Service

When her parents had gone, Devahūti served her husband every day with love, understanding his least sign, as the goddess Bhavānī serves her lord, the god Śiva. She served him with trust and purity, with reverence and self-control, with care and warmth and sweet words. She put away desire and pretence, hatred and greed, wrongdoing and pride, and was always watchful and ready, and she pleased that sage of great power. She hoped for great blessings from a husband greater than fate, and so she went on for a long time, until her body grew thin and worn from her vows.

Kardama saw her, and pity filled him, and his voice broke with love. Daughter of Manu, he said, I am pleased with you today, pleased with your service beyond measure and your devotion beyond measure. Your body is the dearest friend of anyone who has a body, and you did not spare it; you wore it out for my sake. Whatever blessings of the Lord I have won by my austerity and meditation and knowledge and yoga are yours now, by your service to me. I give them to you, and they are free of fear and sorrow.