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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
6.14.406.14.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.41

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

दासीनां को नु सन्ताप: स्वामिन: परिचर्यया ।

अभीक्ष्णं लब्धमानानां दास्या दासीव दुर्भगा: ॥ ४१ ॥

dāsīnāṁ ko nu santāpaḥ

svāminaḥ paricaryayā

abhīkṣṇaṁ labdha-mānānāṁ

dāsyā dāsīva durbhagāḥ

Translation

Even maidservants who are constantly engaged in rendering service to the husband are honored by the husband, and thus they have nothing for which to lament. Our position, however, is that we are maidservants of the maidservant. Therefore we are most unfortunate.

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.

The Pain of Feeling Neglected

  1. 1

    The co-wives observe that even maidservants receive honor from the husband through constant service.

  2. 2

    They consider those honored maidservants to have no reason for lamentation.

  3. 3

    Seeing themselves as maidservants of a maidservant, they describe their own position as most unfortunate.

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:

Since bhakti, devotional service, is not ordinary, Parīkṣit Mahārāja was astonished that an asura could rise to the exalted position of a devotee. Being doubtful, Parīkṣit Mahārāja inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who then described Vṛtrāsura with reference to his previous birth as Citraketu, the King of Śūrasena.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dāsīnāmof the maidservants
  2. kaḥwhat
  3. nuindeed
  4. santāpaḥlamentation
  5. svāminaḥunto the husband
  6. paricaryayāby rendering service
  7. abhīkṣṇamconstantly
  8. labdha-mānānāmhonored
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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

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

    In this verse: “lament”, “lamentation”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does comparing the honor I receive with another person’s honor affect me?

Practice

Notice one comparison about how others are treated, and name the sadness or dissatisfaction behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Pain of Feeling NeglectedThis 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 6.14.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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