> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

> *******

> Chapter Fourteen: King Citraketu's Lamentation

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-parîksit uvâca

> rajas-tamah-svabhâvasya

> brahman vrtrasya pâpmanah

> nârâyane bhagavati

> katham âsîd drdhâ matih

> srî-parîksit uvâca--King Parîksit inquired; rajah--of the mode of passion; tamah--and of the mode of ignorance; sva-bhâvasya--having a nature; brahman--O learned brâhmana; vrtrasya--of Vrtrâsura; pâpmanah--who was supposedly sinful; nârâyane--in Lord Nârâyana; bhagavati--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; katham--how; âsît--was there; drdhâ--very strong; matih--consciousness.

> TRANSLATION

> King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: O learned brahmana, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vrtrasura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana?

> *******

> TEXT 2

> devânâm suddha-sattvânâm

> rsînâm câmalâtmanâm

> bhaktir mukunda-carane

> na prâyenopajâyate

> devânâm--of the demigods; suddha-sattvânâm--whose minds are purified; rsînâm--of great saintly persons; ca--and; amala-âtmanâm--who have purified their existence; bhaktih--devotional service; mukunda-carane--to the lotus feet of Mukunda, the Lord, who can give liberation; na--not; prâyena--almost always; upajâyate--develops.

> TRANSLATION

> Demigods situated in the mode of goodness and great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment hardly ever render pure devotional service at the lotus feet of Mukunda. [Therefore how could Vrtrasura have become such a great devotee?]

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> TEXT 3

> rajobhih sama-sankhyâtâh

> pârthivair iha jantavah

> tesâm ye kecanehante

> sreyo vai manujâdayah

> rajobhih--with the atoms; sama-sankhyâtâh--having the same numerical strength; pârthivaih--of the earth; iha--in this world; jantavah--the living entities; tesâm--of them; ye--those who; kecana--some; îhante--act; sreyah--for religious principles; vai--indeed; manuja-âdayah--the human beings and so on.

> TRANSLATION

> In this material world there are as many living entities as atoms. Among these living entities, a very few are human beings, and among them, few are interested in following religious principles.

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> TEXT 4

> prâyo mumuksavas tesâm

> kecanaiva dvijottama

> mumuksûnâm sahasresu

> kascin mucyeta sidhyati

> prâyah--almost always; mumuksavah--persons interested in liberation; tesâm--of them; kecana--some; eva--indeed; dvija-uttama--O best of the brâhmanas; mumuksûnâm--of those who desire to be liberated; sahasresu--in many thousands; kascit--someone; mucyeta--may be actually liberated; sidhyati--someone is perfect.

> TRANSLATION

> O best of the brahmanas, Sukadeva Gosvami, out of many persons who follow religious principles, only a few desire liberation from the material world. Among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, country, home, wife and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare.

> *******

> TEXT 5

> muktânâm api siddhânâm

> nârâyana-parâyanah

> sudurlabhah prasântâtmâ

> kotisv api mahâ-mune

> muktânâm--of those who are liberated during this life (who are unattached to the bodily comforts of society, friendship and love); api--even; siddhânâm--who are perfect (because they understand the insignificance of bodily comforts); nârâyana-parâyanah--a person who has concluded that Nârâyana is the Supreme; su-durlabhah--very rarely found; prasânta--fully pacified; âtmâ--whose mind; kotisu--out of millions and trillions; api--even; mahâ-mune--O great sage.

> TRANSLATION

> O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krsna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.

> *******

> TEXT 6

> vrtras tu sa katham pâpah

> sama-lokopatâpanah

> ittham drdha-matih krsna

> âsît sangrâma ulbane

> vrtrah--Vrtrâsura; tu--but; sah--he; katham--how; pâpah--although sinful (getting the body of a demon); sama-loka--of all the three worlds; upatâpanah--the cause of suffering; ittham--such; drdha-matih--firmly fixed intelligence; krsne--in Krsna; âsît--there was; sangrâme ulbane--in the great blazing fire of battle.

> TRANSLATION

> Vrtrasura was situated in the blazing fire of battle and was an infamous, sinful demon, always engaged in giving troubles and anxieties to others. How could such a demon become so greatly Krsna conscious?

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> TEXT 7

> atra nah samsayo bhûyân

> chrotum kautûhalam prabho

> yah paurusena samare

> sahasrâksam atosayat

> atra--in this connection; nah--our; samsayah--doubt; bhûyân--great; srotum--to hear; kautûhalam--eagerness; prabho--O my lord; yah--he who; paurusena--by bravery and strength; samare--in battle; sahasra-aksam--Lord Indra, who has one thousand eyes; atosayat--pleased.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear lord, Sukadeva Gosvami, although Vrtrasura was a sinful demon, he showed the prowess of a most exalted ksatriya and satisfied Lord Indra in battle. How could such a demon be a great devotee of Lord Krsna? These contradictions have caused me great doubt, and they have made me eager to hear of this from you.

> *******

> TEXT 8

> srî-sûta uvâca

> parîksito 'tha samprasnam

> bhagavân bâdarâyanih

> nisamya sraddadhânasya

> pratinandya vaco 'bravît

> srî-sutah uvâca--Srî Suta Gosvâmî said; parîksitah--of Mahârâja Parîksit; atha--thus; samprasnam--the perfect question; bhagavân--the most powerful; bâdarâyanih--Sukadeva Gosvâmî, the son of Vyâsadeva; nisamya--hearing; sraddadhânasya--of his disciple, who was so faithful in understanding the truth; pratinandya--congratulating; vacah--words; abravît--spoke.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Suta Gosvami said: After hearing Maharaja Pariksit's very intelligent question, Sukadeva Gosvami, the most powerful sage, began answering his disciple with great affection.

