> 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 Seventeen: Mother Parvati Curses Citraketu

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> yatas cântarhito 'nantas

> tasyai krtvâ dise namah

> vidyâdharas citraketus

> cacâra gagane carah

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmi said; yatah--in which (direction); ca--and; antarhitah--disappeared; anantah--the unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasyai--unto that; krtvâ--after offering; dise--direction; namah--obeisances; vidyâdharah--the King of the Vidyâdhara planet; citraketuh--Citraketu; cacâra--traveled; gagane--in outer space; carah--moving.

> TRANSLATION

> Srila Sukadeva Gosvami said: After offering obeisances to the direction from which Ananta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had disappeared, Citraketu began traveling in outer space as the head of the Vidyadharas.

> *******

> TEXT 2-3

> sa laksam varsa-laksânâm

> avyâhata-balendriyah

> stûyamâno mahâ-yogî

> munibhih siddha-câranaih

> kulâcalendra-dronîsu

> nânâ-sankalpa-siddhisu

> reme vidyâdhara-strîbhir

> gâpayan harim îsvaram

> sah--he (Citraketu); laksam--one hundred thousand; varsa--of years; laksânâm--one hundred thousand; avyâhata--without hindrance; bala-indriyah--whose strength and power of the senses; stûyamânah--being praised; mahâ-yogî--the great mystic yogî; munibhih--by saintly persons; siddha-câranaih--by the Siddhas and Câranas;

> kulâcalendra-dronîsu--within the valleys of the great mountain known as Kulâcalendra, or Sumeru; nânâ-sankalpa-siddhisu--where one becomes perfect in all kinds of mystic power; reme--enjoyed; vidyâdhara-strîbhih--with the women of the Vidyâdhara planet; gâpayan--causing to praise; harim--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; îsvaram--the controller.

> TRANSLATION

> Being praised by great sages and saints and by the inhabitants of Siddhaloka and Caranaloka, Citraketu, the most powerful mystic yogi, wandered about enjoying life for millions of years. With bodily strength and senses free from deterioration, he traveled within the valleys of Sumeru Mountain, which is the place of perfection for various kinds of mystic power. In those valleys he enjoyed life with the women of Vidyadhara-loka by chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord, Hari.

> *******

> TEXT 4-5

> ekadâ sa vimânena

> visnu-dattena bhâsvatâ

> girisam dadrse gacchan

> parîtam siddha-câranaih

> âlingyânkîkrtâm devîm

> bâhunâ muni-samsadi

> uvâca devyâh srnvantyâ

> jahâsoccais tad-antike

> ekadâ--one time; sah--he (King Citraketu); vimânena--with his airplane; visnu-dattena--given to him by Lord Visnu; bhâsvatâ--shining brilliantly; girisam--Lord Siva; dadrse--he saw; gacchan--going; parîtam--surrounded; siddha--by the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; câranaih--and the inhabitants of Câranaloka; âlingya--embracing; ankîkrtâm--sitting on his lap; devîm--his wife, Pârvatî; bâhunâ--with his arm; muni-samsadi--in the presence of great saintly persons; uvâca--he said; devyâh--while the goddess Pârvatî; srnvantyâh--was hearing; jahâsa--he laughed; uccaih--very loudly; tad-antike--in the vicinity.

> TRANSLATION

> One time while King Citraketu was traveling in outer space on a brilliantly effulgent airplane given to him by Lord Visnu, he saw Lord Siva, surrounded by Siddhas and Caranas. Lord Siva was sitting in an assembly of great saintly persons and embracing Parvati on his lap with his arm. Citraketu laughed loudly and spoke, within the hearing of Parvati.

> *******

> TEXT 6

> citraketur uvâca

> esa loka-guruh sâksâd

> dharmam vaktâ sarîrinâm

> âste mukhyah sabhâyâm vai

> mithunî-bhûya bhâryayâ

> citraketuh uvâca--King Citraketu said; esah--this; loka-guruh--the spiritual master of the people who follow Vedic instructions; sâksât--directly; dharmam--of religion; vaktâ--the speaker; sarîrinâm--for all living entities who have accepted material bodies; âste--sits; mukhyah--the chief; sabhâyâm--in an assembly; vai--indeed; mithunî-bhûya--embracing; bhâryayâ--with his wife.

