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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu
6.17.66.17.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Citraketusince 6.17.6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जटाधरस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापति: ।

अङ्कीकृत्य स्त्रियं चास्ते गतह्री: प्राकृतो यथा ॥ ७ ॥

jaṭā-dharas tīvra-tapā

brahmavādi-sabhā-patiḥ

aṅkīkṛtya striyaṁ cāste

gata-hrīḥ prākṛto yathā

Translation

Lord Śiva, whose hair is matted on his head, has certainly undergone great austerities and penances. Indeed, he is the president in the assembly of strict followers of Vedic principles. Nonetheless, he is seated with his wife on his lap in the midst of saintly persons and is embracing her as if he were a shameless, ordinary human being.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Wonder Without Considering Lord Śiva Insignificant

  1. 1

    Citraketu appreciated Lord Śiva’s exalted position and his great austerities and penances.

  2. 2

    He was astonished to see Lord Śiva appearing to act like an ordinary human being among saintly persons.

  3. 3

    Unlike Dakṣa, Citraketu did not consider Lord Śiva insignificant. His criticism expressed wonder rather than the same offense committed by Dakṣa.

Key points from the purport
  • Citraketu appreciated the exalted position of Lord Śiva, and therefore he remarked at how wonderful it was that Lord Śiva was acting like an ordinary human being.
  • He appreciated Lord Śiva’s position, but when he saw Lord Śiva sitting in the midst of saintly persons and acting like a shameless, ordinary man, he was astonished.
  • Dakṣa considered Lord Śiva insignificant, but Citraketu expressed his wonder at Lord Śiva’s being situated in that way.

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:

One day while traveling like this, he wandered into the bowers of Sumeru Mountain, where he came upon Lord Śiva embracing Pārvatī, surrounded by an assembly of Siddhas, Cāraṇas and great sages. Seeing Lord Śiva in that situation, Citraketu laughed very loudly, but Pārvatī became very angry at him and cursed him.
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. jaṭā-dharaḥkeeping matted locks of hair
  2. tīvra-tapāḥhighly elevated due to undergoing fierce austerities and penances
  3. brahma-vādiof strict followers of the Vedic principles
  4. sabhā-patiḥthe president of an assembly
  5. aṅkīkṛtyaembracing
  6. striyama woman
  7. caand
  8. āstesits
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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: “principles”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “offense”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When someone’s behavior surprises you, do you still recognize their good qualities and position?

Practice

Before voicing surprise about someone today, pause to acknowledge one quality you respect in them.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 6.17's connections

Live this todayWonder Without Considering Lord Śiva InsignificantThis 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 6.17.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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