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> TEXT 9

> srî-suka uvâca

> srnusvâvahito râjann

> itihâsam imam yathâ-

> srutam dvaipâyana-mukhân

> nâradâd devalâd api

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; srnusva--please hear; avahitah--with great attention; râjan--O King; itihâsam--history; imam--this; yathâ--just as; srutam--heard; dvaipâyana--of Vyâsadeva; mukhât--from the mouth; nâradât--from Nârada; devalât--from Devala Rsi; api--also.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, I shall speak to you the same history I have heard from the mouths of Vyasadeva, Narada and Devala. Please listen with attention.

> *******

> TEXT 10

> âsîd râjâ sârvabhaumah

> sûrasenesu vai nrpa

> citraketur iti khyâto

> yasyâsît kâmadhun mahî

> âsît--there was; râjâ--one king; sârva-bhaumah--an emperor of the entire surface of the globe; sûrasenesu--in the country known as Sûrasena; vai--indeed; nrpa--O King; citraketuh--Citraketu; iti--thus; khyâtah--celebrated; yasya--of whom; âsît--was; kâma-dhuk--supplying all the necessities; mahî--the earth.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, in the province of Surasena there was a king named Citraketu, who ruled the entire earth. During his reign, the earth produced all the necessities for life.

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> TEXT 11

> tasya bhâryâ-sahasrânâm

> sahasrâni dasâbhavan

> sântânikas câpi nrpo

> na lebhe tâsu santatim

> tasya--of him (King Citraketu); bhâryâ--of wives; sahasrânâm--of thousands; sahasrâni--thousands; dasa--ten; abhavan--there were; sântânikah--quite capable of begetting sons; ca--and; api--although; nrpah--the King; na--not; lebhe--obtained; tâsu--in them; santatim--a son.

> TRANSLATION

> This Citraketu had ten million wives, but although he was capable of producing children, he did not receive a child from any of them. By chance, all the wives were barren.

> *******

> TEXT 12

> rûpaudârya-vayo-janma-

> vidyaisvarya-sriyâdibhih

> sampannasya gunaih sarvais

> cintâ bandhyâ-pater abhût

> rûpa--with beauty; audârya--magnanimity; vayah--youth; janma--aristocratic birth; vidyâ--education; aisvarya--opulence; sriya-âdibhih--wealth and so on; sampannasya--endowed; gunaih--with good qualities; sarvaih--all; cintâ--anxiety; bandhyâ-pateh--of Citraketu, the husband of so many sterile wives; abhût--there was.

> TRANSLATION

> Citraketu, the husband of these millions of wives, was endowed with a beautiful form, magnanimity and youth. He was born in a high family, he had a complete education, and he was wealthy and opulent. Nevertheless, in spite of being endowed with all these assets, he was full of anxiety because he did not have a son.

> *******

> TEXT 13

> na tasya sampadah sarvâ

> mahisyo vâma-locanâh

> sârvabhaumasya bhûs ceyam

> abhavan prîti-hetavah

> na--not; tasya--of him (Citraketu); sampadah--the great opulences; sarvâh--all; mahisyah--the queens; vâma-locanâh--having very attractive eyes; sârva-bhaumasya--of the emperor; bhûh--land; ca--also; iyam--this; abhavan--were; prîti-hetavah--sources of pleasure.

> TRANSLATION

> His queens all had beautiful faces and attractive eyes, yet neither his opulences, his hundreds and thousands of queens, nor the lands of which he was the supreme proprietor were sources of happiness for him.

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> TEXT 14

> tasyaikadâ tu bhavanam

> angirâ bhagavân rsih

> lokân anucarann etân

> upâgacchad yadrcchayâ

> tasya--of him; ekadâ--once upon a time; tu--but; bhavanam--to the palace; angirâh--Angirâ; bhagavân--very powerful; rsih--sage; lokân--planets; anucaran--traveling around; etân--these; upâgacchat--came; yadrcchayâ--suddenly.

> TRANSLATION

> Once upon a time, when the powerful sage named Angira was traveling all over the universe without engagement, by his sweet will he came to the palace of King Citraketu.

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> TEXT 15

> tam pûayitvâ vidhivat

> pratyutthânârhanâdibhih

> krtâtithyam upâsîat

> sukhâsîam samâhitah

> tam--him; pûayitvâ--after worshiping; vidhi-vat--according to the rules and regulations for receiving exalted guests; pratyutthâna--by standing from the throne; arhana-âdibhih--offering worship and so on; krta-atithyam--who was given hospitality; upâsîat--sat down near; sukha-âsîam--who was seated very comfortably; samâhitah--controlling his mind and senses.

> TRANSLATION

> Citraketu immediately stood up from his throne and offered him worship. He offered drinking water and eatables and in this way performed his duty as a host to a great guest. When the rsi was seated very comfortably, the King, restraining his mind and senses, sat on the ground at the side of the rsi's feet.

> *******

> TEXT 16

> maharsis tam upâsîam

> prasrayâvanatam ksitau

> pratipûya mahârâja

> samâbhâsyedam abravî

> mahâ-rsih--the great sage; tam--unto him (the King); upâsînam--sitting near; prasraya-avanatam--bowing in humility; ksitau--on the ground; pratipûjya--congratulating; mahârâja--O King Parîksit; samâbhâsya--addressing; idam--this; abravît--said.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, when Citraketu, bent low in humility, was seated at the lotus feet of the great sage, the sage congratulated him for his humility and hospitality. The sage addressed him in the following words.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> angirâ uvâca

> api te 'nâmayam svasti

> prakrtînâm tathâtmanah

> yathâ prakrtibhir guptah

> pumân râjâ ca saptabhih

> angirâh uvâca--the great sage Angirâ said; api--whether; te--of you; anâmayam--health; svasti--auspiciousness; prakrtînâm--of your royal elements (associates and paraphernalia); tathâ--as well as; âtmanah--of your own body, mind and soul; yathâ--like; prakrtibhih--by the elements of material nature; guptah--protected; pumân--the living being; râjâ--the king; ca--also; saptabhih--by seven.

