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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation
6.14.156.14.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

महर्षिस्तमुपासीनं प्रश्रयावनतं क्षितौ ।

प्रतिपूज्य महाराज समाभाष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १६ ॥

maharṣis tam upāsīnaṁ

praśrayāvanataṁ kṣitau

pratipūjya mahārāja

samābhāṣyedam abravīt

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, when Citraketu, bent low in humility, was seated at the lotus feet of the great sage, the sage congratulated him for his humility and hospitality. The sage addressed him in the following words.

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.

Humility and Hospitality Are Worth Honoring

  1. 1

    Citraketu sat on the ground at the great sage's lotus feet, bent low in humility.

  2. 2

    The sage congratulated the King for his humility and hospitality.

  3. 3

    After acknowledging these qualities, the sage addressed the King.

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:

Citraketu, who had no sons, got an opportunity to meet the great sage Aṅgirā. When Aṅgirā inquired from the King about his welfare, the King expressed his moroseness, and therefore by the grace of the great sage, the King’s first wife, Kṛtadyuti, gave birth to a son, who was the cause of both happiness and lamentation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mahā-ṛṣiḥthe great sage
  2. tamunto him (the King)
  3. upāsīnamsitting near
  4. praśraya-avanatambowing in humility
  5. kṣitauon the ground
  6. pratipūjyacongratulating
  7. mahārājaO King Parīkṣit
  8. samābhāṣyaaddressing
  9. idamthis
  10. abravītsaid
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “humility”

  • 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

Do I notice and appreciate humility and hospitality in others?

Practice

Thank someone specifically for a humble or welcoming act today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumility and Hospitality Are Worth HonoringThis 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 6.14.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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