> TRANSLATION

> Citraketu said: Lord Siva, the spiritual master of the general populace, is the best of all living entities who have accepted material bodies. He enunciates the system of religion. Yet how wonderful it is that he is embracing his wife, Parvati, in the midst of an assembly of great saintly persons.

> *******

> TEXT 7

> jatâ-dharas tîvra-tapâ

> brahmavâdi-sabhâ-patih

> ankîkrtya striyam câste

> gata-hrîh prâkrto yathâ

> jatâ-dharah--keeping matted locks of hair; tîvra-tapâh--highly elevated due to undergoing fierce austerities and penances; brahma-vâdi--of strict followers of the Vedic principles; sabhâ-patih--the president of an assembly; ankîkrtya--embracing; striyam--a woman; ca--and; âste--sits; gata-hrîh--without shame; prâkrtah--a person conditioned by material nature; yathâ--just as.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Siva, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 8

> prâyasah prâkrtâs câpi

> striyam rahasi bibhrati

> ayam mahâ-vrata-dharo

> bibharti sadasi striyam

> prâyasah--generally; prâkrtâh--conditioned souls; ca--also; api--although; striyam--a woman; rahasi--in a solitary place; bibhrati--embrace; ayam--this (Lord Siva); mahâ-vrata-dharah--the master of great vows and austerities; bibharti--enjoys; sadasi--in an assembly of great saintly persons; striyam--his wife.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 9

> srî-suka uvâca

> bhagavân api tac chrutvâ

> prahasyâgâdha-dhîr nrpa

> tûsnîm babhûva sadasi

> sabhyâs ca tad-anuvratâh

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; bhagavân--Lord Siva; api--also; tat--that; srutvâ--hearing; prahasya--smiling; agâdha-dhîh--whose intelligence is unfathomed; nrpa--O King; tûsnîm--silent; babhûva--remained; sadasi--in the assembly; sabhyâh--everyone assembled there; ca--and; tat-anuvratâh--followed Lord Siva (remained silent).

> TRANSLATION

> Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, after hearing Citraketu's statement, Lord Siva, the most powerful personality, whose knowledge is fathomless, simply smiled and remained silent, and all the members of the assembly followed the lord by not saying anything.

> *******

> TEXT 10

> ity atad-vîrya-vidusi

> bruvâne bahv-asobhanam

> rusâha devî dhrstâya

> nirjitâtmâbhimânine

> iti--thus; a-tat-vîrya-vidusi--when Citraketu, who did not know the prowess of Lord Siva; bruvâne--spoke; bahu-asobhanam--that which is not up to the standard of etiquette (the criticism of the exalted Lord Siva); rusâ--with anger; âha--said; devî--the goddess Pârvatî; dhrstâya--unto Citraketu, who was quite shameless; nirjita-âtma--as one who has controlled his senses; abhimânine--thinking of himself.

> TRANSLATION

> Not knowing the prowess of Lord Siva and Parvati, Citraketu strongly criticized them. His statements were not at all pleasing, and therefore the goddess Parvati, being very angry, spoke as follows to Citraketu, who thought himself better than Lord Siva in controlling the senses.

> *******

> TEXT 11

> srî-pârvaty uvâca

> ayam kim adhunâ loke

> sâstâ danda-dharah prabhuh

> asmad-vidhânâm dustânâm

> nirlajjânâm ca viprakrt

> srî-pârvatî uvâca--the goddess Pârvatî said; ayam--this; kim--whether; adhunâ--now; loke--in the world; sâstâ--the supreme controller; danda-dharah--the carrier of the rod of punishment; prabhuh--the master; asmat-vidhânâm--of persons like us; dustânâm--criminals; nirlajjânâm--who have no shame; ca--and; viprakrt--the restrainer.

> TRANSLATION

> The goddess Parvati said: Alas, has this upstart now received a post from which to punish shameless persons like us? Has he been appointed ruler, carrier of the rod of punishment? Is he now the only master of everything?

> *******

> TEXT 12

> na veda dharmam kila padmayonir

> na brahma-putrâ bhrgu-nâradâdyâh

> na vai kumârah kapilo manus ca

> ye no nisedhanty ati-vartinam haram

> na--not; veda--knows; dharmam--the religious principles; kila--indeed; padma-yonih--Lord Brahma; na--nor; brahma-putrah--the sons of Lord Brahmâ; bhrgu--Bhrgu; nârada--Nârada; âdyâh--and so on; na--nor; vai--indeed; kumârah--the four Kumâras (Sanaka, Sanat-kumâra, Sananda and Sanâtana); kapilah--Lord Kapila; manuh--Manu himself; ca--and; ye--who; no--not; nisedhanti--order to stop; ati-vartinam--who is beyond laws and orders; haram--Lord Siva.

