Category:Citraketu: Difference between revisions
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'''Theme Analysis''' | |||
The history of King Citraketu serves as a profound lesson on the nature of material attachment, the value of spiritual instruction, and the exemplary behavior of a Vaisnava. Srila Prabhupada explains that Citraketu's initial desperation for a son represents the conditioned soul's entanglement in temporary relationships. Through the intervention of the great sages Angira and Narada, the King is elevated from the darkness of ignorance to the platform of direct audience with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. | |||
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* '''The Misery of Material Attachment:''' Despite possessing an opulent kingdom, Citraketu was miserable without a son. When he finally received one, the child's premature death—caused by the envy of his other wives—plunged him into an ocean of lamentation, proving that material happiness is often the prelude to distress. | |||
* '''Transcendental Knowledge:''' The turning point in Citraketu's life was the instruction of Narada Muni. By realizing the distinction between the eternal soul and the temporary body (demonstrated when his dead son spoke), the King was able to give up his false possessiveness. | |||
* '''The Excellence of a Devotee:''' The most significant aspect of Citraketu's character is revealed when he is cursed by Mother Parvati. Although he was powerful enough to retaliate, he accepted the curse humbly with a bowed head. This behavior astonished even Lord Siva. | |||
* '''The Benediction in Disguise:''' Srila Prabhupada notes that the curse to become a demon (Vrtrasura) was actually the Lord's mercy to accelerate Citraketu's return to the spiritual world. | |||
* Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: [[Vanipedia:King Citraketu - From Lamentation to Liberation|King Citraketu - From Lamentation to Liberation.]] | |||
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[[Category:Personalities from Srimad Bhagavatam]] | [[Category:Personalities from Srimad Bhagavatam]] | ||
[[Category:Names of Saintly Kings]] | [[Category:Names of Saintly Kings]] | ||
[[Category:Vrtrasura]] | [[Category:Vrtrasura]] | ||
[[Category:Categories With Theme Analysis]] | |||
[[Category:All Categories - Vaniquotes]] | [[Category:All Categories - Vaniquotes]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:14, 8 February 2026
Theme Analysis
The history of King Citraketu serves as a profound lesson on the nature of material attachment, the value of spiritual instruction, and the exemplary behavior of a Vaisnava. Srila Prabhupada explains that Citraketu's initial desperation for a son represents the conditioned soul's entanglement in temporary relationships. Through the intervention of the great sages Angira and Narada, the King is elevated from the darkness of ignorance to the platform of direct audience with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Misery of Material Attachment: Despite possessing an opulent kingdom, Citraketu was miserable without a son. When he finally received one, the child's premature death—caused by the envy of his other wives—plunged him into an ocean of lamentation, proving that material happiness is often the prelude to distress.
- Transcendental Knowledge: The turning point in Citraketu's life was the instruction of Narada Muni. By realizing the distinction between the eternal soul and the temporary body (demonstrated when his dead son spoke), the King was able to give up his false possessiveness.
- The Excellence of a Devotee: The most significant aspect of Citraketu's character is revealed when he is cursed by Mother Parvati. Although he was powerful enough to retaliate, he accepted the curse humbly with a bowed head. This behavior astonished even Lord Siva.
- The Benediction in Disguise: Srila Prabhupada notes that the curse to become a demon (Vrtrasura) was actually the Lord's mercy to accelerate Citraketu's return to the spiritual world.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: King Citraketu - From Lamentation to Liberation.
Subcategories
This category has the following 8 subcategories, out of 8 total.
9
B
C
K
S
Pages in category "Citraketu"
The following 209 pages are in this category, out of 209 total.
