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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
6.17.76.17.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.8

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

प्रायश: प्राकृताश्चापि स्त्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति ।

अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभर्ति सदसि स्त्रियम् ॥ ८ ॥

prāyaśaḥ prākṛtāś cāpi

striyaṁ rahasi bibhrati

ayaṁ mahā-vrata-dharo

bibharti sadasi striyam

Translation

Ordinary conditioned persons generally embrace their wives and enjoy their company in solitary places. How wonderful it is that Lord Mahādeva, although a great master of austerity, is embracing his wife openly in the midst of an assembly of great saints.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Śiva Remains Unaffected

  1. 1

    The expression mahā-vrata-dharaḥ indicates a brahmacārī who has never fallen down.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva is counted among the best of yogīs, yet he embraced his wife in the assembly of great saintly persons.

  3. 3

    Citraketu appreciated Lord Śiva’s greatness in remaining unaffected even in that situation. He was expressing wonder, not committing an offense.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva is counted among the best of yogīs, yet he embraced his wife in the midst of great saintly persons.
  • Citraketu appreciated how great Lord Śiva was to be unaffected even in that situation.
  • Therefore Citraketu was not an offender; he merely expressed his wonder.

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. prāyaśaḥgenerally
  2. prākṛtāḥconditioned souls
  3. caalso
  4. apialthough
  5. striyama woman
  6. rahasiin a solitary place
  7. bibhratiembrace
  8. ayamthis (Lord Śiva)
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

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Citraketu’s appreciation reveal about Lord Śiva’s inner steadiness?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on Lord Śiva’s ability to remain unaffected despite outward appearances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Śiva Remains UnaffectedThis 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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