Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Fourteen
SB6.14.21
TEXT 21
atmanah priyate natma
paratah svata eva va
laksaye ’labdha-kamam tvam
cintaya sabalam mukham
SYNONYMS
atmanah—of you; priyate—is pleased; na—not; atma—the mind; paratah—due to other causes; svatah—due to yourself; eva—indeed; va—or; laksaye—I can see; alabdha-kamam—not achieving your desired goals; tvam—you; cintaya—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.
SB6.14.22
TEXT 22
evam vikalpito rajan
vidusa muninapi sah
prasrayavanato ’bhyaha
praja-kamas tato munim
SYNONYMS
evam—thus; vikalpitah—questioned; rajan—O King Pariksit; vidusa—greatly learned; munina—by the philosopher; api—although; sah—he (King Citraketu); prasraya-avanatah—being bent low due to humility; abhyaha—replied; praja-kamah—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.
PURPORT
Since the face is the index to the mind, a saintly person can study the condition of one’s mind by seeing his face. When Angira Rsi remarked about the King’s discolored face, King Citraketu explained the cause of his anxiety as follows. SB6.14.23 TEXT 23 citraketur uvaca bhagavan kim na viditam tapo-jnana-samadhibhih yoginam dhvasta-papanam bahir antah saririsu SYNONYMS citraketuh uvaca—King Citraketu replied; bhagavan—O most powerful sage; kim—what; na—not; viditam—is understood; tapah—by austerity; jnana—knowledge; samadhibhih—and by samadhi (trance, transcendental meditation); yoginam—by the great yogis or devotees; dhvasta-papanam—who are fully freed from all sinful reactions; bahih—externally; antah—internally; saririsu—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. SB6.14.24 TEXT 24 tathapi prcchato bruyam brahmann atmani cintitam bhavato vidusas capi coditas tvad-anujnaya SYNONYMS tathapi—still; prcchatah—asking; bruyam—let me speak; brahman—O great brahmana; atmani—in the mind; cintitam—anxiety; bhavatah—to you; vidusah—who know everything; ca—and; api—although; coditah—being inspired; tvat—your; anujnaya—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. SB6.14.25 TEXT 25 loka-palair api prarthyah samrajyaisvarya-sampadah na nandayanty aprajam mam ksut-trt-kamam ivapare SYNONYMS loka-palaih—by great demigods; api—even; prarthyah—desirable; samrajya—a great empire; aisvarya—material opulence; sampadah—possessions; na nandayanti—do not give pleasure; aprajam—because of having no son; mam—unto me; ksut—hunger; trt—thirst; kamam—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. SB6.14.26 TEXT 26 tatah pahi maha-bhaga purvaih saha gatam tamah yatha tarema dusparam prajaya tad vidhehi nah SYNONYMS tatah—therefore, because of this; pahi—kindly save; maha-bhaga—O great sage; purvaih saha—along with my forefathers; gatam—gone; tamah—to darkness; yatha—so that; tarema—we can cross; dusparam—very difficult to cross; prajaya—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. PURPORT According to Vedic civilization, one gets married simply to have a son, who is needed to offer oblations to his forefathers. King Citraketu responsibly desired to beget a child so that he and his forefathers might be delivered from the darkest regions. He was concerned with how to get pinda, oblations, in the next life, not only for himself but also for his forefathers. Therefore he requested Angira Rsi to favor him by doing something that could help him get a son. SB6.14.27 TEXT 27 sri-suka uvaca ity arthitah sa bhagavan krpalur brahmanah sutah srapayitva carum tvastram tvastaram ayajad vibhuh SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti—thus; arthitah—being requested; sah—he (Angira Rsi); bhagavan—the most powerful; krpaluh—being very merciful; brahmanah—of Lord Brahma; sutah—a son (born of Lord Brahma’s mind); srapayitva—after causing to cook; carum—a specific oblation of sweetrice; tvastram—meant for the demigod known as Tvasta; tvastaram—Tvasta; 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. SB6.14.28 TEXT 28 jyestha srestha ca ya rajno mahisinam ca bharata namna krtadyutis tasyai yajnocchistam adad dvijah SYNONYMS jyestha—the senior; srestha—the most perfect; ca—and; ya—she who; rajnah—of the King; mahisinam—among all the queens; ca—also; bharata—O Maharaja Pariksit, the best of the Bharatas; namna—by name; krtadyutih—Krtadyuti; tasyai—unto her; yajna—of the sacrifice; ucchistam—the remnants of food; adat—delivered; dvijah—the great sage (Angira). 