Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 6
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
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Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation
6.14.1
śrī-parīkṣid uvāca
rajas-tamaḥ-svabhāvasya
brahman vṛtrasya pāpmanaḥ
nārāyaṇe bhagavati
katham āsīd dṛḍhā matiḥ
śrī-parīkṣit uvāca — King Parīkṣit inquired; rajaḥ — of the mode of passion; tamaḥ — and of the mode of ignorance; sva-bhāvasya — having a nature; brahman — O learned brāhmaṇa; vṛtrasya — of Vṛtrāsura; pāpmanaḥ — who was supposedly sinful; nārāyaṇe — in Lord Nārāyaṇa; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; katham — how; āsīt — was there; dṛḍhā — very strong; matiḥ — consciousness.
TRANSLATION
King Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O learned brāhmaṇa, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vṛtrāsura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa?
6.14.2
devānāḿ śuddha-sattvānām
ṛṣīṇāḿ cāmalātmanām
bhaktir mukunda-caraṇe
na prāyeṇopajāyate
devānām — of the demigods; śuddha-sattvānām — whose minds are purified; ṛṣīṇām — of great saintly persons; ca — and; amala-ātmanām — who have purified their existence; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; mukunda-caraṇe — to the lotus feet of Mukunda, the Lord, who can give liberation; na — not; prāyeṇa — almost always; upajāyate — develops.
TRANSLATION
Demigods situated in the mode of goodness and great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment hardly ever render pure devotional service at the lotus feet of Mukunda. [Therefore how could Vṛtrāsura have become such a great devotee?]
6.14.3
rajobhiḥ sama-sańkhyātāḥ
pārthivair iha jantavaḥ
teṣāḿ ye kecanehante
śreyo vai manujādayaḥ
rajobhiḥ — with the atoms; sama-sańkhyātāḥ — having the same numerical strength; pārthivaiḥ — of the earth; iha — in this world; jantavaḥ — the living entities; teṣām — of them; ye — those who; kecana — some; īhante — act; śreyaḥ — for religious principles; vai — indeed; manuja-ādayaḥ — the human beings and so on.
TRANSLATION
In this material world there are as many living entities as atoms. Among these living entities, a very few are human beings, and among them, few are interested in following religious principles.
6.14.4
prāyo mumukṣavas teṣāḿ
kecanaiva dvijottama
mumukṣūṇāḿ sahasreṣu
kaścin mucyeta sidhyati
prāyaḥ — almost always; mumukṣavaḥ — persons interested in liberation; teṣām — of them; kecana — some; eva — indeed; dvija-uttama — O best of the brāhmaṇas; mumukṣūṇām — of those who desire to be liberated; sahasreṣu — in many thousands; kaścit — someone; mucyeta — may be actually liberated; sidhyati — someone is perfect.
TRANSLATION
O best of the brāhmaṇas, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, out of many persons who follow religious principles, only a few desire liberation from the material world. Among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, country, home, wife and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare.
6.14.5
muktānām api siddhānāḿ
nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ
sudurlabhaḥ praśāntātmā
koṭiṣv api mahā-mune
muktānām — of those who are liberated during this life (who are unattached to the bodily comforts of society, friendship and love); api — even; siddhānām — who are perfect (because they understand the insignificance of bodily comforts); nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ — a person who has concluded that Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme; su-durlabhaḥ — very rarely found; praśānta — fully pacified; ātmā — whose mind; koṭiṣu — out of millions and trillions; api — even; mahā-mune — O great sage.
TRANSLATION
O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.
6.14.6
vṛtras tu sa kathaḿ pāpaḥ
sarva-lokopatāpanaḥ
itthaḿ dṛḍha-matiḥ kṛṣṇa
āsīt sańgrāma ulbaṇe
vṛtraḥ — Vṛtrāsura; tu — but; saḥ — he; katham — how; pāpaḥ — although sinful (getting the body of a demon); sarva-loka — of all the three worlds; upatāpanaḥ — the cause of suffering; ittham — such; dṛḍha-matiḥ — firmly fixed intelligence; kṛṣṇe — in Kṛṣṇa; āsīt — there was; sańgrāme ulbaṇe — in the great blazing fire of battle.