> TRANSLATION

> The great sage Angira said: My dear King, I hope that your body and mind and your royal associates and paraphernalia are well. When the seven properties of material nature [the total material energy, the ego and the five objects of sense gratification] are in proper order, the living entity within the material elements is happy. Without these seven elements one cannot exist. Similarly, a king is always protected by seven elements--his instructor (svamor guru), his ministers, his kingdom, his fort, his treasury, his royal order and his friends.

> *******

> TEXT 18

> âtmânam prakrtisv addhâ

> nidhâya sreya âpnuyât

> râjnâ tathâ prakrtayo

> naradevâhitâdhayah

> âtmânam--himself; prakrtisu--under these seven royal elements; addhâ--directly; nidhâya--placing; sreyah--ultimate happiness; âpnuyât--may obtain; râjnâ--by the king; tathâ--so also; prakrtayah--the dependent royal elements; nara-deva--O King; âhita-adhayah--offering wealth and other items.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, O lord of humanity, when a king directly depends upon his associates and follows their instructions, he is happy. Similarly, when his associates offer their gifts and activities to the king and follow his orders, they are also happy.

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> TEXT 19

> api dârâh prajâmâtyâ

> bhrtyâh srenyo 'tha mantrinah

> paurâ jânapadâ bhûpâ

> âtmajâ vasa-vartinah

> api--whether; dârâh--wives; prajâ--citizens; amâtyâh--and secretaries; bhrtyâh--servants; srenyah--merchants; atha--as well as; mantrinah--ministers; paurâh--inmates of the palace; jânapadâh--the provincial governors; bhûpâh--landholders; âtma-jâh--sons; vasa-vartinah--under your full control.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, are your wives, citizens, secretaries and servants and the merchants who sell spices and oil under your control? Are you also in full control of ministers, the inhabitants of your palace, your provincial governors, your sons and your other dependents?

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> TEXT 20

> yasyâtmânuvasas cet syât

> sarve tad-vasagâ ime

> lokâh sapâlâ yacchanti

> sarve balim atandritâh

> yasya--of whom; âtmâ--mind; anuvasah--under control; cet--if; syât--may be; sarve--all; tat-vasa-gâh--under the control of him; ime--these; lokâh--the worlds; sa-pâlâh--with their governors; yacchanti--offer; sarve--all; balim--contribution; atandritâh--becoming free from laziness.

> TRANSLATION

> If the king's mind is fully controlled, all his family members and governmental officers are subordinate to him. His provincial governors present taxes on time, without resistance, and what to speak of lesser servants?

> *******

> TEXT 21

> âtmanah prîyate nâtmâ

> paratah svata eva vâ

> laksaye 'labdha-kâmam tvâm

> cintayâ sabalam mukham

> âtmanah--of you; prîyate--is pleased; na--not; âtmâ--the mind; paratah--due to other causes; svatah--due to yourself; eva--indeed; vâ--or; laksaye--I can see; alabdha-kâmam--not achieving your desired goals; tvâm--you; cintayâ--by anxiety; sabalam--pale; mukham--face.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Citraketu, I can observe that your mind is not pleased. You seem not to have achieved your desired goal. Is this because of you yourself, or has it been caused by others? Your pale face reflects your deep anxiety.

> *******

> TEXT 22

> evam vikalpito râjan

> vidusâ muninâpi sah

> prasrayâvanato 'bhyâha

> prajâ-kâmas tato munim

> evam--thus; vikalpitah--questioned; râjan--O King Parîksit; vidusâ--greatly learned; muninâ--by the philosopher; api--although; sah--he (King Citraketu); prasraya-avanatah--being bent low due to humility; abhyâha--replied; prajâ-kâmah--desiring offspring; tatah--thereafter; munim--to the great sage.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, although the great sage Angira knew everything, he inquired from the King in this way. Thus King Citraketu, desiring a son, bent low in great humility and spoke to the great sage as follows.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> citraketur uvâca

> bhagavan kim na viditam

> tapo jnâna-samâdhibhih

> yoginâm dhvasta-pâpânâm

> bahir antah sarîrisu

> citraketuh uvâca--King Citraketu replied; bhagavan--O most powerful sage; kim--what; na--not; viditam--is understood; tapah--by austerity; jnâna--knowledge; samâdhibhih--and by samâdhi (trance, transcendental meditation); yoginâm--by the great yogîs or devotees; dhvasta-pâpânâm--who are fully freed from all sinful reactions; bahih--externally; antah--internally; sarîrisu--in conditioned souls, who have material bodies.

> TRANSLATION

> King Citraketu said: O great lord Angira, because of austerity, knowledge and transcendental samadhi, you are freed from all the reactions of sinful life. Therefore, as a perfect yogi, you can understand everything external and internal regarding embodied, conditioned souls like us.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> tathâpi prcchato brûyâm

> brahmann âtmani cintitam

> bhavato vidusas câpi

> coditas tvad-anujnayâ

> tathâpi--still; prcchatah--asking; brûyâm--let me speak; brahman--O great brâhmana; âtmani--in the mind; cintitam--anxiety; bhavatah--to you; vidusah--who know everything; ca--and; api--although; coditah--being inspired; tvat--your; anujnayâ--by the order.