> TRANSLATION

> Alas, Lord Brahma, who has taken his birth from the lotus flower, does not know the principles of religion, nor do the great saints like Bhrgu and Narada, nor the four Kumaras, headed by Sanat-kumara. Manu and Kapila have also forgotten the religious principles. I suppose it to be because of this that they have not tried to stop Lord Siva from behaving improperly.

> *******

> TEXT 13

> esâm anudhyeya-padâbja-yugmam

> jagad-gurum mangala-mangalam svayam

> yah ksatra-bandhuh paribhûya sûrîn

> prasâsti dhrstas tad ayam hi dandyah

> esâm--of all these (exalted personalities); anudhyeya--to be constantly meditated upon; pada-abja-yugmam--whose two lotus feet; jagat-gurum--the spiritual master of the whole world; mangala-mangalam--personification of the topmost religious principle; svayam--himself; yah--he who; ksatra-bandhuh--the lowest of the ksatriyas; paribhûya--overriding; sûrîn--the demigods (like Brahmâ and the others); prasâsti--chastises; dhrstah--impudent; tat--therefore; ayam--this person; hi--indeed; dandyah--to be punished.

> TRANSLATION

> This Citraketu is the lowest of ksatriyas, for he has impudently overridden Brahma and the other demigods by insulting Lord Siva, upon whose lotus feet they always meditate. Lord Siva is personified religion and the spiritual master of the entire world, and therefore Citraketu must be punished.

> *******

> TEXT 14

> nâyam arhati vaikuntha-

> pâda-mûlopasarpanam

> sambhâvita-matih stabdhah

> sâdhubhih paryupâsitam

> na--not; ayam--this person; arhati--deserves; vaikuntha-pâda-mûla-upasarpanam--the approaching of the shelter of Lord Visnu's lotus feet; sambhâvita-matih--considering himself highly esteemed; stabdhah--impudent; sâdhubhih--by great saintly persons; paryupâsitam--worshiped.

> TRANSLATION

> This person is puffed up because of his achievements, thinking, "I am the best." He does not deserve to approach the shelter of Lord Visnu's lotus feet, which are worshiped by all saintly persons, for he is impudent, thinking himself greatly important.

> *******

> TEXT 15

> atah pâpiyasîm yonim

> âsurîm yâhi durmate

> yatheha bhûyo mahatâm

> na kartâ putra kilbisam

> atah--therefore; pâpîyasîm--most sinful; yonim--to the species of life; âsurîm--demoniac; yâhi--go; durmate--O impudent one; yathâ--so that; iha--in this world; bhûyah--again; mahatâm--to great personalities; na--not; kartâ--will commit; putra--my dear son; kilbisam--any offense.

> TRANSLATION

> O impudent one, my dear son, now take birth in a low, sinful family of demons so that you will not commit such an offense again toward exalted, saintly persons in this world.

> *******

> TEXT 16

> srî-suka uvâca

> evam saptas citraketur

> vimânâd avaruhya sah

> prasâdayâm âsa satîm

> mûrdhnâ namrena bhârata

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam--thus; saptah--cursed; citraketuh--King Citraketu; vimânât--from his airplane; avaruhya--coming down; sah--he; prasâdayâm âsa--completely pleased; satîm--Pârvatî; mûrdhnâ--by his head; namrena--bent low; bhârata--O King Parîksit.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King Pariksit, when Citraketu was cursed by Parvati, he descended from his airplane, bowed before her with great humility and pleased her completely.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> citraketur uvâca

> pratigrhnâmi te sâpam

> âtmano 'njalinâmbike

> devair martyâya yat proktam

> pûrva-distam hi tasya tat

> citraketuh uvâca--King Citraketu said; pratigrhnâmi--I accept; te--your; sâpam--curse; âtmanah--my own; anjalinâ--with folded bands; ambike--O mother; devaih--by the demigods; martyâya--unto a mortal; yat--which; proktam--prescribed; pûrva-distam--fixed previously according to one's past deeds; hi--indeed; tasya--of him; tat--that.

