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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

6.14.42 6.14.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.43

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

विद्वेषनष्टमतय: स्त्रियो दारुणचेतस: ।

गरं ददु: कुमाराय दुर्मर्षा नृपतिं प्रति ॥ ४३ ॥

vidveṣa-naṣṭa-matayaḥ

striyo dāruṇa-cetasaḥ

garaṁ daduḥ kumārāya

durmarṣā nṛpatiṁ prati

Translation

As their envy increased, they lost their intelligence. Being extremely hardhearted and unable to tolerate the King’s neglect, they finally administered poison to the son.

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.

Envy Can Destroy Intelligence

1
As the co-wives’ envy increased, they lost their intelligence.
2
They became extremely hardhearted and could not tolerate the King’s neglect.
3
Their envy led to a terrible act: they administered poison to the son.

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.

vidveṣa-naṣṭa-matayaḥwhose intelligence was lost in envy
striyaḥthe women
dāruṇa-cetasaḥbeing very hardhearted
garampoison
daduḥadministered
kumārāyaunto the boy
durmarṣāḥbeing intolerant
nṛpatimthe King
pratiupon

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”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When resentment grows, how does it affect my judgment and concern for others?

Practice

Before acting on resentment today, pause and consider whether your action could hurt someone.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEnvy Can Destroy IntelligenceThis 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 6.14.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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