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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
  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
6.14.536.14.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.54

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

अहो विधातस्त्वमतीव बालिशो

यस्त्वात्मसृष्ट्यप्रतिरूपमीहसे ।

परे नु जीवत्यपरस्य या मृति-

र्विपर्ययश्चेत्त्वमसि ध्रुव: पर: ॥ ५४ ॥

aho vidhātas tvam atīva bāliśo

yas tv ātma-sṛṣṭy-apratirūpam īhase

pare nu jīvaty aparasya yā mṛtir

viparyayaś cet tvam asi dhruvaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Alas, O Providence, O Creator, You are certainly inexperienced in creation, for during the lifetime of a father You have caused the death of his son, thus acting in opposition to Your creative laws. If You are determined to contradict these laws, You are certainly the enemy of living entities and are never merciful.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Limited Understanding Leads to Blame

  1. 1

    The Queen blames Providence because her son has died while his father still lives. Her accusations express her grief, not a sound understanding of the Creator.

  2. 2

    A conditioned soul may condemn the Supreme Personality of Godhead when meeting reverses or seeing that some people are happy and others are not.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that the conditioned soul, not the Creator, is inexperienced. Without understanding the subtle laws of fruitive activity, one ignorantly criticizes the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Following the creative laws, a father should die first and then his son.
  • If the creative laws are changed according to the whims of providence, then providence certainly should not be considered merciful, but must be considered inimical to the created being.
  • Actually it is not the creator, but the conditioned soul who is inexperienced.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Citraketu was overwhelmed by shock at his son’s death. Then Nārada Muni and Aṅgirā went to see him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahoalas (in great lamentation)
  2. vidhātaḥO Providence
  3. tvamYou
  4. atīvavery much
  5. bāliśaḥinexperienced
  6. yaḥwho
  7. tuindeed
  8. ātma-sṛṣṭiof Your own creation
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “death”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “merciful”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When events seem unfair, do I assume that my understanding is complete?

Practice

Write down one painful question you have, adding: “I may not understand the subtle laws at work.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLimited Understanding Leads to BlameThis 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 6.14.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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