TRANSLATION
Vṛtrāsura was situated in the blazing fire of battle and was an infamous, sinful demon, always engaged in giving troubles and anxieties to others. How could such a demon become so greatly Kṛṣṇa conscious?
6.14.7
atra naḥ saḿśayo bhūyāñ
chrotuḿ kautūhalaḿ prabho
yaḥ pauruṣeṇa samare
sahasrākṣam atoṣayat
atra — in this connection; naḥ — our; saḿśayaḥ — doubt; bhūyān — great; śrotum — to hear; kautūhalam — eagerness; prabho — O my lord; yaḥ — he who; pauruṣeṇa — by bravery and strength; samare — in battle; sahasra-akṣam — Lord Indra, who has one thousand eyes; atoṣayat — pleased.
TRANSLATION
My dear lord, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, although Vṛtrāsura was a sinful demon, he showed the prowess of a most exalted kṣatriya and satisfied Lord Indra in battle. How could such a demon be a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa? These contradictions have caused me great doubt, and they have made me eager to hear of this from you.
6.14.8
śrī-sūta uvāca
parīkṣito 'tha sampraśnaḿ
bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ
niśamya śraddadhānasya
pratinandya vaco 'bravīt
śrī-sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; parīkṣitaḥ — of Mahārāja Parīkṣit; atha — thus; sampraśnam — the perfect question; bhagavān — the most powerful; bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva; niśamya — hearing; śraddadhānasya — of his disciple, who was so faithful in understanding the truth; pratinandya — congratulating; vacaḥ — words; abravīt — spoke.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: After hearing Mahārāja Parīkṣit's very intelligent question, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most powerful sage, began answering his disciple with great affection.
6.14.9
śrī-śuka uvāca
śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājann
itihāsam imaḿ yathā
śrutaḿ dvaipāyana-mukhān
nāradād devalād api
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; śṛṇuṣva — please hear; avahitaḥ — with great attention; rājan — O King; itihāsam — history; imam — this; yathā — just as; śrutam — heard; dvaipāyana — of Vyāsadeva; mukhāt — from the mouth; nāradāt — from Nārada; devalāt — from Devala Ṛṣi; api — also.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, I shall speak to you the same history I have heard from the mouths of Vyāsadeva, Nārada and Devala. Please listen with attention.
6.14.10
āsīd rājā sārvabhaumaḥ
śūraseneṣu vai nṛpa
citraketur iti khyāto
yasyāsīt kāmadhuń mahī
āsīt — there was; rājā — one king; sārva-bhaumaḥ — an emperor of the entire surface of the globe; śūraseneṣu — in the country known as Śūrasena; vai — indeed; nṛpa — O King; citraketuḥ — Citraketu; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — celebrated; yasya — of whom; āsīt — was; kāma-dhuk — supplying all the necessities; mahī — the earth.
TRANSLATION
O King Parīkṣit, in the province of Śūrasena there was a king named Citraketu, who ruled the entire earth. During his reign, the earth produced all the necessities for life.
6.14.11
tasya bhāryā-sahasrāṇāḿ
sahasrāṇi daśābhavan
sāntānikaś cāpi nṛpo
na lebhe tāsu santatim
tasya — of him (King Citraketu); bhāryā — of wives; sahasrāṇām — of thousands; sahasrāṇi — thousands; daśa — ten; abhavan — there were; sāntānikaḥ — quite capable of begetting sons; ca — and; api — although; nṛpaḥ — the King; na — not; lebhe — obtained; tāsu — in them; santatim — a son.
TRANSLATION
This Citraketu had ten million wives, but although he was capable of producing children, he did not receive a child from any of them. By chance, all the wives were barren.