A
- After personally talking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Citraketu enjoyed life in his airplane with the women of the Vidyadhara planet. Engaging in the congregational chanting of the glories of the Lord, he began flying his plane
- 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
- Ajamila worshiped the Lord even at the point of death, and Citraketu worshiped the Lord even in heaven and in hell
- Although Citraketu criticized Lord Siva, he did not offend Lord Siva like Daksa
- Although Citraketu never meant to insult Lord Siva, he should not have criticized the lord, even though the lord was transgressing social customs. It is said, tejiyasam na dosaya: one who is very powerful should be understood to be faultless
- Although Citraketu provided one example of tolerance and excellence, all the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord as eternal servants are glorious. They have no eagerness to be happy by being placed in the heavenly planets
- 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
- Although what I (Citraketu) have said is not wrong, please let whatever you (Parvati) think is wrong be pardoned
- Although what I have said is not wrong, please let whatever you think is wrong be pardoned
- Although you (Parvati) cursed the King (Citraketu), he was not at all afraid or sorry. He offered respect to you, called you mother & accepted your curse thinking himself faulty. He did not say anything in retaliation. This is the excellence of a devotee
- Angira Rsi asked the King (Citraketu) whether his mind was also under control. This is most essential for happiness
- Angira said: My dear King, when you desired to have a son, I approached you. Indeed, I am the same Angira Rsi who gave you this son. As for this rsi, he is the great sage Narada, the direct son of Lord Brahma
- 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?
- 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
- 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
- As an animal is transferred from one owner to another, the living entity who was the son of Citraketu lived as his son for some time, but as soon as he was transferred to another body, the affectionate relationship was broken
- As from one seed another seed is generated, O King, so from one body (the body of the father), through another body (the body of the mother), a third body is generated (the body of a son)
- 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
- 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
- As soon as Citraketu understood the philosophy of vairagya-vidya, the knowledge of renunciation, he could understand the process of bhakti-yoga
- As soon as Maharaja Citraketu saw the Supreme Lord, he was cleansed of all material contamination and situated in his original Krsna consciousness, being completely purified
- 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
- 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
B
- Because Citraketu was undoubtedly a Vaisnava, he might have been surprised that Parvati had cursed him. The goddess Parvati addressed him as putra, or son. Everyone is the son of mother Durga, but she is not an ordinary mother
- Being cursed by mother Durga (Bhavani, the wife of Lord Siva), that same Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac species of life
- Being fully aware of how the results of one's karma accrue by the laws of nature, Citraketu did not want to be released from Parvati's curse
- 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
- Being very much pleased with Citraketu, who was a self-controlled devotee and surrendered soul, Narada, the most powerful sage, spoke to him the following transcendental instructions
- Both he and I (Siva) are on the same level as servants of God. We are always friends and sometimes we enjoy joking words between us. When Citraketu loudly laughed at my behavior, he did so on friendly terms, and therefore there was no reason to curse him
- By using the word bhrtya-bhrtyanam, Lord Siva pointed out that although Citraketu provided one example of tolerance and excellence, all the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord as eternal servants are glorious
C
- Citraketu appreciated how great Lord Siva was to be unaffected even in that situation. Therefore Citraketu was not an offender; he merely expressed his wonder
- Citraketu appreciated Lord Siva's position, but when he saw Lord Siva sitting in the midst of saintly persons and acting like a shameless, ordinary man, he was astonished
- Citraketu fell down and became a demon, Vrtrasura, but he too was protected. Thus even if one falls down from the path of bhakti-yoga, one is ultimately saved
- 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
- Citraketu Maharaja was first instructed by his gurus, Angira and Narada, and now, having followed their instructions, he has come to the stage of seeing the Supreme Lord face to face. Therefore the Lord is now instructing him in the essence of knowledge
- Citraketu Maharaja was lamenting for his son, who was now dead, but he could have considered the situation otherwise
- Citraketu nonetheless criticized Lord Siva, and the opinion of Parvati was that he should be punished
- Citraketu received this side benefit (material power) of his devotional service, which he rigidly performed in accordance with the instructions of Narada