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. SB6.14.29 TEXT 29 athaha nrpatim rajan bhavitaikas tavatmajah harsa-soka-pradas tubhyam iti brahma-suto yayau SYNONYMS atha—thereafter; aha—said; nrpatim—unto the King; rajan—O King Citraketu; bhavita—there will be; ekah—one; tava—your; atmajah—son; harsa-soka—jubilation and lamentation; pradah—who will give; tubhyam—unto you; iti—thus; brahma-sutah—Angira Rsi, the son of Lord Brahma; 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. PURPORT The word harsa means “jubilation,” and soka means “lamentation.” The King was overwhelmed with joy when he understood that he would have a son. Because of his great jubilation, he could not actually understand the statement of the sage Angira. He accepted it to mean that there would certainly be jubilation because of the birth of his future son, but that he would be the King’s only son and, being very proud of his great wealth and empire, would not be very obedient to his father. Thus the King was satisfied, thinking, “Let there be a son. It does not matter if he is not very obedient.” In Bengal there is a proverb that instead of having no maternal uncle, it is better to have a maternal uncle who is blind. The King accepted this philosophy, thinking that a disobedient son would be better than no son at all. The great sage Canakya Pandita says: ko ’rthah putrena jatena “What is the use of a son who is neither a learned scholar nor a devotee? Such a son is like a blind, diseased eye, which always causes suffering.” Nevertheless, the material world is so polluted that one wants to have a son even though he is useless. This attitude was represented in the history of King Citraketu. SB6.14.30 TEXT 30 sapi tat-prasanad eva citraketor adharayat garbham krtadyutir devi krttikagner ivatmajam SYNONYMS sa—she; api—even; tat-prasanat—by eating the remnants of food from the great sacrifice; eva—indeed; citraketoh—from King Citraketu; adharayat—bore; garbham—pregnancy; krtadyutih—Queen Krtadyuti; devi—the goddess; krttika—Krttika; agneh—from Agni; iva—as; atma-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. SB6.14.31 TEXT 31 tasya anudinam garbhah sukla-paksa ivodupah vavrdhe surasenesa- tejasa sanakair nrpa SYNONYMS tasyah—her; anudinam—day after day; garbhah—embryo; sukla-pakse—during the fortnight of the waxing moon; iva—like; udupah—the moon; vavrdhe—gradually developed; surasena-isa—of the King of Surasena; tejasa—by the semen; sanakaih—little by little; nrpa—O King Pariksit. 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. SB6.14.32 TEXT 32 atha kala upavrtte kumarah samajayata janayan surasenanam srnvatam paramam mudam SYNONYMS atha—thereafter; kale upavrtte—in due course of time; kumarah—the son; samajayata—took birth; janayan—creating; surasenanam—of the inhabitants of Surasena; srnvatam—hearing; paramam—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. SB6.14.33 TEXT 33 hrsto raja kumarasya snatah sucir alankrtah vacayitvasiso vipraih karayam asa jatakam SYNONYMS hrstah—very happy; raja—the King; kumarasya—of his newly born son; snatah—having bathed; sucih—being purified; alankrtah—being decorated with ornaments; vacayitva—having caused to be spoken; asisah—words of benediction; vipraih—by learned brahmanas; karayam asa—caused to be performed; jatakam—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. SB6.14.34 TEXT 34 tebhyo hiranyam rajatam vasamsy abharanani ca graman hayan gajan pradad dhenunam arbudani sat SYNONYMS tebhyah—unto them (the learned brahmanas); hiranyam—gold; rajatam—silver; vasamsi—garments; abharanani—ornaments; ca—also; graman—villages; hayan—horses; gajan—elephants; pradat—gave