6.14.12
rūpaudārya-vayo-janma-
vidyaiśvarya-śriyādibhiḥ
sampannasya guṇaiḥ sarvaiś
cintā bandhyā-pater abhūt
rūpa — with beauty; audārya — magnanimity; vayaḥ — youth; janma — aristocratic birth; vidyā — education; aiśvarya — opulence; śriya-ādibhiḥ — wealth and so on; sampannasya — endowed; guṇaiḥ — with good qualities; sarvaiḥ — all; cintā — anxiety; bandhyā-pateḥ — of Citraketu, the husband of so many sterile wives; abhūt — there was.
TRANSLATION
Citraketu, the husband of these millions of wives, was endowed with a beautiful form, magnanimity and youth. He was born in a high family, he had a complete education, and he was wealthy and opulent. Nevertheless, in spite of being endowed with all these assets, he was full of anxiety because he did not have a son.
6.14.13
na tasya sampadaḥ sarvā
mahiṣyo vāma-locanāḥ
sārvabhaumasya bhūś ceyam
abhavan prīti-hetavaḥ
na — not; tasya — of him (Citraketu); sampadaḥ — the great opulences; sarvāḥ — all; mahiṣyaḥ — the queens; vāma-locanāḥ — having very attractive eyes; sārva-bhaumasya — of the emperor; bhūḥ — land; ca — also; iyam — this; abhavan — were; prīti-hetavaḥ — sources of pleasure.
TRANSLATION
His queens all had beautiful faces and attractive eyes, yet neither his opulences, his hundreds and thousands of queens, nor the lands of which he was the supreme proprietor were sources of happiness for him.
6.14.14
tasyaikadā tu bhavanam
ańgirā bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
lokān anucarann etān
upāgacchad yadṛcchayā
tasya — of him; ekadā — once upon a time; tu — but; bhavanam — to the palace; ańgirāḥ — Ańgirā; bhagavān — very powerful; ṛṣiḥ — sage; lokān — planets; anucaran — traveling around; etān — these; upāgacchat — came; yadṛcchayā — suddenly.
TRANSLATION
Once upon a time, when the powerful sage named Ańgirā was traveling all over the universe without engagement, by his sweet will he came to the palace of King Citraketu.
6.14.15
taḿ pūjayitvā vidhivat
pratyutthānārhaṇādibhiḥ
kṛtātithyam upāsīdat
sukhāsīnaḿ samāhitaḥ
tam — him; pūjayitvā — after worshiping; vidhi-vat — according to the rules and regulations for receiving exalted guests; pratyutthāna — by standing from the throne; arhaṇa-ādibhiḥ — offering worship and so on; kṛta-atithyam — who was given hospitality; upāsīdat — sat down near; sukha-āsīnam — who was seated very comfortably; samāhitaḥ — controlling his mind and senses.
TRANSLATION
Citraketu immediately stood up from his throne and offered him worship. He offered drinking water and eatables and in this way performed his duty as a host to a great guest. When the ṛṣi was seated very comfortably, the King, restraining his mind and senses, sat on the ground at the side of the ṛṣi's feet.
6.14.15
taḿ pūjayitvā vidhivat
pratyutthānārhaṇādibhiḥ
kṛtātithyam upāsīdat
sukhāsīnaḿ samāhitaḥ
tam — him; pūjayitvā — after worshiping; vidhi-vat — according to the rules and regulations for receiving exalted guests; pratyutthāna — by standing from the throne; arhaṇa-ādibhiḥ — offering worship and so on; kṛta-atithyam — who was given hospitality; upāsīdat — sat down near; sukha-āsīnam — who was seated very comfortably; samāhitaḥ — controlling his mind and senses.
TRANSLATION
Citraketu immediately stood up from his throne and offered him worship. He offered drinking water and eatables and in this way performed his duty as a host to a great guest. When the ṛṣi was seated very comfortably, the King, restraining his mind and senses, sat on the ground at the side of the ṛṣi's feet.
