to live in the mode of goodness.

  • "Kaśyapa Muni continued: If you (Diti) perform this ceremony called pumsavana, adhering to the vow with faith for at least one year, you will give birth to a son destined to kill Indra."
  • "Kaśyapa Muni said: My dear wife (Diti), to follow this vow, do not be violent or cause harm to anyone. Do not curse anyone, and do not speak lies. Do not cut your nails and hair, and do not touch impure things like skulls and bones."
  • "Do not eat anything brought or touched by a śūdra nor anything seen by a woman in her menstrual period. Do not drink water by joining your palms."
  • "Never eat leftover food, never eat prasāda offered to the goddess Kālī (Durgā), and do not eat anything contaminated by flesh or fish."
  • "My dear gentle wife, never enter the water while bathing, never be angry, and do not even speak or associate with wicked people. Never wear clothes that have not been properly washed, and do not put on a garland that has already been worn."
  • "After eating, you (Diti) should not go out to the street without having washed your mouth, hands and feet."

Consequences of Negligence

Kaśyapa Muni warns that any deviation from the rules will result in a different outcome. He creates a loophole where if Diti fails to maintain purity, her son will not kill Indra but will instead become his friend.

  • "Kaśyapa Muni continued to Diti: If there is any discrepancy in the discharge of this vow, the son will be a friend to Indra."
  • "Kaśyapa Muni said: If you (Diti) deviate from this vow of following the Vaiṣṇava principles, you will get a son who will be favorable to Indra."
  • "Kaśyapa Muni said: My dear gentle wife, if you follow my instructions regarding this vow for at least one year, you will surely get a son who will be able to kill Indra."
  • "You (Diti) should not lie down without having washed both of your feet or without being purified, nor with wet feet or with your head pointed west or north. You should not lie naked, or with other women, or during the sunrise or sunset."
  • "You (Diti) should not go out in the evening or with your hair loose, nor should you go out unless you are properly decorated with ornaments. You should not leave the house unless you are very grave and are sufficiently covered."

The Payo-vrata Sacrifice (Instructions to Aditi)

When Aditi is grieved by the defeat of her sons (the demigods) by the demons, she approaches Kaśyapa Muni for a solution. He instructs her to perform the payo-vrata (milk vow), a method of worshiping Lord Viṣṇu to satisfy all desires.

The Supreme Remedy

Kaśyapa Muni explains that material strategies are useless against the will of providence. He advises Aditi to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, who is the only true benedictor.

  • "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very merciful to the poor, will fulfill all of your desires, for devotional service unto Him is infallible. Any method other than devotional service is useless. That is my opinion."
  • "My dear gentle lady, follow this ritualistic vow, strictly observing the regulative principles. By this process, the Supreme Person will very soon be pleased with you and will satisfy all your desires."
  • "My dear Aditi, engage in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of everything, who can subdue everyone's enemies, and who sits within everyone's heart."
  • "O afflicted one, I shall forthwith gratify whatever desire is dear to you, for who else but you is the source of the three perfections of liberation?"
  • "O most exalted and worshipable Lord, best of those who bestow benediction, You can fulfill the desires of everyone, and therefore those who are sober, for their own welfare, worship the dust of Your lotus feet."

Ritualistic Procedures

Kaśyapa Muni details the specific rituals of the payo-vrata, which involves subsisting only on milk and worshiping the Lord with the twelve-syllable mantra. He emphasizes the importance of celibacy and sleeping on the floor during the vow.

  • "This is the religious ritualistic ceremony known as payo-vrata, by which one may worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I (Kaśyapa Muni) received this information from Brahmā, my grandfather, and now I have described it to you (Aditi) in all details."
  • "In the bright fortnight of the month of Phālguna (February and March), for twelve days ending with Dvādaśī, one should observe the vow of subsisting only on milk and should worship the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead with all devotion."
  • "In the beginning, the devotee should chant the dvādaśākṣara-mantra and offer flower garlands, incense and so on. After worshiping the Lord in this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk and dress Him with proper garments, a sacred thread, and ornaments."
  • "Worshiping Lord Viṣṇu with great faith and devotion and living only by drinking milk, one should follow this vow. One should also offer oblations to the fire and feed the brāhmaṇas as mentioned before."
  • "From pratipat until the thirteenth day of the next bright moon (śukla-trayodaśī), one should observe complete celibacy, sleep on the floor, bathe three times a day and thus execute the vow."
  • "In this way, until twelve days have passed, one should observe this payo-vrata, worshiping the Lord every day, executing the routine duties, performing sacrifices and feeding the brāhmaṇas."

Distribution of Prasāda

Kaśyapa Muni instructs that the worship is not complete without the charitable distribution of prasāda. He mandates that everyone, including the poor and lower classes, must be fed sumptuously.