> TRANSLATION

> Citraketu said: My dear mother, with my own hands folded together I accept the curse upon me. I do not mind the curse, for happiness and distress are given by the demigods as a result of one's past deeds.

> *******

> TEXT 18

> samsâra-cakra etasmin

> jantur ajnâna-mohitah

> bhrâmyan sukham ca duhkham ca

> bhunkte sarvatra sarvadâ

> samsâra-cakre--in the wheel of material existence; etasmin--this; jantuh--the living entity; ajnâna-mohitah--being bewildered by ignorance; bhrâmyan--wandering; sukham--happiness; ca--and; duhkham--distress; ca--also; bhunkte--he undergoes; sarvatra--everywhere; sarvadâ--always.

> TRANSLATION

> Deluded by ignorance, the living entity wanders in the forest of this material world, enjoying the happiness and distress resulting from his past deeds, everywhere and at all times. [Therefore, my dear mother, neither you nor I am to be blamed for this incident.]

> *******

> TEXT 19

> naivâtmâ na paras câpi

> kartâ syât sukha-duhkhayoh

> kartâram manyate 'trâjna

> âtmânam param eva ca

> na--not; eva--indeed; âtmâ--the spirit soul; na--nor; parah--another (friend or enemy); ca--also; api--indeed; kartâ--the doer; syât--can be; sukha-duhkhayoh--of happiness and distress; kartâram--the doer; manyate--considers; atra--in this connection; ajnah--a person not aware of the real fact; âtmânam--himself; param--another; eva--indeed; ca--also.

> TRANSLATION

> In this material world, neither the living entity himself nor others [friends and enemies] are the cause of material happiness and distress. But because of gross ignorance, the living entity thinks that he and others are the cause.

> *******

> TEXT 20

> guna-pravâha etasmin

> kah sâpah ko nv anugrahah

> kah svargo narakah ko vâ

> kim sukham duhkham eva vâ

> guna-pravâhe--in the current of the modes of material nature; etasmin--this; kah--what; sâpah--a curse; kah--what; nu--indeed; anugrahah--a favor; kah--what; svargah--elevation to heavenly planets; narakah--hell; kah--what; vâ--or; kim--what; sukham--happiness; duhkham--distress; eva--indeed; vâ--or.

> TRANSLATION

> This material world resembles the waves of a constantly flowing river. Therefore, what is a curse and what is a favor? What are the heavenly planets, and what are the hellish planets? What is actually happiness, and what is actually distress? Because the waves flow constantly, none of them has an eternal effect.

> *******

> TEXT 21

> ekah srjati bhûtâni

> bhagavân âtma-mâyayâ

> esâm bandham ca moksam ca

> sukham duhkham ca niskalah

> ekah--one; srjati--creates; bhûtâni--different varieties of living entities; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âtma-mâyayâ--by His personal potencies; esâm--of all the conditioned souls; bandham--the conditional life; ca--and; moksam--the liberated life; ca--also; sukham--happiness; duhkham--distresses; ca--and; niskalah--not affected by the material qualities.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead is one. Unaffected by the conditions of the material world, He creates all the conditioned souls by His own personal potency. Because of being contaminated by the material energy, the living entity is put into ignorance and thus into different conditions of bondage. Sometimes, by knowledge, the living entity is given liberation. In sattva-guna and rajo-guna, he is subjected to happiness and distress.

> *******

> TEXT 22

> na tasya kascid dayitah pratîpo

> na jnâti-bandhur na paro na ca svah

> samasya sarvatra niranjanasya

> sukhe na râgah kuta eva rosah

> na--not; tasya--of Him (the Supreme Lord); kascit--anyone; dayitah--dear; pratîpah--not dear; na--nor; jnâti--kinsman; bandhuh--friend; na--nor; parah--other; na--nor; ca--also; svah--own; samasya--who is equal; sarvatra--everywhere; niranjanasya--without being affected by material nature; sukhe--in happiness; na--not; râgah--attachment; kutah--from where; eva--indeed; rosah--anger.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead is equally disposed toward all living entities. Therefore no one is very dear to Him, and no one is a great enemy for Him; no one is His friend, and no one is His relative. Being unattached to the material world, He has no affection for so-called happiness or hatred for so-called distress. The two terms happiness and distress are relative. Since the Lord is always happy, for Him there is no question of distress.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> tathâpi tac-chakti-visarga esâm

> sukhâya duhkhâya hitâhitâya

> bandhâya moksâya ca mrtyu janmanoh

> sarîrinâm samsrtaye 'vakalpate

> tathâpi--still; tat-sakti--of the Lord's energy; visargah--the creation; esâm--of these (conditioned souls); sukhâya--for the happiness; duhkhâya--for the distress; hita-ahitâya--for the profit and loss; bandhâya--for the bondage; moksâya--for the liberation; ca--also; mrtyu--of death; janmanoh--and birth; sarîrinam--of all those who accept material bodies; samsrtaye--for the repetition; avakalpate--acts.