6.14.17
ańgirā uvāca
api te 'nāmayaḿ svasti
prakṛtīnāḿ tathātmanaḥ
yathā prakṛtibhir guptaḥ
pumān rājā ca saptabhiḥ
ańgirāḥ uvāca — the great sage Ańgirā said; api — whether; te — of you; anāmayam — health; svasti — auspiciousness; prakṛtīnām — of your royal elements (associates and paraphernalia); tathā — as well as; ātmanaḥ — of your own body, mind and soul; yathā — like; prakṛtibhiḥ — by the elements of material nature; guptaḥ — protected; pumān — the living being; rājā — the king; ca — also; saptabhiḥ — by seven.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Ańgirā said: My dear King, I hope that your body and mind and your royal associates and paraphernalia are well. When the seven properties of material nature [the total material energy, the ego and the five objects of sense gratification] are in proper order, the living entity within the material elements is happy. Without these seven elements one cannot exist. Similarly, a king is always protected by seven elements — his instructor (svāmī or guru), his ministers, his kingdom, his fort, his treasury, his royal order and his friends.
6.14.18
ātmānaḿ prakṛtiṣv addhā
nidhāya śreya āpnuyāt
rājñā tathā prakṛtayo
naradevāhitādhayaḥ
ātmānam — himself; prakṛtiṣu — under these seven royal elements; addhā — directly; nidhāya — placing; śreyaḥ — ultimate happiness; āpnuyāt — may obtain; rājñā — by the king; tathā — so also; prakṛtayaḥ — the dependent royal elements; nara-deva — O King; āhita-adhayaḥ — offering wealth and other items.
TRANSLATION
O King, O lord of humanity, when a king directly depends upon his associates and follows their instructions, he is happy. Similarly, when his associates offer their gifts and activities to the king and follow his orders, they are also happy.
6.14.19
api dārāḥ prajāmātyā
bhṛtyāḥ śreṇyo 'tha mantriṇaḥ
paurā jānapadā bhūpā
ātmajā vaśa-vartinaḥ
api — whether; dārāḥ — wives; prajā — citizens; amātyāḥ — and secretaries; bhṛtyāḥ — servants; śreṇyaḥ — merchants; atha — as well as; mantriṇaḥ — ministers; paurāḥ — inmates of the palace; jānapadāḥ — the provincial governors; bhūpāḥ — landholders; ātma-jāḥ — sons; vaśa-vartinaḥ — under your full control.
TRANSLATION
O King, are your wives, citizens, secretaries and servants and the merchants who sell spices and oil under your control? Are you also in full control of ministers, the inhabitants of your palace, your provincial governors, your sons and your other dependents?
6.14.20
yasyātmānuvaśaś cet syāt
sarve tad-vaśagā ime
lokāḥ sapālā yacchanti
sarve balim atandritāḥ
yasya — of whom; ātmā — mind; anuvaśaḥ — under control; cet — if; syāt — may be; sarve — all; tat-vaśa-gāḥ — under the control of him; ime — these; lokāḥ — the worlds; sa-pālāḥ — with their governors; yacchanti — offer; sarve — all; balim — contribution; atandritāḥ — becoming free from laziness.
TRANSLATION
If the king's mind is fully controlled, all his family members and governmental officers are subordinate to him. His provincial governors present taxes on time, without resistance, and what to speak of lesser servants?
6.14.21
ātmanaḥ prīyate nātmā
parataḥ svata eva vā
lakṣaye 'labdha-kāmaḿ tvāḿ
cintayā śabalaḿ mukham
ātmanaḥ — of you; prīyate — is pleased; na — not; ātmā — the mind; parataḥ — due to other causes; svataḥ — due to yourself; eva — indeed; vā — or; lakṣaye — I can see; alabdha-kāmam — not achieving your desired goals; tvām — you; cintayā — by anxiety; śabalam — 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.
