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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
6.14.50-516.14.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.52

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

पतिं निरीक्ष्योरुशुचार्पितं तदा

मृतं च बालं सुतमेकसन्ततिम् ।

जनस्य राज्ञी प्रकृतेश्च हृद्रुजं

सती दधाना विललाप चित्रधा ॥ ५२ ॥

patiṁ nirīkṣyoru-śucārpitaṁ tadā

mṛtaṁ ca bālaṁ sutam eka-santatim

janasya rājñī prakṛteś ca hṛd-rujaṁ

satī dadhānā vilalāpa citradhā

Translation

When the Queen saw her husband, King Citraketu, merged in great lamentation and saw the dead child, who was the only son in the family, she lamented in various ways. This increased the pain in the cores of the hearts of all the inhabitants of the palace, the ministers and all the brāhmaṇas.

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.

Grief Touches Everyone Nearby

  1. 1

    The Queen saw King Citraketu deeply absorbed in lamentation and their only son lying dead.

  2. 2

    She lamented in various ways, expressing the depth of her loss.

  3. 3

    Her lamentation increased the pain in the hearts of the palace inhabitants, ministers and brāhmaṇas.

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:

Upon the birth of this son, the King and all the residents of the palace were very happy. The co-wives of Kṛtadyuti, however, were envious, and later they administered poison to the child.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. patimthe husband
  2. nirīkṣyaby seeing
  3. urugreatly
  4. śucawith lamentation
  5. arpitampained
  6. tadāat that time
  7. mṛtamdead
  8. caand
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • 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: “lamentation”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this scene help me notice the grief of everyone affected by a loss?

Practice

Gently ask someone affected by a loss how they are feeling, and listen.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGrief Touches Everyone NearbyThis 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 6.14.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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