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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

6.14.59 6.14.61

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.60

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.14.59inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तयोर्विलपतो: सर्वे दम्पत्योस्तदनुव्रता: ।

रुरुदु: स्म नरा नार्य: सर्वमासीदचेतनम् ॥ ६० ॥

tayor vilapatoḥ sarve

dampatyos tad-anuvratāḥ

ruruduḥ sma narā nāryaḥ

sarvam āsīd acetanam

Translation

As the King and Queen lamented, all their male and female followers joined them in crying. Because of the sudden accident, all the citizens of the kingdom were almost unconscious.

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.

One Loss Shakes an Entire Kingdom

1
The King and Queen continue to lament together.
2
All their male and female followers join them in crying.
3
The sudden tragedy affects the whole kingdom so deeply that its citizens are almost unconscious.

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:

Citraketu was overwhelmed by shock at his son’s death. Then Nārada Muni and Aṅgirā went to see him.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.14

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tayoḥwhile the two of them
vilapatoḥwere lamenting
sarveall
dam-patyoḥthe King, along with his wife
tat-anuvratāḥtheir followers
ruruduḥcried loudly
smaindeed
narāḥthe male members

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”, “citizens”, “kingdom”
Viraha · Longing in separation
Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.14
In this verse: “lamented”, “crying”, “lament”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Who beyond the immediate family might also be suffering after a loss?

Practice

Send a brief, caring message to someone whose grief may be overlooked.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Loss Shakes an Entire KingdomThis 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 6.14.60? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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