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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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu
6.17.126.17.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The goddess Pārvatīsince 6.17.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एषामनुध्येयपदाब्जयुग्मं

जगद्गुरुं मङ्गलमङ्गलं स्वयम् ।

य: क्षत्रबन्धु: परिभूय सूरीन्

प्रशास्ति धृष्टस्तदयं हि दण्ड्य: ॥ १३ ॥

eṣām anudhyeya-padābja-yugmaṁ

jagad-guruṁ maṅgala-maṅgalaṁ svayam

yaḥ kṣatra-bandhuḥ paribhūya sūrīn

praśāsti dhṛṣṭas tad ayaṁ hi daṇḍyaḥ

Translation

This Citraketu is the lowest of kṣatriyas, for he has impudently overridden Brahmā and the other demigods by insulting Lord Śiva, upon whose lotus feet they always meditate. Lord Śiva is personified religion and the spiritual master of the entire world, and therefore Citraketu must be punished.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Exalted Spiritual Persons

  1. 1

    The assembly included exalted brāhmaṇas and self-realized souls. They said nothing about Lord Śiva embracing Pārvatī on his lap.

  2. 2

    Citraketu nonetheless criticized Lord Śiva. Pārvatī therefore considered that he should be punished.

  3. 3

    Pārvatī described Lord Śiva as personified religion and the spiritual master of the entire world. Even Brahmā and the other demigods meditate upon his lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • All the members of the assembly were exalted brāhmaṇas and self-realized souls, but they did not say anything about the conduct of Lord Śiva, who was embracing the goddess Pārvatī on his lap.
  • Citraketu nonetheless criticized Lord Śiva, and therefore the opinion of Pārvatī was that he should be punished.

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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore no one is responsible for his happiness and distress. One is controlled by the influence of material nature in the material world, yet one thinks himself the doer of everything.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣāmof all these (exalted personalities)
  2. anudhyeyato be constantly meditated upon
  3. pada-abja-yugmamwhose two lotus feet
  4. jagat-gurumthe spiritual master of the whole world
  5. maṅgala-maṅgalampersonification of the topmost religious principle
  6. svayamhimself
  7. yaḥhe who
  8. kṣatra-bandhuḥthe lowest of the kṣatriyas
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “religion”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I pause respectfully before judging the conduct of an exalted spiritual person?

Practice

Today, pause before voicing a criticism and consider whether you understand the person's conduct.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespect Exalted Spiritual PersonsThis 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.

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