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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

6.14.36 6.14.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.37

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

मातुस्त्वतितरां पुत्रे स्‍नेहो मोहसमुद्भ‍व: ।

कृतद्युते: सपत्नीनां प्रजाकामज्वरोऽभवत् ॥ ३७ ॥

mātus tv atitarāṁ putre

sneho moha-samudbhavaḥ

kṛtadyuteḥ sapatnīnāṁ

prajā-kāma-jvaro ’bhavat

Translation

The mother’s attraction and attention to the son, like that of the child’s father, excessively increased. The other wives, seeing Kṛtadyuti’s son, were very much agitated, as if by high fevers, with a desire to have sons.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Growing Affection and Feverish Desire

1
The mother’s attraction and attention to her son increased excessively, like the father’s.
2
The other wives saw Kṛtadyuti’s son and strongly desired sons of their own.
3
Their agitation is compared to the distress of high fevers.

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

Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The co-wives of Kṛtadyuti, however, were envious, and later they administered poison to the child. Citraketu was overwhelmed by shock at his son’s death.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.14

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

mātuḥof the mother
tualso
atitarāmexcessively
putrefor the son
snehaḥaffection
mohaout of ignorance
samudbhavaḥproduced
kṛtadyuteḥof Kṛtadyuti

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
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.14
In this verse: “mother’s”, “father”, “child’s”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.14
In this verse: “distress”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When does seeing another person’s happiness stir restless desire in me?

Practice

Notice one moment of comparison today and name the desire that is troubling you.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrowing Affection and Feverish DesireThis 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 6.14.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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