- Citraketu remained in material opulence as a vidyadhara-pati, master of the Vidyadharas, and by executing devotional service he became perfect within a very few days and returned home, back to Godhead, taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Ananta Sesa
- 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
- Citraketu said: O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses
- Citraketu should have known that Lord Siva, although sitting in that way, was not to be criticized
- Citraketu thought himself a better controller of the senses than Lord Siva, although actually he was not. Because of all these considerations, mother Parvati was somewhat angry at Citraketu
- Citraketu very sportingly felt that since the mother wanted to curse him, he could accept this curse just to please her. This is called sadhu-laksanam, the characteristic of a sadhu, or a devotee
- Citraketu wanted to criticize the behavior of his friend Lord Siva because Lord Siva was sitting with his wife on his lap
- Citraketu wanted to do this (offer prayers to God), but he was unable because of loving ecstasy. Therefore he had to wait for a considerable time before be could offer prayers
- 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
- Citraketu was a very powerful king and a devotee, and he could certainly retaliate even against Lord Siva, but when Parvati cursed him, he immediately accepted the curse with a bowed head
- Citraketu was not in a temperament of renunciation, but after the death of his son, when he was overwhelmed by his great plight, he was awakened to the platform of renunciation by instructions regarding the falsity of this material world & possessions
- Citraketu's purpose in criticizing Lord Siva is somewhat mysterious and cannot be understood by a common man
- Citraketu's son was his enemy in a past life and had now appeared as his son just to give him more severe pain. Indeed, the untimely death of the son caused severe lamentation for the father
- 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
F
- Fasting and drinking only water, Citraketu for one week continuously chanted with great care and attention the mantra given by Narada Muni
- For Parvati to be embraced by Lord Siva was natural in a relationship between husband and wife; this was nothing extraordinary for Citraketu to see. Citraketu laughed loudly to see Lord Siva in that situation, even though he should not have done so
H
- He (Citraketu) 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
- He (Citraketu) knew that he had not committed any offense at the lotus feet of Lord Siva or the goddess Parvati, yet he had been punished, and this means that the punishment had been ordained. Thus the King did not mind it
- He (Citraketu) knew very well that one suffers or enjoys the results of one's past deeds as ordained by daiva-netra-superior authority, or the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- He (Citraketu) wanted to satisfy her (Parvati) because although his verdict was natural, she was displeased with him. As a matter of course, Maharaja Citraketu begged pardon from Parvati
- He (Citraketu) was eventually cursed, and this curse was the cause of his returning home, back to Godhead
- He (King Citraketu) 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
- He (Maharaja Citraketu) could have thought, "This living entity was my enemy in my last life, and now, having appeared as my son, he is prematurely leaving just to give me pain and agony"
- He became silent and grave, and because of love for the Lord, tears fell from his eyes, and his hairs stood on end. With great devotion and love, he offered his respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead
- He was unable to utter any of the letters of the alphabet to offer the Lord suitable prayers because his voice was choked in ecstasy, for a considerable time
- Here (SB 6.14.10) the most significant statement is that the earth completely produced all the necessities of life during the time of King Citraketu
- Here is a difference between male and female that exists even in the higher statuses of life-in fact, even between Lord Siva and his wife. Lord Siva could understand Citraketu very nicely, but Parvati could not
- Here the Queen (the wife of King Citraketu) blames supreme providence for her son's death. Following the creative laws, a father should die first and then his son
- 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
I
- If one thinks that Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the only perfect personality whereas the demigods, even demigods as Siva, are inclined to improper social affairs, he is an offender. Citraketu was somewhat harsh in his behavior with Siva
- If the members of the assembly thought that Citraketu had blasphemed Lord Siva, they would certainly have left at once, blocking their ears with their hands
- If you accept this conclusion of Mine, being unattached to material enjoyment, adhering to Me with great faith and thus becoming proficient and fully aware of knowledge and its practical application in life, you will achieve the highest perfection
- 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 (Citraketu) accepted this philosophy, thinking that a disobedient son would be better than no son at all
