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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
6.14.266.14.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Citraketusince 6.14.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्यर्थित: स भगवान् कृपालुर्ब्रह्मण: सुत: ।

श्रपयित्वा चरुं त्वाष्ट्रं त्वष्टारमयजद्विभु: ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ity arthitaḥ sa bhagavān

kṛpālur brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ

śrapayitvā caruṁ tvāṣṭraṁ

tvaṣṭāram ayajad vibhuḥ

Translation

In response to the request of Mahārāja Citraketu, Aṅgirā Ṛṣi, who was born of Lord Brahmā’s mind, was very merciful toward him. Because the sage was a greatly powerful personality, he performed a sacrifice by offering oblations of sweetrice to Tvaṣṭā.

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.

Mercy Responds to a Request for Help

  1. 1

    Aṅgirā Ṛṣi responded mercifully to Mahārāja Citraketu’s request.

  2. 2

    The sage was born of Lord Brahmā’s mind and was a greatly powerful personality.

  3. 3

    He performed a sacrifice by offering oblations of sweetrice to Tvaṣṭā.

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:

And among many millions of such liberated persons, one may become a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa. Therefore such devotees are extremely rare.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. arthitaḥbeing requested
  4. saḥhe (Aṅgirā Ṛṣi)
  5. bhagavānthe most powerful
  6. kṛpāluḥbeing very merciful
  7. brahmaṇaḥof Lord Brahmā
  8. sutaḥa son (born of Lord Brahmā’s mind)
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “merciful”, “mercifully”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “sweetrice”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I respond with mercy when someone asks me for help?

Practice

Offer one small, practical act of help to someone who has expressed a need.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Responds to a Request for HelpThis 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.

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