6.14.22
evaḿ vikalpito rājan
viduṣā munināpi saḥ
praśrayāvanato 'bhyāha
prajā-kāmas tato munim
evam — thus; vikalpitaḥ — questioned; rājan — O King Parīkṣit; viduṣā — greatly learned; muninā — by the philosopher; api — although; saḥ — he (King Citraketu); praśraya-avanataḥ — being bent low due to humility; abhyāha — replied; prajā-kāmaḥ — desiring offspring; tataḥ — thereafter; munim — to the great sage.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, although the great sage Ańgirā 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.
6.14.23
citraketur uvāca
bhagavan kiḿ na viditaḿ
tapo-jñāna-samādhibhiḥ
yogināḿ dhvasta-pāpānāḿ
bahir antaḥ śarīriṣu
citraketuḥ uvāca — King Citraketu replied; bhagavan — O most powerful sage; kim — what; na — not; viditam — is understood; tapaḥ — by austerity; jñāna — knowledge; samādhibhiḥ — and by samādhi (trance, transcendental meditation); yoginām — by the great yogīs or devotees; dhvasta-pāpānām — who are fully freed from all sinful reactions; bahiḥ — externally; antaḥ — internally; śarīriṣu — in conditioned souls, who have material bodies.
TRANSLATION
King Citraketu said: O great lord Ańgirā, because of austerity, knowledge and transcendental samādhi, you are freed from all the reactions of sinful life. Therefore, as a perfect yogī, you can understand everything external and internal regarding embodied, conditioned souls like us.
6.14.24
tathāpi pṛcchato brūyāḿ
brahmann ātmani cintitam
bhavato viduṣaś cāpi
coditas tvad-anujñayā
tathāpi — still; pṛcchataḥ — asking; brūyām — let me speak; brahman — O great brāhmaṇa; ātmani — in the mind; cintitam — anxiety; bhavataḥ — to you; viduṣaḥ — who know everything; ca — and; api — although; coditaḥ — being inspired; tvat — your; anujñayā — 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.
6.14.25
loka-pālair api prārthyāḥ
sāmrājyaiśvarya-sampadaḥ
na nandayanty aprajaḿ māḿ
kṣut-tṛṭ-kāmam ivāpare
loka-pālaiḥ — by great demigods; api — even; prārthyāḥ — desirable; sāmrājya — a great empire; aiśvarya — material opulence; sampadaḥ — possessions; na nandayanti — do not give pleasure; aprajam — because of having no son; mām — unto me; kṣut — hunger; tṛṭ — thirst; kāmam — 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.
6.14.26
tataḥ pāhi mahā-bhāga
pūrvaiḥ saha gataḿ tamaḥ
yathā tarema duṣpāraḿ
prajayā tad vidhehi naḥ
tataḥ — therefore, because of this; pāhi — kindly save; mahā-bhāga — O great sage; pūrvaiḥ saha — along with my forefathers; gatam — gone; tamaḥ — to darkness; yathā — so that; tarema — we can cross; duṣpāram — very difficult to cross; prajayā — by getting a son; tat — that; vidhehi — kindly do; naḥ — 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.
6.14.27
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity arthitaḥ sa bhagavān
kṛpālur brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ
śrapayitvā caruḿ tvāṣṭraḿ
tvaṣṭāram ayajad vibhuḥ
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; arthitaḥ — being requested; saḥ — he (Ańgirā Ṛṣi); bhagavān — the most powerful; kṛpāluḥ — being very merciful; brahmaṇaḥ — of Lord Brahmā; sutaḥ — a son (born of Lord Brahmā's mind); śrapayitvā — after causing to cook; carum — a specific oblation of sweetrice; tvāṣṭram — meant for the demigod known as Tvaṣṭā; tvaṣṭāram — Tvaṣṭā; ayajat — he worshiped; vibhuḥ — the great sage.
