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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
6.14.386.14.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.39

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

ता: पर्यतप्यन्नात्मानं गर्हयन्त्योऽभ्यसूयया ।

आनपत्येन दु:खेन राज्ञश्चानादरेण च ॥ ३९ ॥

tāḥ paryatapyann ātmānaṁ

garhayantyo ’bhyasūyayā

ānapatyena duḥkhena

rājñaś cānādareṇa ca

Translation

The other queens were extremely unhappy due to their being sonless. Because of the King’s negligence toward them, they condemned themselves in envy and lamented.

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.

Neglect Intensifies Unhappiness and Envy

  1. 1

    The other queens were extremely unhappy because they had no sons.

  2. 2

    The King’s negligence added to their distress.

  3. 3

    In envy, they condemned themselves and lamented.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāḥthey (the queens who did not have sons)
  2. paryatapyanlamented
  3. ātmānamthemselves
  4. garhayantyaḥcondemning
  5. abhyasūyayāout of envy
  6. ānapatyenadue to being without sons
  7. duḥkhenaby unhappiness
  8. rājñaḥof the King
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “king’s”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “lamented”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I feel overlooked, do I turn toward envy or self-condemnation?

Practice

Write down one feeling of being overlooked without adding a judgment against yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNeglect Intensifies Unhappiness and EnvyThis 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 6.14.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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