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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
6.14.216.14.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.22

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.22inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं विकल्पितो राजन् विदुषा मुनिनापि स: ।

प्रश्रयावनतोऽभ्याह प्रजाकामस्ततो मुनिम् ॥ २२ ॥

evaṁ vikalpito rājan

viduṣā munināpi saḥ

praśrayāvanato ’bhyāha

prajā-kāmas tato munim

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, although the great sage Aṅgirā knew everything, he inquired from the King in this way. Thus King Citraketu, desiring a son, bent low in great humility and spoke to the great sage as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respond to Saintly Inquiry With Humility

  1. 1

    Although Aṅgirā knew everything, he still questioned King Citraketu.

  2. 2

    The face is the index to the mind. A saintly person can study someone’s mental condition by seeing the face.

  3. 3

    Citraketu, who desired a son, bent low in humility and began explaining the cause of his anxiety.

Key points from the purport
  • Since the face is the index to the mind, a saintly person can study the condition of one’s mind by seeing his face.
  • When Aṅgirā Ṛṣi remarked about the King’s discolored face, King Citraketu explained the cause of his anxiety as follows.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Being doubtful, Parīkṣit Mahārāja inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who then described Vṛtrāsura with reference to his previous birth as Citraketu, the King of Śūrasena. Citraketu, who had no sons, got an opportunity to meet the great sage Aṅgirā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. vikalpitaḥquestioned
  3. rājanO King Parīkṣit
  4. viduṣāgreatly learned
  5. munināby the philosopher
  6. apialthough
  7. saḥhe (King Citraketu)
  8. praśraya-avanataḥbeing bent low due to humility
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • 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

Am I willing to speak humbly and honestly when someone asks about my distress?

Practice

When someone sincerely asks how you are today, pause and give an honest, humble answer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespond to Saintly Inquiry With HumilityThis 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 6.14.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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