- In his prayers, Citraketu said that millions of universes rest in the pores of Sankarsana, who is limitless, having no beginning and end
- In history there are many instances of devotees like Citraketu, Indradyumna and Maharaja Bharata who circumstantially fell down but were still protected
- 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
- In the beginning Angira Rsi told the King (Citraketu) that he would beget a child who would cause jubilation and lamentation
- In the presence of the sun there is nothing to be revealed by the light of a glowworm. Similarly, because You know everything, in Your presence there is nothing for me to make known
- In those valleys he enjoyed life with the women of Vidyadhara-loka by chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord, Hari
- It appears that the King (Citraketu) first married one wife, but she could not bear a child. Then he married a second, a third, a fourth and so on, but none of the wives could bear children
- It is clear that the devotees of the Lord are always extremely dear to Him (God). In effect, Lord Siva told Parvati, "Both Citraketu and I are always very dear to the Supreme Lord
- It is the duty of a mother to chastise her beloved son, even in the case of the Supreme Lord. It is to be understood that mother Durga was justified in punishing Citraketu
- It is to be understood that Maharaja Citraketu, although surrounded by beautiful women from Vidyadhara-loka, did not forget to glorify the Lord by chanting the holy name of the Lord
K
- King Citraketu responsibly desired to beget a child so that he and his forefathers might be delivered from the darkest regions
- King Citraketu said: O great lord Angira, because of austerity, knowledge and transcendental samadhi, you are freed from all the reactions of sinful life
- 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
- King Citraketu was not destined to get a child by providence, or the will of the Supreme. Just as sterile grain cannot produce more grain, a sterile person, by the will of the Supreme Lord, cannot beget a child
- King Citraketu was so exalted in his character that in spite of being wrongly cursed by Parvati, he immediately descended from his airplane and bowed his head before the mother, accepting her curse
- King Citraketu was very much aggrieved. thinking that because his son was going away with Yamaraja he himself would again suffer
L
- Later he (Citraketu) became a demon named Vrtrasura
- Lord Siva is personified religion and the spiritual master of the entire world, and therefore Citraketu must be punished
- Lord Siva smiled when he joked with his wife in that way, for others cannot speak like that. "The Supreme Lord," Siva continued, "is always exalted in His activities, and here is another example of His wonderful influence upon King Citraketu, His devotee
- Lord Siva wanted to criticize Citraketu for externally posing as a great devotee but being interested in enjoying with the Vidyadhari women. These were all friendly jokes; there was nothing serious for which Citraketu should have been cursed by Parvati
- 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
- Lord Siva, who is always deep in knowledge, could understand Citraketu's purpose, and he was not at all angry; rather, he simply smiled and remained silent. The members of the assembly surrounding Lord Siva could also understand Citraketu's purpose
M
- Maharaja Citraketu had the opportunity to offer prayers to the Lord by composing nice verses from the letters of the alphabet, but because of his ecstasy, for a considerable time he could not join those letters to offer prayers to the Lord
- Maharaja Citraketu was actually not destined to get a son. Therefore although he married hundreds and thousands of wives, all of them proved barren, and he could not beget even one child
- 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
- Mother Parvati spoke to Citraketu exactly like a mother who says to her naughty child, "My dear child, I am punishing you so that you won't do anything like this again
- Mother Parvati was justified in punishing Citraketu, for Citraketu impudently criticized the supreme father, Mahadeva, who is the father of the living entities conditioned within this material world
- My dear King, you are an advanced devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To be absorbed in lamentation for the loss of something material is unsuitable for a person like you
- 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
N
- Narada gave Citraketu the following mantra: O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who are addressed by the omkara (pranava), I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord Vasudeva, I meditate upon You
- Narada Muni is the father of devotional service, and therefore, just to bestow causeless mercy upon King Citraketu, Angira brought Narada Muni to instruct the King. These instructions were extremely effective
O
- 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
- 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
- O great souls, I have heard that among the great & perfect persons wandering the surface of the earth to instruct knowledge to people covered by ignorance are Sanat-kumara, Narada, Rbhu, Angira, Devala, Asita, Vyasadeva, Markandeya, Gautama, Vasistha