> TRANSLATION

> Although the Supreme Lord is unattached to our happiness and distress according to karma, and although no one is His enemy or favorite, He creates pious and impious activities through the agency of His material potency. Thus for the continuation of the materialistic way of life He creates happiness and distress, good fortune and bad, bondage and liberation, birth and death.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> atha prasâdaye na tvâm

> sâpa-moksâya bhâmini

> yan manyase hy asâdhûktam

> mama tat ksamyatâm sati

> atha--therefore; prasâdaye--I am trying to please; na--not; tvâm--you; sâpa-moksâya--for being released from your curse; bhâmini--O most angry one; yat--which; manyase--you consider; hi--indeed: asâdhu-uktam--improper speech; mama--my; tat--that; ksamyatâm--let it be excused; sati--O most chaste one.

> TRANSLATION

> O mother, you are now unnecessarily angry, but since all my happiness and distress are destined by my past activities, I do not plead to be excused or relieved from your curse. Although what I have said is not wrong, please let whatever you think is wrong be pardoned.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> srî-suka uvâca

> iti prasâdya girisau

> citraketur arindama

> jagâma sva-vimânena

> pasyatoh smayatos tayoh

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmîi said; iti--thus; prasâdya--after satisfying; girisau--Lord Siva and his wife, Pârvatî; citraketuh--King Citraketu; arim-dama--O King Parîksit, who are always able to subdue the enemy; jagâma--went away; sva-vimânena--by his own airplane; pasyatoh--were watching; smayatoh--were smiling; tayoh--while Lord Siva and Pârvati.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, subduer of the enemy, after Citraketu satisfied Lord Siva and his wife, Parvati, he boarded his airplane and left as they looked on. When Lord Siva and Parvati saw that Citraketu, although informed of the curse, was unafraid, they smiled, being fully astonished by his behavior.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> tatas tu bhagavân rudro

> rudrânîm idam abravît

> devarsi-daitya-siddhânâm

> pârsadânâm ca srnvatâm

> tatah--thereafter; tu--then; bhagavân--the most powerful; rudrah--Lord Siva; rudrânîm--unto his wife, Pârvatî; idam--this; abravît--said; devarsi--while the great sage Nârada; daitya--the demons; siddhânâm--and the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, who are expert in yogic power; pârsadânâm--his personal associates; ca--also; srnvatâm--were listening.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, in the presence of the great sage Narada, the demons, the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, and his personal associates, Lord Siva, who is most powerful, spoke to his wife, Parvati, while they all listened.

> *******

> TEXT 27

> srî-rudra uvâca

> drstavaty asi susroni

> harer adbhuta-karmanah

> mâhâtmyam bhrtya-bhrtyânâm

> nihsprhânâm mahâtmanâm

> srî-rudrah uvâca--Lord Siva said; drstavatî asi--have you seen; susroni--O beautiful Pârvatî; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adbhuta-karmanah--whose acts are wonderful; mâhâtmyam--the greatness; bhrtya-bhrtyânâm--of the servants of the servants; nihsprhânâm--who are without ambitions for sense gratification; mahâtmanâm--great souls.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Siva said: My dear beautiful Parvati, have you seen the greatness of the Vaisnavas? Being servants of the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, they are great souls and are not interested in any kind of material happiness.

> *******

> TEXT 28

> nârâyana-parâh sarve

> na kutascana bibhyati

> svargâpavarga-narakesv

> api tulyârtha-darsinah

> nârâyana-parâh--pure devotees, who are interested only in the service of Nârâyana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarve--all; na--not; kutascana--anywhere; bibhyati--are afraid; svarga--in the higher planetary systems; apavarga--in liberation; narakesu--and in hell; api--even; tulya--equal; artha--value; darsinah--who see.

