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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

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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu

6.17.34-35 6.17.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.36

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.17.36inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इति श्रुत्वा भगवत: शिवस्योमाभिभाषितम् ।

बभूव शान्तधी राजन् देवी विगतविस्मया ॥ ३६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti śrutvā bhagavataḥ

śivasyomābhibhāṣitam

babhūva śānta-dhī rājan

devī vigata-vismayā

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, after hearing this speech by her husband, the demigoddess [Umā, the wife of Lord Śiva] gave up her astonishment at the behavior of King Citraketu and became steady in intelligence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accepting Correction Brings Steady Understanding

1
After hearing her husband’s explanation, Umā gave up her astonishment at Citraketu’s behavior. Her intelligence became steady.
2
Pārvatī remembered her earlier act of cursing Citraketu and felt deeply ashamed.
3
She covered her face with the skirt of her sari, admitting that she had been wrong to curse him.

Key points from the purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that the word śānta-dhīḥ means svīya-pūrva-svabhāva-smṛtyā.
When Pārvatī remembered her former behavior in cursing Citraketu, she became very much ashamed and covered her face with the skirt of her sari, admitting that she was wrong in cursing Citraketu.

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

Chapter 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Citraketu spoke in this way, all the members in the great assembly in which Lord Śiva and Pārvatī were present were astonished. Then Lord Śiva began speaking about the devotees of the Lord.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.17

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
itithus
śrutvāhearing
bhagavataḥof the most powerful demigod
śivasyaof Lord Śiva
umāPārvatī
abhibhāṣitaminstruction
babhūvabecame

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
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.17
In this verse: “gave up”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.17
In this verse: “hearing”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.17
In this verse: “king”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How willing are you to acknowledge a mistake when an explanation changes your understanding?

Practice

Acknowledge one mistaken judgment today rather than defending it.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccepting Correction Brings Steady UnderstandingThis 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 6.17.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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