TRANSLATION
In response to the request of Mahārāja Citraketu, Ańgirā Ṛṣi, who was born of Lord Brahmā'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 Tvaṣṭā.
6.14.28
jyeṣṭhā śreṣṭhā ca yā rājño
mahiṣīṇāḿ ca bhārata
nāmnā kṛtadyutis tasyai
yajñocchiṣṭam adād dvijaḥ
jyeṣṭhā — the senior; śreṣṭhā — the most perfect; ca — and; yā — she who; rājñaḥ — of the King; mahiṣīṇām — among all the queens; ca — also; bhārata — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the best of the Bhāratas; nāmnā — by name; kṛtadyutiḥ — Kṛtadyuti; tasyai — unto her; yajña — of the sacrifice; ucchiṣṭam — the remnants of food; adāt — delivered; dvijaḥ — the great sage (Ańgirā).
TRANSLATION
O Parīkṣit Mahārāja, best of the Bhāratas, the remnants of the food offered in the yajña were given by the great sage Ańgirā to the first and most perfect among Citraketu's millions of queens, whose name was Kṛtadyuti.
6.14.29
athāha nṛpatiḿ rājan
bhavitaikas tavātmajaḥ
harṣa-śoka-pradas tubhyam
iti brahma-suto yayau
atha — thereafter; āha — said; nṛpatim — unto the King; rājan — O King Citraketu; bhavitā — there will be; ekaḥ — one; tava — your; ātmajaḥ — son; harṣa-śoka — jubilation and lamentation; pradaḥ — who will give; tubhyam — unto you; iti — thus; brahma-sutaḥ — Ańgirā Ṛṣi, the son of Lord Brahmā; 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.
6.14.30
sāpi tat-prāśanād eva
citraketor adhārayat
garbhaḿ kṛtadyutir devī
kṛttikāgner ivātmajam
sā — she; api — even; tat-prāśanāt — by eating the remnants of food from the great sacrifice; eva — indeed; citraketoḥ — from King Citraketu; adhārayat — bore; garbham — pregnancy; kṛtadyutiḥ — Queen Kṛtadyuti; devī — the goddess; kṛttikā — Kṛttikā; agneḥ — from Agni; iva — as; ātma-jam — a son.
TRANSLATION
As Kṛttikādevī, after receiving the semen of Lord Śiva from Agni, conceived a child named Skanda [Kārttikeya], Kṛtadyuti, having received semen from Citraketu, became pregnant after eating remnants of food from the yajña performed by Ańgirā.
6.14.31
tasyā anudinaḿ garbhaḥ
śukla-pakṣa ivoḍupaḥ
vavṛdhe śūraseneśa-
tejasā śanakair nṛpa
tasyāḥ — her; anudinam — day after day; garbhaḥ — embryo; śukla-pakṣe — during the fortnight of the waxing moon; iva — like; uḍupaḥ — the moon; vavṛdhe — gradually developed; śūrasena-īśa — of the King of Śūrasena; tejasā — by the semen; śanakaiḥ — little by little; nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit.
TRANSLATION
After receiving semen from Mahārāja Citraketu, the King of Śūrasena, Queen Kṛtadyuti gradually developed in her pregnancy, O King Parīkṣit, just as the moon develops during the bright fortnight.
6.14.32
atha kāla upāvṛtte
kumāraḥ samajāyata
janayan śūrasenānāḿ
śṛṇvatāḿ paramāḿ mudam
atha — thereafter; kāle upāvṛtte — in due course of time; kumāraḥ — the son; samajāyata — took birth; janayan — creating; śūrasenānām — of the inhabitants of Śūrasena; śṛṇvatām — hearing; paramām — 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 Śūrasena were extremely pleased.