> TRANSLATION

> O great soul, you are aware of everything, yet you are asking me why I am full of anxiety. Therefore, in response to your order, let me disclose the cause.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> loka-pâlair api prârthyâh

> sâmrâjyaisvarya-sampadah

> na nandayanty aprajam mâm

> ksut-trt-kâmam ivâpare

> loka-pâlaih--by great demigods; api--even; prârthyâh--desirable; sâmrâjya--a great empire; aisvarya--material opulence; sampadah--possessions; na nandayanti--do not give pleasure; aprajam--because of having no son; mâm--unto me; ksut--hunger; trt--thirst; kâmam--desiring to satisfy; iva--like; apare--other enjoyable sense objects.

> TRANSLATION

> As a person aggrieved by hunger and thirst is not pleased by the external gratification of flower garlands or sandalwood pulp, I am not pleased with my empire, opulence or possessions, which are desirable even for great demigods, because I have no son.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> tatah pâhi mahâ-bhâga

> pûrvaih saha gatam tamah

> yathâ tarema duspâram

> prajayâ tad vidhehi nah

> tatah--therefore, because of this; pâhi--kindly save; mahâ-bhâga--O great sage; pûrvaih saha--along with my forefathers; gatam--gone; tamah--to darkness; yathâ--so that; tarema--we can cross; duspâram--very difficult to cross; prajayâ--by getting a son; tat--that; vidhehi--kindly do; nah--for us.

> TRANSLATION

> Therefore, O great sage, please save me and my forefathers, who are descending to the darkness of hell because I have no progeny. Kindly do something so that I may have a son to deliver us from hellish conditions.

> *******

> TEXT 27

> srî-suka uvâca

> ity arthitah sa bhagavân

> krpâlur brahmanah sutah

> srapayitvâ carum tvâstram

> tvastâram ayajad vibhuh

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; arthitah--being requested; sah--he (Angirâ Rsi); bhagavân--the most powerful; krpâluh--being very merciful; brahmanah--of Lord Brahmâ; sutah--a son (born of Lord Brahmâ's mind); srapayitvâ--after causing to cook; carum--a specific oblation of sweetrice; tvâstram--meant for the demigod known as Tvasta; tvastaram--Tvastâ; ayajat--he worshiped; vibhuh--the great sage.

> TRANSLATION

> In response to the request of Maharaja Citraketu, Angira Rsi, who was born of Lord Brahma's mind, was very merciful toward him. Because the sage was a greatly powerful personality, he performed a sacrifice by offering oblations of sweetrice to Tvasta.

> *******

> TEXT 28

> jyesthâ sresthâ ca yâ râjno

> mahisînâm ca bhârata

> nâmnâ krtadyutis tasyai

> yajnocchis tam adâd dvijah

> jyesthâ--the senior; sresthâ--the most perfect; ca--and; yâ--she who; râjnah--of the King; mahisînâm--among all the queens; ca--also; bhârata--O Mahârâja Parîksit, the best of the Bhâratas; nâmnâ--by name; krtadyutih--Krtadyuti; tasyai--unto her; yalna--of the sacrifice; ucchis tam--the remnants of food; adât--delivered; dvijah--the great sage (Angirâ).

> TRANSLATION

> O Pariksit Maharaja, best of the Bharatas, the remnants of the food offered in the yajna were given by the great sage Angira to the first and most perfect among Citraketu's millions of queens, whose name was Krtadyuti.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> athâha nrpatim râjan

> bhavitaikas tavâtmajah

> harsa-soka-pradas tubhyam

> iti brahma-suto yayau

> atha--thereafter; âha--said; nrpatim--unto the King; râjan--O King Citraketu; bhavitâ--there will be; ekah--one; tava--your; âtmajah--son; harsa-soka--jubilation and lamentation; pradah--who will give; tubhyam--unto you; iti--thus; brahma-sutah--Angirâ Rsi, the son of Lord Brahmâ; yayau--left.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, the great sage told the King, "O great King, now you will have a son who will be the cause of both jubilation and lamentation." The sage then left, without waiting for Citraketu's response.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> sâpi tat-prâsanâd eva

> citraketor adhârayat

> garbham krtadyutir devî

> krttikâgner ivâtmajam

> sâ--she; api--even; tat-prâsanât--by eating the remnants of food from the great sacrifice; eva--indeed; citraketoh--from King Citraketu; adhârayat--bore; garbham--pregnancy; krtadyutih--Queen Krtadyuti; devî--the goddess; krttikâ--Krttikâ; agneh--from Agni; iva--as: âtma jam--a son.

> TRANSLATION

> As Krttikadevi, after receiving the semen of Lord Siva from Agni, conceived a child named Skanda [Karttikeya], Krtadyuti, having received semen from Citraketu, became pregnant after eating remnants of food from the yajna performed by Angira.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> tasyâ anudinam garbhah

> sukla-paksa ivodupah

> vavrdhe sûrasenesa-

> tejasâ sanakair nrpa

> tasyâh--her; anudinam--day after day; garbhah--embryo; sukla-pakse--during the fortnight of the waxing moon; iva--like; udupah--the moon; vavrdhe--gradually developed; sûrasena-îsa--of the King of Sûrasena; tejasâ--by the semen; sanakaih--little by little; nrpa--O King Parîksit.

> TRANSLATION

> After receiving semen from Maharaja Citraketu, the King of Surasena, Queen Krtadyuti gradually developed in her pregnancy, O King Pariksit, just as the moon develops during the bright fortnight.

> *******

> TEXT 32

> atha kâla upâvrtte

> kumârah samajâyata

> janayan sûrasenânâm

> srnvatâm paramâm mudam

> atha--thereafter; kâle upâvrtte--in due course of time; kumârah--the son; samajâyata--took birth; janayan--creating; sûrasenânâm--of the inhabitants of Sûrasena; srnvatâm--hearing; paramâm--the highest; mudam--delight.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, in due course of time, a son was born to the King. Hearing news of this, all the inhabitants of the state of Surasena were extremely pleased.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> hrsto râjâ kumârasya

> snâtah sucir alankrtah

> vâcayitvâsiso vipraih

> kârayâm âsa jâtakam

> hrstah--very happy; râjâ--the King; kumârasya--of his newly born son; snâtah--having bathed; sucih--being purified; alankrtah--being decorated with ornaments; vâcayitvâ--having caused to be spoken: âsisah--words of benediction; vipraih--by learned brâhmanas; kârayâm âsa--caused to be performed; jâtakam--the birth ceremony.

