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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation
6.14.106.14.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.11

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्य भार्यासहस्राणां सहस्राणि दशाभवन् ।

सान्तानिकश्चापि नृपो न लेभे तासु सन्ततिम् ॥ ११ ॥

tasya bhāryā-sahasrāṇāṁ

sahasrāṇi daśābhavan

sāntānikaś cāpi nṛpo

na lebhe tāsu santatim

Translation

This Citraketu had ten million wives, but although he was capable of producing children, he did not receive a child from any of them. By chance, all the wives were barren.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Great Resources Cannot Guarantee Desired Results

  1. 1

    Citraketu had ten million wives, yet he did not receive a child from any of them.

  2. 2

    The King was capable of producing children, but all his wives happened to be barren.

  3. 3

    His many marriages did not bring the result he desired.

How it feels

Parental grief → Detachment and surrender. A flashback discloses the devotional history behind Vṛtrāsura.

Chapters 14–17 of Canto 6: Citraketu's grief, realization and curse. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This involves the story of Citraketu and how he was victimized by lamentation because of the death of his son. Among many millions of living entities, the number of human beings is extremely small, and among human beings who are actually religious, only some are eager to be liberated from material existence.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof him (King Citraketu)
  2. bhāryāof wives
  3. sahasrāṇāmof thousands
  4. sahasrāṇithousands
  5. daśaten
  6. abhavanthere were
  7. sāntānikaḥquite capable of begetting sons
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “children”, “child”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when my efforts do not bring the result I hope for?

Practice

Name one desired result you cannot guarantee, and quietly acknowledge that limit today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGreat Resources Cannot Guarantee Desired ResultsThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 6.14.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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