> TRANSLATION

> Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> dehinâm deha-samyogâd

> dvandvânîsvara-lîlayâ

> sukham duhkham mrtir janma

> sâpo 'nugraha eva ca

> dehinâm--of all those who have accepted material bodies; deha-samyogât--because of contact with the material body; dvandvâni--dualities; îsvara-lîlayâ--by the supreme will of the Lord; sukham--happiness; duhkham--distress; mrtih--death; janma--birth; sâpah--curse; anugrahah--favor; eva--certainly; ca--and.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of the actions of the Supreme Lord's external energy, the living entities are conditioned in contact with material bodies. The dualities of happiness and distress, birth and death, curses and favors, are natural by-products of this contact in the material world.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> aviveka-krtah pumso

> hy artha-bheda ivâtmani

> guna-dosa-vikalpas ca

> bhid eva srajivat krtah

> aviveka-krtah--done in ignorance, without mature consideration; pumsah--of the living entity; hi--indeed; artha-bhedah--differentiation of value; iva--like; âtmani--in himself; guna-dosa--of quality and fault; vikalpah--imagination; ca--and; bhit--difference; eva--certainly; sraji--in a garland; vat--like; krtah--made.

> TRANSLATION

> As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> vâsudeve bhagavati

> bhaktim udvahatâm nrnâm

> jnâna-vairâgya-vîryânâm

> na hi kascid vyapâsrayah

> vâsudeve--to Lord Vâsudeva, Krsna; bhagavati--the Supreme personality of Godhead; bhaktim--love and faith in devotional service; udvahatâm--for those who are carrying; nrnâm--men; jnâna-vairâgya--of real knowledge and detachment; vîryânâm--possessing the powerful strength; na--not; hi--indeed; kascit--anything; vyapâsrayah--as interest or shelter.

> TRANSLATION

> Persons engaged in devotional service to Lord Vasudeva, Krsna, have naturally perfect knowledge and detachment from this material world. Therefore such devotees are not interested in the so-called happiness or so-called distress of this world.

> *******

> TEXT 32

> nâham virinco na kumâra-nâradau

> na brahma-putrâ munayah suresâh

> vidâma yasyehitam amsakâmsakâ

> na tat-svarûpam prthag-îsa-mâninah

> na--not; aham--I (Lord Siva); virincah--Lord Brahmâ; na--nor; kumâra--the Asvinî-kumâras; nâradau--the great saint Nârada; na--nor; brahma-putrâh--the sons of Lord Brahmâ; munayah--great saintly persons; sura-îsâh--all the great demigods; vidâma--know; yasya--of whom; îhitam--activity; amsaka-amsakâh--those who are parts of the parts; na--not; tat--His; sva-rûpam--real personality; prthak--separate; îsa--rulers; mâninah--who consider ourselves to be.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> na hy asyâsti priyah kascin

> nâpriyah svah paro 'pi vâ

> âtmatvât sarva-bhûtânâm

> sarva-bhûta-priyo harih

> na--not; hi--indeed; asya--of the Lord; asti--there is; priyah--very dear; kascit--anyone; na--nor; apriyah--not dear; svah--own; parah--other; api--even; vâ--or; âtmatvât--due to being the soul of the soul; sarva-bhûtânâm--of all living entities; sarva-bhûta--to all living entities; priyah--very, very dear; harih--Lord Hari.

> TRANSLATION

> He holds no one as very dear and no one as inimical. He has no one for His own relative, and no one is alien to Him. He is actually the soul of the soul of all living entities. Thus He is the auspicious friend of all living beings and is very near and dear to all of them.

> *******

> TEXT 34-35

> tasya câyam mahâ-bhâgas

> citraketuh priyo 'nugah

> sarvatra sama-drk sânto

> hy aham caivâcyuta-priyah

> tasmân na vismayah kâryah

> purusesu mahâtmasu

> mahâpurusa-bhaktesu

> sântesu sama-darsisu

> tasya--of Him (the Lord); ca--and; ayam--this; mahâ-bhâgah--the most fortunate; citraketuh--King Citraketu; priyah--beloved; anugah--most obedient servant; sarvatra--everywhere; sama-drk--sees equally; sântah--very peaceful; hi--indeed; aham--I; ca--also; eva--certainly; acyuta-priyah--very dear to Lord Krsna, who never fails; tasmât--therefore; na--no; vismayah--wonder; kâryah--to be done; purusesu--among persons; mahâ-âtmasu--who are exalted souls; mahâ-purusa-bhaktesu--devotees of Lord Visnu; sântesu--peaceful; sama-darsisu--equal to everyone.