in charity; dhenunam—of cows; arbudani—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]. SB6.14.35 TEXT 35 vavarsa kaman anyesam parjanya iva dehinam dhanyam yasasyam ayusyam kumarasya maha-manah SYNONYMS vavarsa—showered, gave in charity; kaman—all desirable things; anyesam—of others; parjanyah—a cloud; iva—like; dehinam—of all living entities; dhanyam—with the desire for an increase of opulence; yasasyam—an increase of reputation; ayusyam—and an increase of the duration of life; kumarasya—of the newly born child; maha-manah—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. SB6.14.36 TEXT 36 krcchra-labdhe ’tha rajarses tanaye ’nudinam pituh yatha nihsvasya krcchrapte dhane sneho ’nvavardhata SYNONYMS krcchra—with great difficulty; labdhe—gained; atha—thereafter; raja-rseh—of the pious King Citraketu; tanaye—for the son; anudinam—day after day; pituh—of the father; yatha—exactly as; nihsvasya—of a poor man; krcchra-apte—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. SB6.14.37 TEXT 37 matus tv atitaram putre sneho moha-samudbhavah krtadyuteh sapatninam praja-kama-jvaro ’bhavat SYNONYMS matuh—of the mother; tu—also; atitaram—excessively; putre—for the son; snehah—affection; moha—out of ignorance; samudbhavah—produced; krtadyuteh—of Krtadyuti; sapatninam—of the co-wives; praja-kama—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. SB6.14.38 TEXT 38 citraketor atipritir yatha dare prajavati na tathanyesu sanjajne balam lalayato ’nvaham SYNONYMS citraketoh—of King Citraketu; atipritih—excessive attraction; yatha—just as; dare—unto the wife; praja-vati—who begot a son; na—not; tatha—like that; anyesu—unto the others; sanjajne—arose; balam—the son; lalayatah—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. SB6.14.39 TEXT 39 tah paryatapyann atmanam garhayantyo ’bhyasuyaya anapatyena duhkhena rajnas canadarena ca SYNONYMS tah—they (the queens who did not have sons); paryatapyan—lamented; atmanam—themselves; garhayantyah—condemning; abhyasuyaya—out of envy; anapatyena—due to being without sons; duhkhena—by unhappiness; rajnah—of the King; ca—also; anadarena—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. SB6.14.40 TEXT 40 dhig aprajam striyam papam patyus cagrha-sammatam suprajabhih sapatnibhir dasim iva tiraskrtam SYNONYMS dhik—all condemnation; aprajam—without a son; striyam—upon a woman; papam—full of sinful activities; patyuh—by the husband; ca—also; a-grha-sammatam—who is not honored at home; su-prajabhih—who have sons; sapatnibhih—by co-wives; dasim—a maidservant; iva—exactly like; tiraskrtam—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. PURPORT As stated by Canakya Pandita: mata yasya grhe nasti “A person who has no mother at home and whose wife does not speak sweetly should go to the forest. For such a person, living at home and living in the forest are equal.” Similarly, for a woman who has no son, who is not cared for by her husband and whose co-wives neglect her, treating her like a maidservant, to go to the forest is better than to remain at home. SB6.14.41 TEXT 41 dasinam ko nu santapah svaminah paricaryaya abhiksnam labdha-mananam dasya dasiva durbhagah SYNONYMS dasinam—of the maidservants; kah—what; nu—indeed; santapah—lamentation; svaminah—unto the husband; paricaryaya—by rendering service; abhiksnam—constantly; labdha-mananam—honored; dasyah—of the maidservant; dasi iva—like a maidservant; durbhagah—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. SB6.14.42 TEXT 42 evam sandahyamananam sapatnyah putra-sampada rajno ’sammata-vrttinam vidveso balavan abhut SYNONYMS evam—thus; sandahyamananam—of the queens, who were constantly burning in lamentation; sapatnyah—of the co-wife Krtadyuti; putra-sampada—due to the opulence of a son; rajnah—by the King; asammata-vrttinam—not being very much favored; vidvesah—envy; balavan—very strong; abhut—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. SB6.14.43 TEXT 43 