6.14.33
hṛṣṭo rājā kumārasya
snātaḥ śucir alańkṛtaḥ
vācayitvāśiṣo vipraiḥ
kārayām āsa jātakam
hṛṣṭaḥ — very happy; rājā — the King; kumārasya — of his newly born son; snātaḥ — having bathed; śuciḥ — being purified; alańkṛtaḥ — being decorated with ornaments; vācayitvā — having caused to be spoken; āśiṣaḥ — words of benediction; vipraiḥ — by learned brāhmaṇas; kārayām āsa — caused to be performed; jātakam — the birth ceremony.
TRANSLATION
King Citraketu was especially pleased. After purifying himself by bathing and by decorating himself with ornaments, he engaged learned brāhmaṇas in offering benedictions to the child and performing the birth ceremony.
6.14.34
tebhyo hiraṇyaḿ rajataḿ
vāsāḿsy ābharaṇāni ca
grāmān hayān gajān prādād
dhenūnām arbudāni ṣaṭ
tebhyaḥ — unto them (the learned brāhmaṇas); hiraṇyam — gold; rajatam — silver; vāsāḿsi — garments; ābharaṇāni — ornaments; ca — also; grāmān — villages; hayān — horses; gajān — elephants; prādāt — gave in charity; dhenūnām — of cows; arbudāni — groups of one hundred million; ṣaṭ — six.
TRANSLATION
Unto the brāhmaṇas 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].
6.14.35
vavarṣa kāmān anyeṣāḿ
parjanya iva dehinām
dhanyaḿ yaśasyam āyuṣyaḿ
kumārasya mahā-manāḥ
vavarṣa — showered, gave in charity; kāmān — all desirable things; anyeṣām — of others; parjanyaḥ — a cloud; iva — like; dehinām — of all living entities; dhanyam — with the desire for an increase of opulence; yaśasyam — an increase of reputation; āyuṣyam — and an increase of the duration of life; kumārasya — of the newly born child; mahā-manāḥ — 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.
6.14.36
kṛcchra-labdhe 'tha rājarṣes
tanaye 'nudinaḿ pituḥ
yathā niḥsvasya kṛcchrāpte
dhane sneho 'nvavardhata
kṛcchra — with great difficulty; labdhe — gained; atha — thereafter; rāja-ṛṣeḥ — of the pious King Citraketu; tanaye — for the son; anudinam — day after day; pituḥ — of the father; yathā — exactly as; niḥsvasya — of a poor man; kṛcchra-āpte — gained after great difficulty; dhane — for riches; snehaḥ — 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.
6.14.37
mātus tv atitarāḿ putre
sneho moha-samudbhavaḥ
kṛtadyuteḥ sapatnīnāḿ
prajā-kāma-jvaro 'bhavat
mātuḥ — of the mother; tu — also; atitarām — excessively; putre — for the son; snehaḥ — affection; moha — out of ignorance; samudbhavaḥ — produced; kṛtadyuteḥ — of Kṛtadyuti; sapatnīnām — of the co-wives; prajā-kāma — of a desire to have sons; jvaraḥ — 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 Kṛtadyuti's son, were very much agitated, as if by high fevers, with a desire to have sons.
6.14.38
citraketor atiprītir
yathā dāre prajāvati
na tathānyeṣu sañjajñe
bālaḿ lālayato 'nvaham
citraketoḥ — of King Citraketu; atiprītiḥ — excessive attraction; yathā — just as; dāre — unto the wife; prajā-vati — who begot a son; na — not; tathā — like that; anyeṣu — unto the others; sañjajñe — arose; bālam — the son; lālayataḥ — taking care of; anvaham — constantly.
TRANSLATION
As King Citraketu fostered his son very carefully, his affection for Queen Kṛtadyuti increased, but gradually he lost affection for the other wives, who had no sons.
6.14.39
tāḥ paryatapyann ātmānaḿ
garhayantyo 'bhyasūyayā
ānapatyena duḥkhena
rājñaś cānādareṇa ca
tāḥ — they (the queens who did not have sons); paryatapyan — lamented; ātmānam — themselves; garhayantyaḥ — condemning; abhyasūyayā — out of envy; ānapatyena — due to being without sons; duḥkhena — by unhappiness; rājñaḥ — of the King; ca — also; anādareṇa — 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.
