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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
6.17.366.17.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.37

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

इति भागवतो देव्या: प्रतिशप्तुमलन्तम: ।

मूर्ध्ना स जगृहे शापमेतावत्साधुलक्षणम् ॥ ३७ ॥

iti bhāgavato devyāḥ

pratiśaptum alantamaḥ

mūrdhnā sa jagṛhe śāpam

etāvat sādhu-lakṣaṇam

Translation

The great devotee Citraketu was so powerful that he was quite competent to curse mother Pārvatī in retaliation, but instead of doing so he very humbly accepted the curse and bowed his head before Lord Śiva and his wife. This is very much to be appreciated as the standard behavior of a Vaiṣṇava.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Devotee Chooses Humility Over Retaliation

  1. 1

    Citraketu could have cursed Pārvatī in return, but he humbly accepted her curse. Although wrongly cursed, he bowed his head before her.

  2. 2

    A devotee should be humble and meek and offer respect to others, especially superiors. Citraketu’s response shows this characteristic of a devotee.

  3. 3

    Protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee is powerful but does not display that power unnecessarily. Using power for sense gratification is not a devotee’s behavior.

Key points from the purport
  • Upon being informed by Lord Śiva, mother Pārvatī could understand that she was wrong in cursing Citraketu.
  • King Citraketu was so exalted in his character that in spite of being wrongly cursed by Pārvatī, he immediately descended from his airplane and bowed his head before the mother, accepting her curse.
  • Citraketu very sportingly felt that since the mother wanted to curse him, he could accept this curse just to please her.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. bhāgavataḥthe most exalted devotee
  3. devyāḥof Pārvatī
  4. pratiśaptumto make a counter-curse
  5. alantamaḥable in all respects
  6. mūrdhnāwith his head
  7. saḥhe (Citraketu)
  8. jagṛheaccepted
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “mother”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

When you have the power to retaliate, what would a humble response look like?

Practice

In one tense exchange today, refrain from a retaliatory remark and answer respectfully.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Devotee Chooses Humility Over RetaliationThis 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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