His Father's Leave

When Kardama had given his nine daughters in marriage to the sages, he went to his son in a lonely place, bowed to him and said: How wonderful it is, that after a long time the gods grow kind to those who are burning in hell for their own wrongdoing. The Lord whom yogis seek through many births in empty places is born today in the house of worldly men like me. You have come into my house to make your word true. I take refuge in you, Kapila. Today I ask you, the lord of all beings, for leave. My debt to my forefathers, which a man pays with a son, is paid by your coming, and I want nothing more. I will take the road of a wanderer and go about with you in my heart, beyond sorrow.

Kapila said: What I say is the measure for the world. I said I would be born to you, sage, and I have been. I was born in this world for those who want to be freed from wrong understanding, and to teach the counting of the principles, which is honoured as the way to see the Self. That path of the Self has been lost through long ages, and I have taken this body to set it going again. Go where you wish, with my leave, and lay all your work on me. Conquer death and worship me, and you will be deathless. You will see me, the Self, shining by my own light in the heart of every being, and pass beyond sorrow to where there is no fear. And to my mother I will give the knowledge of the inmost Self, which brings all work to rest, so that she too may cross over fear.

So Kardama walked around his son in reverence and went to the forest, glad at heart, and wandered the earth in silence, without fire or house, until he saw the Lord in all beings and all beings in the Lord, and reached him.