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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
6.14.256.14.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Citraketusince 6.14.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत: पाहि महाभाग पूर्वै: सह गतं तम: ।

यथा तरेम दुष्पारं प्रजया तद्विधेहि न: ॥ २६ ॥

tataḥ pāhi mahā-bhāga

pūrvaiḥ saha gataṁ tamaḥ

yathā tarema duṣpāraṁ

prajayā tad vidhehi naḥ

Translation

Therefore, O great sage, please save me and my forefathers, who are descending to the darkness of hell because I have no progeny. Kindly do something so that I may have a son to deliver us from hellish conditions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Citraketu’s Concern Extended to His Forefathers

  1. 1

    According to Vedic civilization, marriage is meant for having a son who can offer oblations to his forefathers.

  2. 2

    Citraketu responsibly desired a child to deliver both himself and his forefathers from the darkest regions.

  3. 3

    He was concerned about receiving piṇḍa, or oblations, in the next life. He therefore asked Aṅgirā Ṛṣi to help him obtain a son.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Vedic civilization, one gets married simply to have a son, who is needed to offer oblations to his forefathers.
  • King Citraketu responsibly desired to beget a child so that he and his forefathers might be delivered from the darkest regions.
  • Therefore he requested Aṅgirā Ṛṣi to favor him by doing something that could help him get a son.

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:

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. Upon the birth of this son, the King and all the residents of the palace were very happy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥtherefore, because of this
  2. pāhikindly save
  3. mahā-bhāgaO great sage
  4. pūrvaiḥ sahaalong with my forefathers
  5. gatamgone
  6. tamaḥto darkness
  7. yathāso that
  8. taremawe can cross
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do my requests for help include concern for others, or only for myself?

Practice

When considering a need today, name one other person whose welfare is also involved.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCitraketu’s Concern Extended to His ForefathersThis 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 6.14.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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