vidvesa-nasta-matayah striyo daruna-cetasah garam daduh kumaraya durmarsa nrpatim prati SYNONYMS vidvesa-nasta-matayah—whose intelligence was lost in envy; striyah—the women; daruna-cetasah—being very hardhearted; garam—poison; daduh—administered; kumaraya—unto the boy; durmarsah—being intolerant; nrpatim—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. SB6.14.44 TEXT 44 krtadyutir ajananti sapatninam agham mahat supta eveti sancintya niriksya vyacarad grhe SYNONYMS krtadyutih—Queen Krtadyuti; ajananti—being unaware of; sapatninam—of her co-wives; agham—sinful act; mahat—very great; suptah—sleeping; eva—indeed; iti—thus; sancintya—thinking; niriksya—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. SB6.14.45 TEXT 45 sayanam suciram balam upadharya manisini putram anaya me bhadre iti dhatrim acodayat SYNONYMS sayanam—lying down; su-ciram—for a long time; balam—the son; upadharya—thinking; manisini—very intelligent; putram—the son; anaya—bring; me—unto me; bhadre—O gentle friend; iti—thus; dhatrim—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.” SB6.14.46 TEXT 46 sa sayanam upavrajya drstva cottara-locanam pranendriyatmabhis tyaktam hatasmity apatad bhuvi SYNONYMS sa—she (the maidservant); sayanam—lying down; upavrajya—going to; drstva—seeing; ca—also; uttara-locanam—his eyes turned upward (as are those of a dead body); prana-indriya-atmabhih—by the life force, senses and mind; tyaktam—abandoned; hata 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. SB6.14.47 TEXT 47 tasyas tadakarnya bhrsaturam svaram ghnantyah karabhyam ura uccakair api pravisya rajni tvarayatmajantikam dadarsa balam sahasa mrtam sutam SYNONYMS tasyah—of her (the maidservant); tada—at that time; akarnya—hearing; bhrsa-aturam—highly regretful and agitated; svaram—voice; ghnantyah—striking; karabhyam—with the hands; urah—the chest; uccakaih—loudly; api—also; pravisya—entering; rajni—the Queen; tvaraya—hastily; atmaja-antikam—near her son; dadarsa—she saw; balam—the child; sahasa—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. SB6.14.48 TEXT 48 papata bhumau parivrddhaya suca mumoha vibhrasta-siroruhambara SYNONYMS papata—fell down; bhumau—on the ground; parivrddhaya—highly increased; suca—out of lamentation; mumoha—she became unconscious; vibhrasta—scattered; siroruha—hair; ambara—and dress. TRANSLATION In great lamentation, her hair and dress in disarray, the Queen fell to the ground unconscious. SB6.14.49 TEXT 49 tato nrpantahpura-vartino jana naras ca naryas ca nisamya rodanam agatya tulya-vyasanah suduhkhitas tas ca vyalikam ruruduh krtagasah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; nrpa—O King; antahpura-vartinah—the inhabitants of the palace; janah—all the people; narah—the men; ca—and; naryah—the women; ca—also; nisamya—hearing; rodanam—loud crying; agatya—coming; tulya-vyasanah—being equally aggrieved; su-duhkhitah—very greatly lamenting; tah—they; ca—and; vyalikam—pretentiously; ruruduh—cried; krta-agasah—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. SB6.14.50-51 TEXTS 50–51 srutva mrtam putram alaksitantakam vinasta-drstih prapatan skhalan pathi snehanubandhaidhitaya suca bhrsam vimurcchito ’nuprakrtir dvijair vrtah papata balasya sa pada-mule mrtasya visrasta-siroruhambarah dirgham svasan baspa-kaloparodhato niruddha-kantho na sasaka bhasitum SYNONYMS srutva—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; edhitaya—increasing; suca—by lamentation; bhrsam—greatly; vimurcchitah—becoming unconscious; anuprakrtih—followed by ministers and other officers; dvijaih—by learned brahmanas; vrtah—surrounded; papata—fell down; balasya—of the boy; sah—he (the King); pada-mule—at the feet; mrtasya—of the dead body; visrasta—scattered; siroruha—hair; ambarah—and dress; dirgham—long; svasan—breathing; baspa-kala-uparodhatah—due to crying with tearful eyes; niruddha-kanthah—having a choked voice; na—not; sasaka—was able; bhasitum—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. SB6.14.52 TEXT 52 patim