- O great souls, I have heard that among the great and perfect persons wandering the surface of the earth to instruct knowledge to people covered by ignorance are Bhagavan Parasurama, Kapila, Sukadeva, Durvasa, Yajnavalkya, Jatukarna and Aruni
- O great souls, I have heard that among the great and perfect persons wandering the surface of the earth to instruct knowledge to people covered by ignorance are Pancasikha, Hiranyanabha, Kausalya, Srutadeva and Rtadhvaja. You must certainly be among them
- O great souls, I have heard that among the great and perfect persons wandering the surface of the earth to instruct knowledge to people covered by ignorance are Romasa, Cyavana, Dattatreya, Asuri, Patanjali, the great sage Dhaumya
- 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
- 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
- O King Pariksit, after only one week of repeatedly practicing the mantra received from the spiritual master, Citraketu achieved the rule of the planet of the Vidyadharas as an intermediate product of his spiritual advancement in knowledge
- 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
- 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
- O King, as small particles of sand sometimes come together and are sometimes separated due to the force of the waves, the living entities who have accepted material bodies sometimes come together and are sometimes separated by the force of time
- O King, both you and we - your advisers, wives and ministers - as well as everything moving and not moving throughout the entire cosmos at this time, are in a temporary situation
- 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
- O King, owner of the state of Surasena, one's wife, his house, the opulence of his kingdom, and his various other opulences and objects of sense perception are all the same in that they are temporary
- O King, what relationship does the dead body for which you lament have with you, and what relationship do you have with him?
- O Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha and Lord Sankarsana, I offer You my respectful obeisances. O reservoir of spiritual potency, O supreme bliss, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are self-sufficient and most peaceful
- O Maharaja Pariksit, Lord Laksmana had two sons, named Angada and Citraketu, and Lord Bharata also had two sons, named Taksa and Puskala
- O mother (Parvati), you are now unnecessarily angry, but since all my (Citraketu) happiness and distress are destined by my past activities, I do not plead to be excused or relieved from your curse
- 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
- O ultimate truth, one without a second, You are realized as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan and are therefore the reservoir of all knowledge. I (Citraketu) offer my respectful obeisances unto You
- 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
- Once when Citraketu saw the goddess Parvati sitting on the lap of Lord Sambhu (Siva), he criticized Lord Siva for being shameless and sitting just like an ordinary man with his wife on his lap. For this reason Citraketu was cursed by Parvati
- One may put forward the argument, "If the King's (Citraketu's) son was his enemy, how could the King have so much affection for him?"
- One must be situated in his spiritual identity and eternally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a devotee. Aṅgirā Ṛṣi and Nārada Muni gave this instruction to Mahārāja Citraketu
- One must follow the instructions of the spiritual master. Thus one becomes qualified and later sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as evinced by Maharaja Citraketu
- One must learn the intricacies of action and inaction directly from the SP of Godhead, who, as Anantadeva, is instructing King Citraketu because of the advanced stage of devotional service he achieved by following the instructions of Narada and Angira
- 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
S
- Since Citraketu was a devotee of the Lord, he was not at all disturbed by the curse of mother Parvati
- 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
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After thus instructing Citraketu and assuring him of perfection in this way, the SPG, who is the supreme spiritual master, the supreme soul, Sankarsana, disappeared from that place as Citraketu looked on
- 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
- 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
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Narada, having become the spiritual master of Citraketu, instructed him fully in this prayer because Citraketu was fully surrendered. O Pariksit, Narada then left with the great sage Angira for Brahmaloka
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus enlightened by the instructions of Narada and Angira, King Citraketu became hopeful with knowledge. Wiping his shriveled face with his hand, the King began to speak
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When the conditioned soul (jiva) in the form of Maharaja Citraketu's son had spoken in this way and then left, Citraketu and the other relatives of the dead son were all astonished
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: While King Citraketu, overcome by lamentation, lay like a dead body at the side of the dead body of his son, the two great sages Narada and Angira instructed him about spiritual consciousness as follows
