From a distance, seeing Devkanya approaching, a smile lit up Devadatta's face. Was he, in his heart, awaiting her arrival? Walking up to her, he asked, "O Devi, where are you headed at this hour of dusk? If our Gurudev learns of this, he will be displeased."
Devkanya smiled and replied, "O stranger, be at peace. Gurudev will not be displeased with me, nor with you for speaking to me under the pretext of conversation."
There was no sign that Devadatta was even slightly perturbed by this assertion. He stepped closer and said, "Devi, you must accompany me on a special mission. The learned say that if a powerful and capable man abducts a woman, it is deemed just."
Lifting the water pot resting on her waist, Devkanya replied, "The learned also say that for one's own protection, it is right to strike—even if the threat comes in the guise of a guest."
Their conversation might have continued further, but it was abruptly interrupted by a sky-piercing sound. This noise reminded Devadatta of something from his past. With a curious expression, he looked around. Then, feeling something instinctively, he glanced up at the sky and was startled. Though nothing was clearly visible, it felt as if a massive bird had flown over the forest, letting out a cry as it passed.
Devkanya also looked around but found no source of the sound. Unable to trace its origin, she filled her vessel with water and began her return journey to the hermitage. Their conversation did not continue.
---
Seeing the bird in the sky again, Devadatta's mind grew restless. It would be best to meet Guru Veda as soon as possible. No one else, not even Guru Dhaumya, was aware of this matter. Every time this bird appears in the sky, it is followed by calamity on earth. Taking his horse with him, Devadatta started walking slowly toward the hermitage. All were aware of the bird, but only Guru Veda knew how to avert the consequences it signaled.
Upon returning to the hermitage, Devkanya saw everyone engaged in their tasks with cheerful hearts. As she wondered if it was possible to meet her father today, she saw him seated under a tree, preparing wood for the sacrificial fire. Placing her water-filled pot down beside her, she knelt by the tree.
Gurudev asked, "Daughter, have you been pondering something again?"
With a faint smile, Devkanya replied, "Father, how do you always know when there is turmoil in my heart?"
The Guru said, "Through deep meditation upon the Lord. I sensed that you are hiding something from others."
"Father, what I said was true. But the face of that girl was vividly clear, and I saw a resemblance to myself. Why is that?"
The great Guru smiled gently and said, "Daughter, the path of celibacy has many difficult rules, and among them is patience. Do not lose patience. In the coming days, the darkness in your heart will be dispelled. What takes people centuries to realize, you cannot hope to understand in a single day."
"Father," said Devkanya, "just a while ago I saw the reflection of a giant bird on the pond's surface. My heart was deeply troubled by that shadow. I even heard a strange, unsettling cry."
Hearing this, a shadow of concern passed over the Guru's face as well. In a grave voice, he said, "O Lord, is another dark omen descending upon the earth?"
Devkanya asked, "Father, I wish to know—what past event is disturbing you? And what is the connection between that giant bird and the past?"
---
Whenever that giant bird is seen, it is followed either by a natural disaster or the outbreak of war. Since ancient times, whenever the beauty of creation was under threat, the Lord Himself has intervened with His divine weapons to protect nature. This is one of His mysterious divine plays.
"Why, Father? Why does this happen?"
"In truth," the Guru replied, "nothing in the world is permanent. All things move forward in a cycle. Destruction is the inevitable result of creation, and from destruction, new creation arises. I have told you this before. And not only that—when disaster strikes the world, it is the Lord alone who brings salvation."
At that moment, Anupriya also arrived at the spot to listen to the ongoing spiritual discussion.
> Poritranaya sadhunayong binashaya cha duskritam।
Dhorma songosthaponarthay somvaamami juge juge।।
"For the protection of the righteous, the destruction of the wicked,
and the re-establishment of dharma, I manifest myself age after age."
This universe is the creation of Brahma Himself. It is said that the universe comes into being when Brahma takes form. And anything that is created is also destined to be destroyed. For example, from a seed springs a sprout, then a sapling, and eventually a great tree. But even that tree will perish in time. Yet from its decay, new life may emerge. The cause of this creation—or the desire behind it—remains unknown. We can only say that the world is created or destroyed according to the spontaneous will of Brahma.
"When Brahma takes form, the world is created."
"O great sage," she asked, "we say Brahma is formless, pure, unknowable, and luminous—how, then, can He be the creator of realms like heaven?"
The sage replied, "O daughter, to understand this, you must use not logic but experience. The world is born from emotion. Just as I explained earlier, emotion is the means by which unknowable knowledge unfolds. And in that unfolding, only realization exists. Just as fire contains the energy of heat, so too does Brahma hold the power to create heaven."
"Now," he continued, "do you remember what I told you in the beginning about time?"
"Yes," said Anupriya, "you said the form of Lord Vishnu is made of Purusha, Prakriti, and Time. And that Time is His ultimate form. But Guru-Pita, what is Time?"
The great sage was silent for a moment, then said, "Time is the transformation that happens when the forms of Purusha and Pradhana (the unmanifest principle) unite and separate from Lord Vishnu's essence. Time, the Lord in His aspect of Time, is eternal—without beginning or end. Thus, the processes of creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe never cease."
Devkanya asked, "Then is it for the purpose of determining the lifespan of all earthly things that Time exists?"
She added, "Guru-Pita, you said the world is created when Brahma takes form. So what was the state of the world at the time of creation?"
The sage replied, "According to the Smriti texts, it is said:
> 'There was no day, no night,
no sky, no earth,
no darkness, no light,
and nothing beyond.
Only the Supreme Brahma and Purusha existed,
beyond the senses and intellect.'"
Thus, in the beginning, there was nothing—neither time, nor space, nor matter—only the Supreme Principle.