> TRANSLATION

> King Citraketu was especially pleased. After purifying himself by bathing and by decorating himself with ornaments, he engaged learned brahmanas in offering benedictions to the child and performing the birth ceremony.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> tebhyo hiranyam rajatam

> vâsâmsy âbharanâni ca

> grâmân hayân gajân prâdâd

> dhenûnâm arbudâni sat

> tebhyah--unto them (the learned brâhmanas); hiranyam--gold; rajatam--silver; vâsâm si--garments; âbharanâni--ornaments; ca--also; grâmân--villages; hayân--horses; gajân--elephants; prâdât--gave in charity; dhenûnâm--of cows; arbudâni--groups of one hundred million; sat--six.

> TRANSLATION

> Unto the brahmanas who took part in the ritualistic ceremony the King gave charity of gold, silver, garments, ornaments, villages, horses and elephants, as well as sixty crores of cows [six hundred million cows].

> *******

> TEXT 35

> vavarsa kâmân anyesâm

> parjanya iva dehinâm

> dhanyam yasasyam âyusyam

> kumârasya mahâ-manâh

> vavarsa--showered, gave in charity; kâmân--all desirable things; anyesâm--of others; parjanyah--a cloud; iva--like; dehinâm--of all living entities; dhanyam--with the desire for an increase of opulence; yasasyam--an increase of reputation; âyusyam--and an increase of the duration of life; kumârasya--of the newly born child; mahâ-manâh--the beneficent King Citraketu.

> TRANSLATION

> As a cloud indiscriminately pours water on the earth, the beneficent King Citraketu, to increase the reputation, opulence and longevity of his son, distributed like rainfall all desirable things to everyone.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> krcchra-labdhe 'tha râjarses

> tanaye 'nudinam pituh

> yathâ nihsvasya krcchrâpte

> dhane sneho 'nvavardhata

> krcchra--with great difficulty; labdhe--gained; atha--thereafter; râja-rseh--of the pious King Citraketu; tanaye--for the son; anudinam--day after day; pituh--of the father; yathâ--exactly as; nihsvasya--of a poor man; krcchra-âpte--gained after great difficulty; dhane--for riches; snehah--affection; anvavardhata--increased.

> TRANSLATION

> When a poor man gets some money after great difficulty, his affection for the money increases daily. Similarly, when King Citraketu, after great difficulty, received a son, his affection for the son increased day after day.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> mâtus tv atitarâm putre

> sneho moha-samudbhavah

> krtadyuteh sapatnînâm

> prajâ-kâma jvaro 'bhavat

> mâtuh--of the mother; tu--also; atitarâm--excessively; putre--for the son; snehah--affection; moha--out of ignorance; samudbhavah--produced; krtadyuteh--of Krtadyuti; sapatnînâm--of the co-wives; prajâ-kâma--of a desire to have sons; jvarah--a fever; abhavat--there was.

> TRANSLATION

> The mother's attraction and attention to the son, like that of the child's father, excessively increased. The other wives, seeing Krtadyuti's son, were very much agitated, as if by high fevers, with a desire to have sons.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> citraketor atiprîtir

> yathâ dâre prajâvati

> na tathânyesu sanjajne

> bâlam lâlayato 'nvaham

> citraketoh--of King Citraketu; atiprîtih--excessive attraction; yathâ--just as; dâre--unto the wife; prajâ-vati--who begot a son; na--not; tathâ--like that; anyesu--unto the others; sanjajne--arose; bâlam--the son; lâlayatah--taking care of; anvaham--constantly.

> TRANSLATION

> As King Citraketu fostered his son very carefully, his affection for Queen Krtadyuti increased, but gradually he lost affection for the other wives, who had no sons.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> tâh paryatapyann âtmânam

> garhayantyo 'bhyasûyayâ

> ânapatyena duhkhena

> râjnas cânâdarena ca

> tâh--they (the queens who did not have sons); paryatapyan--lamented; âtmânam--themselves; garhayantyah--condemning; abhyasûyayâ--out of envy; ânapatyena--due to being without sons; duhkhena--by unhappiness; râjnah--of the King; ca--also; anâdarena--due to negligence; ca--also.

> TRANSLATION

> The other queens were extremely unhappy due to their being sonless. Because of the King's negligence toward them, they condemned themselves in envy and lamented.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> dhig aprajâm striyam pâpâm

> patyus câgrha-sammatâm

> suprajâbhih sapatnîbhir

> dâsîm iva tiraskrtâm

> dhik--all condemnation; aprajâm--without a son; striyam--upon a woman; pâpâm--full of sinful activities; patyuh--by the husband; ca--also; a-grha-sammatâm--who is not honored at home; su-prajâbhih--who have sons; sapatnîbhih--by co-wives; dâsîm--a maidservant; iva--exactly like; tiraskrtâm--dishonored.

> TRANSLATION

> A wife who has no sons is neglected at home by her husband and dishonored by her co-wives exactly like a maidservant. Certainly such a woman is condemned in every respect because of her sinful life.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> dâsînâm ko nu santâpah

> svâminah paricaryayâ

> abhîksnam labdha-mânânâm

> dâsyâ dâsîva durbhagâh

> dâsînâm--of the maidservants; kah--what; nu--indeed; santâpah--lamentation; svâminah--unto the husband; paricaryayâ--by rendering service; abhîksnam--constantly; labdha-mânânâm--honored; dâsyâh--of the maidservant; dâsî iva--like a maidservant; durbhagâh--most unfortunate.