- 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
- Srila Viraraghava Acarya comments, yathesta-gatir ity arthah: by worshiping Visnu, a devotee can get whatever he likes. Maharaja Citraketu wanted only to return home, back to Godhead, and therefore he achieved success in that way
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that Maharaja Citraketu's being cursed by Parvati should be considered the mercy of the Lord
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that although Citraketu criticized Lord Siva, he did not offend Lord Siva like Daksa. Daksa considered Lord Siva insignificant, but Citraketu expressed his wonder at Lord Siva's being situated in that way
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, being very much pleased with the prayers offered by Citraketu, the King of the Vidyadharas, replied to him as follows, O best of the Kuru dynasty, Maharaja Pariksit
- 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
- Surrounded by his ministers and other officers and the learned brahmanas present, the King (Citraketu) approached and fell unconscious at the child's feet, his hair and dress scattered
T
- The body created by the so-called father and mother actually has nothing to do with its so-called creators. Therefore the living entity flatly denied that Maharaja Citraketu and his wife were his father and mother
- The great sage Angira said: My dear King, I hope that your body and mind and your royal associates and paraphernalia are well
- The great sage Narada continued: My dear King, attentively receive from me a mantra, which is most auspicious. After accepting it from me, in seven nights you will be able to see the Lord face to face
- 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
- The great sage Vasistha begot in his wife, Urja, sometimes called Arundhati, seven spotlessly great sages, headed by the sage named Citraketu
- The historical incidents in the puranas such as the history of Citraketu explained in the Bhagavata Purana, are sometimes misunderstood by outsiders, or nondevotees. Sukadeva Gosvami advised that the history of Citraketu be heard from a devotee
- The King (Citraketu) 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
- The King bathed in the water of the Yamuna, and according to prescribed duties, he offered oblations of water to the forefathers and demigods. Very gravely controlling his senses and mind, he then offered his respects and obeisances to the sons of Brahma
- The living entity is actually a spiritual soul who is part and parcel of God and has nothing to do with relationships in the world of duality. Therefore Narada Muni advised Citraketu not to lament for his so-called dead son
- The Lord wanted Citraketu to return to Godhead as soon as possible, and therefore he terminated all the reactions of his past deeds
- The mind, intelligence, senses and living force can neither touch Him nor know Him. I offer unto Him my respectful obeisances
- The names of these seven sages are as follows: Citraketu, Suroci, Viraja, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhrdyana and Dyuman. Some other very competent sons were born from Vasistha's other wife
- 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
- The science of devotional service has been instructed by Narada and Angira to Citraketu. Now, because of Citraketu's devotional service, he has seen the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The son of Srutasrava was Sisupala, whose birth has already been described (in the Seventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam). Vasudeva's brother named Devabhaga had two sons born of his wife, Kamsa. These two sons were Citraketu and Brhadbala
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like seeds of mustard. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to bring Citraketu to Vaikunthaloka as soon as possible. The Lord's plan was that Citraketu be cursed by Parvati to become Vrtrasura so that in his next life he could quickly return home, back to Godhead
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, replied as follows: O King, as a result of your having accepted the instructions spoken about Me by the great sages Narada and Angira, you have become completely aware of transcendental knowledge
- The wife of King Citraketu said (after the death of their son): If the bonds of affection You (the Lord) have created are disturbed by fruitive action, no one will raise children with affection; instead, everyone will cruelly neglect his children
- Thereafter, by controlling his mind with his intelligence and thus restricting his senses from external engagements, he recovered suitable words with which to express his feelings
- 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
- Thereafter, within a very few days, by the influence of the mantra that Citraketu had practiced, his mind became increasingly enlightened in spiritual progress, and he attained shelter at the lotus feet of Anantadeva
- Therefore, my dear Lord, simply seeing You has now wiped away all the contamination of sinful activities and their results of material attachment and lusty desires, which always filled my mind and the core of my heart
- Therefore, O King Citraketu, carefully consider the position of the atma. In other words, try to understand who you are - whether body, mind or soul
