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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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

6.14.48 6.14.50-51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.49

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

ततो नृपान्त: पुरवर्तिनो जना

नराश्च नार्यश्च निशम्य रोदनम् ।

आगत्य तुल्यव्यसना: सुदु:खिता-

स्ताश्च व्यलीकं रुरुदु: कृतागस: ॥ ४९ ॥

tato nṛpāntaḥpura-vartino janā

narāś ca nāryaś ca niśamya rodanam

āgatya tulya-vyasanāḥ suduḥkhitās

tāś ca vyalīkaṁ ruruduḥ kṛtāgasaḥ

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, hearing the loud crying, all the inhabitants of the palace came, both men and women. Being equally aggrieved, they also began to cry. The queens who had administered the poison also cried pretentiously, knowing full well their offense.

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.

Genuine Grief and Pretended Tears

1
Hearing the loud crying, the men and women of the palace came.
2
They were equally aggrieved and also began to cry.
3
The queens who had administered the poison cried pretentiously, fully aware of their offense.

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.

tataḥthereafter
nṛpaO King
antaḥpura-vartinaḥthe inhabitants of the palace
janāḥall the people
narāḥthe men
caand
nāryaḥthe women
caalso

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: “cried”, “crying”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.14
In this verse: “hearing”
Dainya · Humility
Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.14
In this verse: “offense”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Are my outward expressions ever hiding a wrong I know I have done?

Practice

Honestly acknowledge one fault today instead of trying to hide it behind appearances.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGenuine Grief and Pretended TearsThis 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.

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