> TRANSLATION

> Even maidservants who are constantly engaged in rendering service to the husband are honored by the husband, and thus they have nothing for which to lament. Our position, however, is that we are maidservants of the maidservant. Therefore we are most unfortunate.

> *******

> TEXT 42

> evam sandahyamânânâm

> sapatnyâh putra-sampadâ

> râjno 'sammata-vrttînâm

> vidveso balavân abhût

> evam--thus; sandahyamânânâm--of the queens, who were constantly burning in lamentation; sapatnyâh--of the co-wife Krtadyuti; putra-sampadâ--due to the opulence of a son; râjnah--by the King; asammata-vrttînâm--not being very much favored; vidvesah--envy; balavân--very strong; abhût--became.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Being neglected by their husband and seeing Krtadyuti's opulence in possessing a son, Krtadyuti's co-wives always burned in envy, which became extremely strong.

> *******

> TEXT 43

> vidvesa-nasta-matayah

> striyo dâruna-cetasah

> garam daduh kumârâya

> durmarsâ nrpatim prati

> vidvesa-nasta-matayah--whose intelligence was lost in envy; striyah--the women; dâruna-cetasah--being very hardhearted; garam--poison; daduh--administered; kumârâya--unto the boy; durmarsâh--being intolerant; nroatim--the King; prati--upon.

> TRANSLATION

> As their envy increased, they lost their intelligence. Being extremely hardhearted and unable to tolerate the King's neglect, they finally administered poison to the son.

> *******

> TEXT 44

> krtadyutir ajânantî

> sapatnînâm agham mahat

> supta eveti sancintya

> nirîksya vyacarad grhe

> krtadyutih--Queen Krtadyuti; ajânantî--being unaware of; sapatnînâm--of her co-wives; agham--sinful act; mahat--very great; suptah--sleeping; eva--indeed; iti--thus; sancintya--thinking; nirîksya--looking at; vyacarat--was walking; grhe--at home.

> TRANSLATION

> Unaware of the poison administered by her co-wives, Queen Krtadyuti walked within the house, thinking that her son was sleeping deeply. She did not understand that he was dead.

> *******

> TEXT 45

> sayânam suciram bâlam

> upadhârya manîsinî

> putram ânaya me bhadre

> iti dhâtrîm acodayat

> sayânam--lying down; su-ciram--for a long time; bâlam--the son; upadhârya--thinking; manîsinî--very intelligent; putram--the son; ânaya--bring; me--unto me; bhadre--O gentle friend; iti--thus; dhâtrîm--unto the nurse; acodayat--gave the order.

> TRANSLATION

> Thinking that her child had been sleeping for a long time, Queen Krtadyuti, who was certainly very intelligent, ordered the nurse, "My dear friend, please bring my son here."

> *******

> TEXT 46

> sâ sayânam upavrajya

> drstvâ cottâra-locanam

> prânendriyâtmabhis tyaktam

> hatâsmîty apatad bhuvi

> sâ--she (the maidservant); sayânam--lying down; upavrajya--going to; drstvâ--seeing; ca--also; uttâra-locanam--his eyes turned upward (as are those of a dead body); prâna-indriya-âtmabhih--by the life force, senses and mind; tyaktam--abandoned; hatâ asmi--now I am doomed; iti--thus; apatat--fell down; bhuvi--on the ground.

> TRANSLATION

> When the maidservant approached the child, who was lying down, she saw that his eyes were turned upward. There were no signs of life, all his senses having stopped, and she could understand that the child was dead. Seeing this, she immediately cried, "Now I am doomed," and fell to the ground.

> *******

> TEXT 47

> tasyâs tadâkarnya bhrsâturam svaram

> ghnantyâh karâbhyâm ura uccakair api

> pravisya râjnî tvarayâtmajântikam

> dadarsa bâlam sahasâ mrtam sutam

> tasyah--of her (the maidservant); tadâ--at that time; âkarnya--hearing; bhrsa-âturam--highly regretful and agitated; svaram--voice; ghnantyâh--striking; karâbhyâm--with the hands; urah--the chest; uccakaih--loudly; api--also; pravisya--entering; râjnî--the Queen; tvarayâ--hastily; âtmaja-antikam--near her son; dadarsa--she saw; bâlam--the child; sahasâ--suddenly; mrtam--dead; sutam--son.

> TRANSLATION

> In great agitation, the maidservant struck her breast with both hands and cried loudly in regretful words. Hearing her loud voice, the Queen immediately came, and when she approached her son, she saw that he was suddenly dead.

> *******

> TEXT 48

> papâta bhûmau parivrddhayâ sucâ

> mumoha vibhmsta-siroruhâmbarâ

> papâta--fell down; bhûmau--on the ground; parivrddhayâ--highly increased; sucâ--out of lamentation; mumoha--she became unconscious; vibhrasta--scattered; siroruha--hair; ambarâ--and dress.

> TRANSLATION

> In great lamentation, her hair and dress in disarray, the Queen fell to the ground unconscious.

> *******

> TEXT 49

> tato nrpântahpura-vartino janâ

> narâs ca nâryas ca nisamya rodanam

> âgatya tulya-vyasanâh suduhkhitâs

> tâs ca vyalîkam ruruduh krtâgasah

> tatah--thereafter; nrpa--O King; antahpura-vartinah--the inhabitants of the palace; janâh--all the people; narâh--the men; ca--and; nâryah--the women; ca--also; nisamya--hearing; rodanam--loud crying; âgatya--coming; tulya-vyasanâh--being equally aggrieved; su-duhkhitâh--very greatly lamenting; tâh--they; ca--and; vyalîkam--pretentiously; ruruduh--cried; krta-âgasah--who had committed the offense (by giving the poison).