niriksyoru-sucarpitam tada mrtam ca balam sutam eka-santatim janasya rajni prakrtes ca hrd-rujam sati dadhana vilalapa citradha SYNONYMS patim—the husband; niriksya—by seeing; uru—greatly; suca—with lamentation; arpitam—pained; tada—at that time; mrtam—dead; ca—and; balam—the child; sutam—the son; eka-santatim—the only son in the family; janasya—of all the other people gathered there; rajni—the Queen; prakrteh ca—as well as of the officers and ministers; hrt-rujam—the pains within the core of the heart; sati dadhana—increasing; vilalapa—lamented; citradha—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. SB6.14.53 TEXT 53 stana-dvayam kunkuma-panka-manditam nisincati sanjana-baspa-bindubhih vikirya kesan vigalat-srajah sutam susoca citram kurariva susvaram SYNONYMS stana-dvayam—her two breasts; kunkuma—with kunkuma powder (which is generally sprayed on the breasts of women); panka—ointment; manditam—decorated; nisincati—moistening; sa-anjana—mixed with the eye ointment; baspa—of tears; bindubhih—by drops; vikirya—scattering; kesan—hair; vigalat—was falling down; srajah—on which the flower garland; sutam—for her son; susoca—lamented; citram—variegated; kurari iva—like a kurari 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. SB6.14.54 TEXT 54 aho vidhatas tvam ativa baliso yas tv atma-srsty-apratirupam ihase pare nu jivaty aparasya ya mrtir viparyayas cet tvam asi dhruvah parah SYNONYMS aho—alas (in great lamentation); vidhatah—O Providence; tvam—You; ativa—very much; balisah—inexperienced; yah—who; tu—indeed; atma-srsti—of Your own creation; apratirupam—just the opposite; ihase—You are performing and desiring; pare—while the father or the elder; nu—indeed; jivati—is living; aparasya—of one who was born later; ya—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. PURPORT This is the way a conditioned soul condemns the supreme creator when he meets reverses. Sometimes he accuses the Supreme Personality of Godhead of being crooked because some people are happy and some are not. Here the Queen blames supreme providence for her son’s death. Following the creative laws, a father should die first and then his son. If the creative laws are changed according to the whims of providence, then providence certainly should not be considered merciful, but must be considered inimical to the created being. Actually it is not the creator, but the conditioned soul who is inexperienced. He does not know how the subtle laws of fruitive activity work, and without knowledge of these laws of nature, he ignorantly criticizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB6.14.55 TEXT 55 na hi kramas ced iha mrtyu-janmanoh saririnam astu tad atma-karmabhih yah sneha-paso nija-sarga-vrddhaye svayam krtas te tam imam vivrscasi SYNONYMS na—not; hi—indeed; kramah—chronological order; cet—if; iha—in this material world; mrtyu—of death; janmanoh—and of birth; saririnam—of the conditioned souls, who have accepted material bodies; astu—let it be; tat—that; atma-karmabhih—by the results of one’s karma (fruitive activities); yah—that which; sneha-pasah—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. PURPORT As stated in the Brahma-samhita, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam: [Bs. 5.54] one who has taken to Krsna consciousness, devotional service, is not affected by the results of karma. In this verse, karma has been stressed on the basis of karma-mimamsa philosophy, which says that one must act according to his karma and that a supreme controller must give the results of karma. The subtle laws of karma, which are controlled by the Supreme, cannot be understood by ordinary conditioned souls. Therefore Krsna says that one who can understand Him and how He is acting, controlling everything by subtle laws, immediately becomes freed by His grace. That is the statement of Brahma-samhita (karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs. 5.54]). One should take to devotional service without reservations and surrender everything