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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
6.14.456.14.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.46

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सा शयानमुपव्रज्य द‍ृष्ट्वा चोत्तारलोचनम् ।

प्राणेन्द्रियात्मभिस्त्यक्तं हतास्मीत्यपतद्भ‍ुवि ॥ ४६ ॥

sā śayānam upavrajya

dṛṣṭvā cottāra-locanam

prāṇendriyātmabhis tyaktaṁ

hatāsmīty apatad bhuvi

Translation

When the maidservant approached the child, who was lying down, she saw that his eyes were turned upward. There were no signs of life, all his senses having stopped, and she could understand that the child was dead. Seeing this, she immediately cried, “Now I am doomed,” and fell to the ground.

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 Nurse Discovers the Child’s Death

  1. 1

    The maidservant approached the child and saw that his eyes were turned upward.

  2. 2

    There were no signs of life, and all his senses had stopped. She understood that he was dead.

  3. 3

    Overwhelmed by the discovery, she cried, “Now I am doomed,” and fell to the ground.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāshe (the maidservant)
  2. śayānamlying down
  3. upavrajyagoing to
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. caalso
  6. uttāra-locanamhis eyes turned upward (as are those of a dead body)
  7. prāṇa-indriya-ātmabhiḥby the life force, senses and mind
  8. tyaktamabandoned
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

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

    In this verse: “cried”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can this description help me be more sensitive to someone receiving devastating news?

Practice

Read the maidservant’s words slowly and pause to consider the shock she experienced.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Nurse Discovers the Child’s DeathThis 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 6.14.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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