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, hearing the loud crying, all the inhabitants of the palace came, both men and women. Being equally aggrieved, they also began to cry. The queens who had administered the poison also cried pretentiously, knowing full well their offense.

> *******

> TEXT 50-51

> srutvâ mrtam putram alaksitântakam

> vinasta-drstih prapatan skhalan pathi

> snehânubandhaidhitayâ sucâ bhrsam

> vimûrcchito 'nuprakrtir dvijair vrtah

> papâta bâlasya sa pâda-mûle

> mrtasya visrasta-siroruhâmbarah

> dîrgham svasan bâspa-kaloparodhato

> niruddha-kantho na sasâka bhâsitum

> srutvâ--hearing; mrtam--dead; putram--the son; alaksita-antakam--the cause of death being unknown; vinasta-drstih--unable to see properly; prapatan--constantly falling down; skhalan--slipping; pathi--on the road; sneha-anubandha--because of affection; edhitayâ--increasing; sucâ--by lamentation; bhrsam--greatly; vimûrcchitah--becoming unconscious; anuprakrtih--followed by ministers and other officers; dvijaih--by learned brâhmanas; vrtah--surrounded;

> papâta--fell down; bâlasya--of the boy; sah--he (the King); pâda-mûle--at the feet; mrtasya--of the dead body; visrasta--scattered; siroruha--hair; ambarah--and dress; dîrgham--long; svasan--breathing; bâspa-kalâ-uparodhatah--due to crying with tearful eyes; niruddha-kanthah--having a choked voice; na--not; sasâka--was able; bhâsitum--to speak.

> TRANSLATION

> When King Citraketu heard of his son's death from unknown causes, he became almost blind. Because of his great affection for his son, his lamentation grew like a blazing fire, and as he went to see the dead child, he kept slipping and falling on the ground. Surrounded by his ministers and other officers and the learned brahmanas present, the King approached and fell unconscious at the child's feet, his hair and dress scattered. When the King, breathing heavily, regained consciousness, his eyes were tearful, and he could not speak.

> *******

> TEXT 52

> patim nirîksyoru-sucârpitam tadâ

> mrtam ca bâlam sutam eka-santatim

> janasya râjnî prakrtes ca hrd-rujam

> satî dadhânâ vilalâpa citradhâ

> patim--the husband; nirîksya--by seeing; uru--greatly; suca--with lamentation; arpitam--pained; tadâ--at that time; mrtam--dead; ca--and; bâlam--the child; sutam--the son; eka-santatim--the only son in the family; janasya--of all the other people gathered there; râjnî--the Queen; prakrteh ca--as well as of the officers and ministers; hrt-rujam--the pains within the core of the heart; satî dadhânâ--increasing; vilalâpa--lamented; citradhâ--in varieties of ways.

> TRANSLATION

> When the Queen saw her husband, King Citraketu, merged in great lamentation and saw the dead child, who was the only son in the family, she lamented in various ways. This increased the pain in the cores of the hearts of all the inhabitants of the palace, the ministers and all the brahmanas.

> *******

> TEXT 53

> stana-dvayam kunkuma-panka-manditam

> nisincatî sânjana-bâspa-bindubhih

> vikîrya kesân vigalat-srajah sutam

> susoca citram kurarîva susvaram

> stana-dvayam--her two breasts; kunkuma--with kunkuma powder (which is generally sprayed on the breasts of women); panka--ointment; manditam--decorated; nisincatî--moistening; sa-anjana--mixed with the eye ointment; bâspa--of tears; bindubhih--by drops; vikîrya--scattering; kesân--hair; vigalat--was falling down; srajah--on which the flower garland; sutam--for her son; susoca--lamented; citram--variegated; kurarî iva--like a kurarî bird; su-svaram--in a very sweet voice.

> TRANSLATION

> The garland of flowers decorating the Queen's head fell, and her hair scattered. Falling tears melted the collyrium on her eyes and moistened her breasts, which were covered with kunkuma powder. As she lamented the loss of her son, her loud crying resembled the sweet sound of a kurari bird.

> *******

> TEXT 54

> aho vidhâtas tvam atîva bâliso

> yas tv âtma-srsty-apratirûpam îhase

> pare nu jîvaty aparasya yâ mrtir

> viparyayas cet tvam asi dhruvah parah

> aho--alas (in great lamentation); vidhâtah--O Providence; tvam--You; atîva--very much; bâlisah--inexperienced; yah--who; tu--indeed; âtma-srsti--of Your own creation; apratirûpam--just the opposite; îhase--You are performing and desiring; pare--while the father or the elder; nu--indeed; jîvati--is living; aparasya--of one who was born later; yâ--which; mrtih--death; viparyayah--contradictory; cet--if; tvam--You; asi--are; dhruvah--indeed; parah--an enemy.

> TRANSLATION

> Alas, O Providence, O Creator, You are certainly inexperienced in creation, for during the lifetime of a father You have caused the death of his son, thus acting in opposition to Your creative laws. If You are determined to contradict these laws, You are certainly the enemy of living entities and are never merciful.

> *******

> TEXT 55

> na hi kramas ced iha mrtyu janmanoh

> sarîrinâm astu tad âtma-karmabhih

> yah sneha-pâso nija-sarga-vrddhaye

> svayam krtas te tam imam vivrscasi

> na--not; hi--indeed; kramah--chronological order; cet--if; iha--in this material world; mrtyu--of death; janmanoh--and of birth; sarîrinâm--of the conditioned souls, who have accepted material bodies; astu--let it be; tat--that; âtma-karmabhih--by the results of one's karma (fruitive activities); yah--that which; sneha-pâsah--bondage of affection; nija-sarga--Your own creation; vrddhaye--to increase; svayam--personally; krtah--made; te--by You; tam--that; imam--this; vivrscasi--you are cutting.

