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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
6.14.466.14.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.47

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

तस्यास्तदाकर्ण्य भृशातुरं स्वरं

घ्नन्त्या: कराभ्यामुर उच्चकैरपि ।

प्रविश्य राज्ञी त्वरयात्मजान्तिकं

ददर्श बालं सहसा मृतं सुतम् ॥ ४७ ॥

tasyās tadākarṇya bhṛśāturaṁ svaraṁ

ghnantyāḥ karābhyām ura uccakair api

praviśya rājñī tvarayātmajāntikaṁ

dadarśa bālaṁ sahasā mṛtaṁ sutam

Translation

In great agitation, the maidservant struck her breast with both hands and cried loudly in regretful words. Hearing her loud voice, the Queen immediately came, and when she approached her son, she saw that he was suddenly dead.

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 Queen Hears and Hastens

  1. 1

    In great agitation, the maidservant struck her breast with both hands.

  2. 2

    She cried loudly in regretful words, and the Queen immediately came upon hearing her.

  3. 3

    Approaching her son, the Queen saw that he was suddenly dead.

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. tasyāḥof her (the maidservant)
  2. tadāat that time
  3. ākarṇyahearing
  4. bhṛśa-āturamhighly regretful and agitated
  5. svaramvoice
  6. ghnantyāḥstriking
  7. karābhyāmwith the hands
  8. uraḥthe chest
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • 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 attentive am I when another person expresses distress?

Practice

Give your full attention to someone who expresses distress today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Queen Hears and HastensThis 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 6.14.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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