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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
6.14.326.14.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.33

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Citraketusince 6.14.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हृष्टो राजा कुमारस्य स्‍नात: शुचिरलङ्‌कृत: ।

वाचयित्वाशिषो विप्रै: कारयामास जातकम् ॥ ३३ ॥

hṛṣṭo rājā kumārasya

snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ

vācayitvāśiṣo vipraiḥ

kārayām āsa jātakam

Translation

King Citraketu was especially pleased. After purifying himself by bathing and by decorating himself with ornaments, he engaged learned brāhmaṇas in offering benedictions to the child and performing the birth ceremony.

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.

Welcoming a Child With Benedictions

  1. 1

    King Citraketu was especially pleased by his son’s birth.

  2. 2

    He purified himself by bathing and decorated himself with ornaments.

  3. 3

    He engaged learned brāhmaṇas to offer benedictions to the child and perform the birth ceremony.

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. hṛṣṭaḥvery happy
  2. rājāthe King
  3. kumārasyaof his newly born son
  4. snātaḥhaving bathed
  5. śuciḥbeing purified
  6. alaṅkṛtaḥbeing decorated with ornaments
  7. vācayitvāhaving caused to be spoken
  8. āśiṣaḥwords of benediction
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “purifying”, “purified”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I mark a happy occasion with care and respect?

Practice

Offer a thoughtful blessing for a child’s well-being today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWelcoming a Child With BenedictionsThis 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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