to the supreme will of the Lord. That will make one happy in this life and the next. SB6.14.56 TEXT 56 tvam tata narhasi ca mam krpanam anatham tyaktum vicaksva pitaram tava soka-taptam anjas tarema bhavatapraja-dustaram yad dhvantam na yahy akarunena yamena duram SYNONYMS tvam—you; tata—my dear son; na—not; arhasi—ought; ca—and; mam—me; krpanam—very poor; anatham—without a protector; tyaktum—to give up; vicaksva—look; pitaram—at the father; tava—your; soka-taptam—affected by so much lamentation; anjah—easily; tarema—we can cross; bhavata—by you; apraja-dustaram—very difficult to cross for one without a son; yat—which; dhvantam—the kingdom of darkness; na yahi—do not go away; akarunena—merciless; yamena—with Yamaraja; duram—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. PURPORT According to the Vedic injunctions, one must accept a wife just to beget a son who can deliver one from the clutches of Yamaraja. Unless one has a son to offer oblations to the pitas, or forefathers, one must suffer in Yamaraja’s kingdom. King Citraketu was very much aggrieved. thinking that because his son was going away with Yamaraja he himself would again suffer. The subtle laws exist for the karmis; if one becomes a devotee, he has no more obligations to the laws of karma. SB6.14.57 TEXT 57 uttistha tata ta ime sisavo vayasyas tvam ahvayanti nrpa-nandana samvihartum suptas ciram hy asanaya ca bhavan parito bhunksva stanam piba suco hara nah svakanam SYNONYMS uttistha—kindly get up; tata—my dear son; te—they; ime—all these; sisavah—children; vayasyah—playmates; tvam—you; ahvayanti—are calling; nrpa-nandana—O son of the King; samvihartum—to play with; suptah—you have slept; ciram—for a long time; hi—indeed; asanaya—by hunger; ca—also; bhavan—you; paritah—overcome; bhunksva—please eat; stanam—at the breast (of your mother); piba—drink; sucah—lamentation; hara—just dissipate; nah—of us; svakanam—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. SB6.14.58 TEXT 58 naham tanuja dadrse hata-mangala te mugdha-smitam mudita-viksanam ananabjam kim va gato ’sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokam nito ’ghrnena na srnomi kala giras te SYNONYMS na—not; aham—I; tanu-ja—my dear son (born of my body); dadrse—saw; hata-mangala—because of my being the most unfortunate; te—your; mugdha-smitam—with charming smiling; mudita-viksanam—with closed eyes; anana-abjam—lotus face; kim va—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 Yamaraja; nitah—having been taken away; aghrnena—by the cruel Yamaraja; na—not; srnomi—I can hear; kalah—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. SB6.14.59 TEXT 59 sri-suka uvaca vilapantya mrtam putram iti citra-vilapanaih citraketur bhrsam tapto mukta-kantho ruroda ha SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; vilapantya—with the woman who was lamenting; mrtam—dead; putram—for the son; iti—thus; citra-vilapanaih—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. SB6.14.60 TEXT 60 tayor vilapatoh sarve dampatyos tad-anuvratah ruruduh sma nara naryah sarvam asid acetanam SYNONYMS tayoh—while the two of them; vilapatoh—were lamenting; sarve—all; dam-patyoh—the King, along with his wife; tat-anuvratah—their followers; ruruduh—cried loudly; sma—indeed; narah—the male members; naryah—the female members; sarvam—the whole kingdom; asit—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. SB6.14.61 TEXT 61 evam kasmalam apannam nasta-samjnam anayakam jnatvangira nama rsir ajagama sanaradah SYNONYMS evam—thus; kasmalam—misery; apannam—having gotten; nasta—lost; samjnam—consciousness; anayakam—without help; jnatva—knowing; angirah—Angira; nama—named; rsih—the saintly person; ajagama—came; sa-naradah—with Narada 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. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “King Citraketu’s Lamentation.”
yo na vidvan na dharmikah
kanena caksusa kim va
caksuh pidaiva kevalam
bharya capriya-vadini
aranyam tena gantavyam
yatharanyam tatha grham