- They cannot understand Your real position & therefore they conclude that the cosmic manifestation is independent of Your opulence. My Lord, You are the supreme pure, & You are full in all six opulences. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You
- This (CC Madhya 9.270) is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 6.17.28) regarding the personality Citraketu
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- This punishment (from Parvati) was a boon to Citraketu because after taking birth as the demon Vrtrasura, he was promoted directly to Vaikuntha
- This time the living entity was supposed to have been the son of Maharaja Citraketu and Queen Krtadyuti because according to the laws of nature he had entered a body made by the King and Queen. Actually, however, he was not their son
- Thus enlightened by the instructions of the brahmanas Angira and Narada, King Citraketu became fully aware of spiritual knowledge. As an elephant becomes free from a muddy reservoir of water, King Citraketu came out of the dark well of family life
- Thus he began offering prayers to the Lord, who is the personification of the holy scriptures (the satvata-samhitas like the Brahma-samhita and the Narada-pancaratra) and who is the spiritual master of all. He offered his prayers as follows
U
- 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)
- Upon hearing the instructions of Lord Siva, Parvati must have been very much ashamed for cursing Citraketu to become a demon
- Upon reaching the shelter of Lord Sesa, the SPG, Citraketu saw that He was as white as the white fibers of a lotus flower. He was dressed in bluish garments and adorned with a brilliantly glittering helmet, armlets, belt and bangles
W
- We have both come to relieve you from this false lamentation, which is due to your being merged in the darkness of ignorance. For those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge to be affected by material loss and gain is not at all desirable
- Whatever is predicted by the great sage Narada Muni cannot be otherwise. In other words, I have obtained Your audience as a result of being trained by Narada Muni
- 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
- When Angira had first come to visit King Citraketu, he did not bring Narada with him. However, after the death of Citraketu's son, Angira brought Narada to instruct King Citraketu about bhakti-yoga
- When Angira Rsi and Narada saw that Maharaja Citraketu, an advanced devotee, had fallen in the darkness of ignorance and was lamenting for the material body of his son, by their causeless mercy they came to advise him so that he could be saved
- When Angira Rsi remarked about the King's discolored face, King Citraketu explained the cause of his anxiety
- When I first came to your home, I could have given you the supreme transcendental knowledge, but when I saw that your mind was absorbed in material things, I gave you only a son, who caused you jubilation and lamentation
- 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, & as he went to see the dead child, he kept slipping and falling on the ground
- When Lord Siva and Parvati saw that Citraketu, although informed of the curse, was unafraid, they smiled, being fully astonished by his behavior
- When the great sage Angira understood that the King was almost dead in an ocean of lamentation, he went there with Narada Rsi
- When the King (Citraketu), breathing heavily, regained consciousness, his eyes were tearful, and he could not speak
- 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
- 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
- Why should he (Maharaja Citraketu) not consider his dead son his former enemy and instead of lamenting be jubilant because of an enemy's death
- 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
- With tears of love and affection, Citraketu repeatedly moistened the resting place of the Supreme Lord's lotus feet
Y
- You are the supreme controller of the senses, and Your expansions of form are unlimited. You are the greatest, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You
- You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, complete in six opulences. You are the supreme person mentioned in the Purusa-sukta prayers. You are the most perfect, self-realized master of all mystic power. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You
- You can give me real knowledge because you are great personalities. I am as foolish as a village animal like a pig or dog because I am merged in the darkness of ignorance. Therefore, please ignite the torch of knowledge to save me
- You have both come here dressed like avadhutas, liberated persons, just to cover your identities, but I see that of all men, you are the most elevated in awareness. You know everything as it is. Therefore you are the greatest of all great personalities
- You have seen Me face to face because you are now educated in the spiritual science. Therefore you are now completely perfect
- You may say that you are now related as father and son, but do you think this relationship existed before? Does it truly exist now? Will it continue in the future?
- You will also be able to give up the belief that this material world, or anything not directly in touch with service to Krsna, is eternal. Thus you will obtain peace