  • "One should distribute viṣṇu-prasāda to everyone, including the poor man, the blind man, the nondevotee and the non-brāhmaṇa."
  • "By distributing prasāda one should satisfy everyone assembled, including even the lowest of men, the caṇḍālas (eaters of dog flesh)."
  • "Knowing that Lord Viṣṇu is very pleased when everyone is sumptuously fed with viṣṇu-prasāda, the performer of yajña should then take prasāda with his friends and relatives."
  • "O most auspicious lady, one should perform all the ceremonies under the direction of learned ācāryas and should satisfy them and their priests. By distributing prasāda, one should also satisfy the brāhmaṇas and others who have assembled."

Dharma of Household Life

Kaśyapa Muni provides teachings on the dynamics of family life, addressing the nature of women and the duties of a householder. He explains that while women can be tricky, a chaste wife is the greatest asset for a man in spiritual life.

The Nature of Women

Kaśyapa Muni offers a frank analysis of female psychology, noting their sharp intelligence and self-interest. He warns men about the illusory nature of attachment to women while simultaneously acknowledging their power.

  • "A woman's face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear, but if we study a woman's heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp, like the blade of a razor."
  • "Kaśyapa Muni thought: Alas, I have now become too attached to material enjoyment. Taking advantage of this, my mind has been attracted by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a woman (my wife)."
  • "To satisfy their own interests, women deal with men as if the men were most dear to them, but no one is actually dear to them."
  • "Women are supposed to be very saintly, but for their own interests they can kill even their husbands, sons or brothers, or cause them to be killed by others."
  • "Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When Kaśyapa Muni was thus requested by Aditi, he slightly smiled. 'Alas,' he said, 'how powerful is the illusory energy of Lord Viṣṇu, by which the entire world is bound by affection for children!'"

The Chaste Wife

Despite his criticisms, Kaśyapa Muni praises the position of a faithful wife. He explains that by serving her husband as a representative of the Lord, a woman achieves all perfection.

  • "A wife is so helpful that she is so called the better half of a man's body because of her sharing in all auspicious activities. A man can move without anxiety entrusting all responsibilities to his wife."
  • "As a fort commander very easily conquers invading plunderers, by taking shelter of a wife one can conquer the senses, which are unconquerable in the other social orders."
  • "As one can cross over the ocean with seagoing vessels, one can cross the dangerous situation of the material ocean by living with a wife."
  • "A conscientious wife should be chaste and should abide by the orders of her husband. She should very devoutly worship her husband as a representative of Vāsudeva."
  • "My dear gentle wife, because you have worshiped me with great devotion, considering me a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I shall reward you by fulfilling your desires, which are unobtainable for an unchaste wife."
  • "If a husband is pleased, what desires are difficult for his wife to obtain, either in this world or in the next?"

Deity Worship and Rituals

Kaśyapa Muni gives precise instructions on the process of Deity worship (arcana). He details the items of worship, the proper mindset, and the importance of satisfying the spiritual master and brāhmaṇas.

Method of Worship

Kaśyapa Muni outlines the sequence of offering service to the Deity, from invoking the Lord with mantras to bathing and dressing Him. He emphasizes that one must worship the Lord with full attention and purity.

  • "One should perform his daily spiritual duties and then, with great attention, offer worship to the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and also to the altar, the sun, water, fire and the spiritual master."
  • "By chanting all these mantras, welcoming the Supreme Personality of Godhead with faith and devotion, and offering Him items of worship (such as pādya and arghya), one should worship Keśava, Hṛṣīkeśa, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
  • "After offering water to wash the Lord's feet, one should again worship the Lord with fragrant flowers, incense and other paraphernalia."
  • "If one can afford to, one should offer the Deity fine rice boiled in milk with clarified butter and molasses. While chanting the same original mantra, one should offer all this to the fire."
  • "One should silently murmur the mantra 108 times and offer prayers to the Lord for His glorification. Then one should circumambulate the Lord and finally, with great delight and satisfaction, offer obeisances, falling straight like a rod (daṇḍavat)."
  • "After touching to one's head all the flowers and water offered to the Deity, one should throw them into a sacred place. Then one should feed at least two brāhmaṇas with sweet rice."

Satisfying Acārya and Brāhmaṇas

Kaśyapa Muni teaches that satisfying the ācāryas and brāhmaṇas is an essential part of the sacrifice. He instructs that without their satisfaction, the ritual yields no result.

  • "One should satisfy the spiritual master (ācārya), who is very learned in Vedic literature, and should satisfy his assistant priests (known as hotā, udgātā, adhvaryu and brahmā)."
  • "One should satisfy the spiritual master and assistant priests by giving them cloth, ornaments, cows and also some monetary contribution."
  • "One should please them by offering them clothing, ornaments and cows. This is the ceremony called viṣṇu-ārādhana, or worship of Lord Viṣṇu."
  • "By worshiping the fire and the brāhmaṇas, a householder can achieve the desired goal of residing in the higher planets, for the sacrificial fire and the brāhmaṇas are to be considered the mouth of Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Supersoul of all the demigods."

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by Kasyapa Muni. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.

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