> TRANSLATION

> My Lord, You may say that there is no law that a father must die in the lifetime of his son and that a son must be born in the lifetime of his father, since everyone lives and dies according to his own fruitive activity. However, if fruitive activity is so strong that birth and death depend upon it, there is no need of a controller, or God. Again, if You say that a controller is needed because the material energy does not have the power to act, one may answer that if the bonds of affection You have created are disturbed by fruitive action, no one will raise children with affection; instead, everyone will cruelly neglect his children. Since You have cut the bonds of affection that compel a parent to raise his child, You appear inexperienced and unintelligent.

> *******

> TEXT 56

> tvam tâta nârhasi ca mâm kroanâm anâthâm

> tyaktum vicaksva pitaram tava soka-taptam

> anjas tarema bhavatâpraja-dustaram yad

> dhvântam na yâhy akarunena yamena dûram

> tvam--you; tâta--my dear son; na--not; arhasi--ought; ca--and; mâm--me; krpanâm--very poor; anâthâm--without a protector; tyaktum--to give up; vicaksva--look; pitaram--at the father; tava--your; soka-taptam--affected by so much lamentation; ajnah--easily; tarema--we can cross; bhavatâ--by you; apraja-dustaram--very difficult to cross for one without a son; yat--which; dhvântam--the kingdom of darkness; na yâhi--do not go away; akarunena--merciless; yamena--with Yamarâja; dûram--any further.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear son, I am helpless and very much aggrieved. You should not give up my company. Just look at your lamenting father. We are helpless because without a son we shall have to suffer the distress of going to the darkest hellish regions. You are the only hope by which we can get out of these dark regions. Therefore I request you not to go any further with the merciless Yama.

> *******

> TEXT 57

> uttistha tâta ta ime sisavo vayasyâs

> tvâm âhvayanti nrpa-nandana samvihartum

> suptas ciram hy asanayâ ca bhavân parîto

> bhunksva stanam piba suco hara nah svakânâm

> uttistha--kindly get up; tâta--my dear son; te--they; ime--all these; sisavah--children; vayasyâh--playmates; tvâm--you; âhvayanti--are calling; nrpa-nandana--O son of the King; samvihartum--to play with; suptah--you have slept; ciram--for a long time; hi--indeed; asanayâ--by hunger; ca--also; bhavân--you; parîtah--overcome; bhunksva--please eat; stanam--at the breast (of your mother); piba--drink; sucah--lamentation; hara--just dissipate; nah--of us; svakânâm--your relatives.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear son, you have slept a long time. Now please get up. Your playmates are calling you to play. Since you must be very hungry, please get up and suck my breast and dissipate our lamentation.

> *******

> TEXT 58

> nâham tanûja dadrse hata-mangalâ te

> mugdha-smitam mudita-vîksanam ânanâbjam

> kim vâ gato 'sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokam

> nîto 'ghrnena na srnomi kalâ giras te

> na--not; aham--I; tanû-ja--my dear son (born of my body); dadrse--saw; hata-mangalâ--because of my being the most unfortunate; te--your; mugdha-smitam--with charming smiling; mudita-vîksanam--with closed eyes; ânana-abjam--lotus face; kim vâ--whether; gatah--gone away; asi--you are; a-punah-anvayam--from which one does not return; anya-lokam--to another planet, or the planet of Yamarâja; nîtah--having been taken away; aghrnena--by the cruel Yamarâja; na--not; srnomi--I can hear; kalâh--very pleasing; girah--utterances; te--your.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear son, I am certainly most unfortunate, for I can no longer see your mild smiling. You have closed your eyes forever. I therefore conclude that you have been taken from this planet to another, from which you will not return. My dear son, I can no longer hear your pleasing voice.

> *******

> TEXT 59

> srî-suka uvâca

> vilapantyâ mrtam putram

> iti citra-vilâpanaih

> citraketur bhrsam tapto

> mukta-kantho ruroda ha

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; vilapantyâ--with the woman who was lamenting; mrtam--dead; putram--for the son; iti--thus; citra-vilâpanaih--with various lamentations; citraketuh--King Citraketu; bhrsam--very much; taptah--aggrieved; mukta-kanthah--loudly; ruroda--cried; ha--indeed.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Accompanied by his wife, who was thus lamenting for her dead son, King Citraketu began crying loudly with an open mouth, being greatly aggrieved.

> *******

> TEXT 60

> tayor vilapatoh sarve

> dampatyos tad-anuvratâh

> ruruduh sma narâ nâryah

> sarvam âsîd acetanam

> tayoh--while the two of them; vilapatoh--were lamenting; sarve--all; dam-patyoh--the King, along with his wife; tat-anuvratâh--their followers; ruruduh--cried loudly; sma--indeed; narâh--the male members; nâryah--the female members; samam--the whole kingdom; âsît--became; acetanam--almost unconscious.

> TRANSLATION

> As the King and Queen lamented, all their male and female followers joined them in crying. Because of the sudden accident, all the citizens of the kingdom were almost unconscious.

> *******

> TEXT 61

> evam kasmalam âpannam

> nasta-samjnam anâyakam

> jnâtvângirâ nâma rsir

> âjagâma sanâradah

> evam--thus; kasmalam--misery; âpannam--having gotten; nasta--lost; samjnam--consciousness; anâyakam--without help; jnâtvâ--knowing; angirâh--Angirâ; nâma--named; rsih--the saintly person; âjagâma--came; sa-nâradah--with Nârada Muni.

> TRANSLATION

> When the great sage Angira understood that the King was almost dead in an ocean of lamentation, he went there with Narada Rsi.

> > Back to the running text