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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.146.16.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.15

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.16.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitAṅgirā and Nārada Muni → King Citraketu

स इत्थं प्रतिबुद्धात्मा चित्रकेतुर्द्विजोक्तिभि: ।

गृहान्धकूपान्निष्क्रान्त: सर:पङ्कादिव द्विप: ॥ १५ ॥

sa itthaṁ pratibuddhātmā

citraketur dvijoktibhiḥ

gṛhāndha-kūpān niṣkrāntaḥ

saraḥ-paṅkād iva dvipaḥ

Translation

Thus enlightened by the instructions of the brāhmaṇas Aṅgirā and Nārada, King Citraketu became fully aware of spiritual knowledge. As an elephant becomes free from a muddy reservoir of water, King Citraketu came out of the dark well of family life.

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.

Spiritual Instruction Frees One from Entanglement

  1. 1

    Citraketu was enlightened by the instructions of the brāhmaṇas Aṅgirā and Nārada.

  2. 2

    Through their instructions, he became fully aware of spiritual knowledge.

  3. 3

    His release from the dark well of family life is compared to an elephant escaping a muddy reservoir. The image emphasizes freedom from deep entanglement.

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 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The living entity is actually a spiritual soul who is part and parcel of God and has nothing to do with relationships in the world of duality. Therefore Nārada Muni advised Citraketu not to lament for his so-called dead son.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. itthamin this way
  3. pratibuddha-ātmābeing fully aware of spiritual knowledge
  4. citraketuḥKing Citraketu
  5. dvija-uktibhiḥby the instructions of the perfect brāhmaṇas (Aṅgirā and Nārada Muni)
  6. gṛha-andha-kūpātfrom the dark well of family life
  7. niṣkrāntaḥcame out
  8. saraḥof a lake or reservoir of water
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How willing am I to let spiritual instruction change my understanding of family life?

Practice

Reread the translation and write one sentence about what the image of an elephant escaping mud teaches you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Instruction Frees One from EntanglementThis 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 6.16.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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