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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 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.296.16.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.16.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मृणालगौरं शितिवाससं स्फुरत्-

किरीटकेयूरकटित्रकङ्कणम् ।

प्रसन्नवक्त्रारुणलोचनं वृतं

ददर्श सिद्धेश्वरमण्डलै: प्रभुम् ॥ ३० ॥

mṛṇāla-gauraṁ śiti-vāsasaṁ sphurat-

kirīṭa-keyūra-kaṭitra-kaṅkaṇam

prasanna-vaktrāruṇa-locanaṁ vṛtaṁ

dadarśa siddheśvara-maṇḍalaiḥ prabhum

Translation

Upon reaching the shelter of Lord Śeṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Citraketu saw that He was as white as the white fibers of a lotus flower. He was dressed in bluish garments and adorned with a brilliantly glittering helmet, armlets, belt and bangles. His face was smiling, and His eyes were reddish. He was surrounded by such exalted liberated persons as Sanat-kumāra.

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.

Citraketu Beholds the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Upon reaching His shelter, Citraketu saw Lord Śeṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His complexion was white like the fibers of a lotus flower.

  2. 2

    The Lord wore bluish garments and a brilliantly glittering helmet, armlets, belt and bangles.

  3. 3

    His face was smiling, and His eyes were reddish. Exalted liberated persons, including Sanat-kumāra, surrounded Him.

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 Lord was nicely dressed in bluish garments, with a helmet and ornaments of gold. His face appeared very happy.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛṇāla-gauramwhite like the fibers of a lotus
  2. śiti-vāsasamwearing garments of blue silk
  3. sphuratglittering
  4. kirīṭahelmet
  5. keyūraarmlets
  6. kaṭitrabelt
  7. kaṅkaṇamwhose bangles
  8. prasanna-vaktrasmiling face
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail of the Lord’s appearance helps you reflect on Him with devotion?

Practice

Read the description slowly and spend one minute remembering the Lord’s smiling face and beautiful form.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.16's connections

Live this todayCitraketu Beholds the Supreme LordThis 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 6.16.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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