> TRANSLATION

> This magnanimous Citraketu is a dear devotee of the Lord. He is equal to all living entities and is free from attachment and hatred. Similarly, I am also very dear to Lord Narayana. Therefore, no one should be astonished to see the activities of the most exalted devotees of Narayana, for they are free from attachment and envy. They are always peaceful, and they are equal to everyone.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> srî-suka uvâca

> iti srutvâ bhagavatah

> sivasyomâbhibhâsitam

> babhûva sânta-dhî râjan

> devî vigata-vismayâ

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; srutvâ--hearing; bhagavatah--of the most powerful demigod; sivasya--of Lord Siva; umâ--Pârvatî; abhibhâsitam--instruction; babhûva--became; sânta-dhîh--very peaceful; râjan--O King Parîksit; devî--the goddess; vigata-vismayâ--released from astonishment.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, after hearing this speech by her husband, the demigoddess [Uma, the wife of Lord Siva] gave up her astonishment at the behavior of King Citraketu and became steady in intelligence.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> iti bhâgavato devyâh

> pratisaptum alantamah

> mûrdhnâ sa jagrhe sâpam

> etâvat sâdhu-laksanam

> iti--thus; bhâgavatah--the most exalted devotee; devyâh--of Pârvatî; pratisaptum--to make a counter-curse; alantamah--able in all respects; mûrdhnâ--with his head; sah--he (Citraketu); jagrhe--accepted; sâpam--the curse; etâvat--this much; sâdhu-laksanam--the symptom of a devotee.

> TRANSLATION

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

> *******

> TEXT 38

> jajne tvastur daksinâgnau

> dânavîm yonim âsritah

> vrtra ity abhivikhyâto

> jnâna-vijnâna-samyutah

> jajne--was born; tvastuh--of the brâhmana known as Tvastâ; daksina-agnau--in the fire sacrifice known as daksinâgni; dânavîm--demoniac; yonim--species of life; âsritah--taking shelter of; vrtrah--Vrtra; iti--thus; abhivikhyâtah--celebrated; jnâna-vijnâna-samyutah--fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life.

> TRANSLATION

> Being cursed by mother Durga [Bhavani, the wife of Lord Siva], that same Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac species of life. Although still fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life, he appeared as a demon at the fire sacrifice performed by Tvasta, and thus he became famous as Vrtrasura.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> etat te sarvam âkhyâtam

> yan mâm tvam pariprcchasi

> vrtrasyâsura jâtes ca

> kâranam bhagavan-mateh

> etat--this; te--unto you; sarvam--all; âkhyâtam--explained; yat--which; mâm--me; tvam--you; pariprcchasi--asked; vrtrasya--of Vrtrâsura; asura jâteh--whose birth was in a species of asuras; ca--and; kâranam--the cause; bhagavat-mateh--of exalted intelligence in Krsna consciousness.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King Pariksit, you inquired from me how Vrtrasura, a great devotee, took birth in a demoniac family.Thus I have tried to explain to you everything about this.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> itihâsam imam punyam

> citraketor mahâtmanah

> mâhâtmyam visnu-bhaktânâm

> srutvâ bandhâd vimucyate

> itihâsam--history; imam--this; punyam--very pious; citraketoh--of Citraketu; mahâ-âtmanah--the exalted devotee; mâhâtmyam--containing glory; visnu-bhaktânâm--from the devotees of Visnu; srutvâ--hearing; bandhât--from bondage or conditional, material life; vimucyate--is freed.

> TRANSLATION

> Citraketu was a great devotee [mahatma]. If one hears this history of Citraketu from a pure devotee, the listener also is freed from the conditional life of material existence.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> ya etat prâtar utthâya

> sraddhayâ vâg-yatah pathet

> itihâsam harim smrtvâ

> sa yâti paramâm gatim

> yah--any person who; etat--this; prâtah--early in the morning; utthâya--rising; sraddhayâ--with faith; vâk-yatah--controlling the mind and words; pathet--may read; itihâsam--history; harim--the Supreme Lord; smrtvâ--remembering; sah--that person; yâti--goes; paramâm gatim--back home, back to Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> One who rises from bed early in the morning and recites this history of Citraketu, controlling his words and mind and remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will return home, back to Godhead, without difficulty.

> > Back to the running text