6.14.40
dhig aprajāḿ striyaḿ pāpāḿ
patyuś cāgṛha-sammatām
suprajābhiḥ sapatnībhir
dāsīm iva tiraskṛtām
dhik — all condemnation; aprajām — without a son; striyam — upon a woman; pāpām — full of sinful activities; patyuḥ — by the husband; ca — also; a-gṛha-sammatām — who is not honored at home; su-prajābhiḥ — who have sons; sapatnībhiḥ — by co-wives; dāsīm — a maidservant; iva — exactly like; tiraskṛtām — 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.
6.14.41
dāsīnāḿ ko nu santāpaḥ
svāminaḥ paricaryayā
abhīkṣṇaḿ labdha-mānānāḿ
dāsyā dāsīva durbhagāḥ
dāsīnām — of the maidservants; kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; santāpaḥ — lamentation; svāminaḥ — unto the husband; paricaryayā — by rendering service; abhīkṣṇam — constantly; labdha-mānānām — honored; dāsyāḥ — of the maidservant; dāsī iva — like a maidservant; durbhagāḥ — 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.
6.14.42
evaḿ sandahyamānānāḿ
sapatnyāḥ putra-sampadā
rājño 'sammata-vṛttīnāḿ
vidveṣo balavān abhūt
evam — thus; sandahyamānānām — of the queens, who were constantly burning in lamentation; sapatnyāḥ — of the co-wife Kṛtadyuti; putra-sampadā — due to the opulence of a son; rājñaḥ — by the King; asammata-vṛttīnām — not being very much favored; vidveṣaḥ — envy; balavān — very strong; abhūt — became.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Being neglected by their husband and seeing Kṛtadyuti's opulence in possessing a son, Kṛtadyuti's co-wives always burned in envy, which became extremely strong.
6.14.43
vidveṣa-naṣṭa-matayaḥ
striyo dāruṇa-cetasaḥ
garaḿ daduḥ kumārāya
durmarṣā nṛpatiḿ prati
vidveṣa-naṣṭa-matayaḥ — whose intelligence was lost in envy; striyaḥ — the women; dāruṇa-cetasaḥ — being very hardhearted; garam — poison; daduḥ — administered; kumārāya — unto the boy; durmarṣāḥ — being intolerant; nṛpatim — 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.
6.14.44
kṛtadyutir ajānantī
sapatnīnām aghaḿ mahat
supta eveti sañcintya
nirīkṣya vyacarad gṛhe
kṛtadyutiḥ — Queen Kṛtadyuti; ajānantī — being unaware of; sapatnīnām — of her co-wives; agham — sinful act; mahat — very great; suptaḥ — sleeping; eva — indeed; iti — thus; sañcintya — thinking; nirīkṣya — looking at; vyacarat — was walking; gṛhe — at home.
TRANSLATION
Unaware of the poison administered by her co-wives, Queen Kṛtadyuti walked within the house, thinking that her son was sleeping deeply. She did not understand that he was dead.
6.14.45
śayānaḿ suciraḿ bālam
upadhārya manīṣiṇī
putram ānaya me bhadre
iti dhātrīm acodayat
śayānam — lying down; su-ciram — for a long time; bālam — the son; upadhārya — thinking; manīṣiṇī — very intelligent; putram — the son; ānaya — bring; me — unto me; bhadre — O gentle friend; iti — thus; dhātrīm — unto the nurse; acodayat — gave the order.
TRANSLATION
Thinking that her child had been sleeping for a long time, Queen Kṛtadyuti, who was certainly very intelligent, ordered the nurse, "My dear friend, please bring my son here."
6.14.46
sā śayānam upavrajya
dṛṣṭvā cottāra-locanam
prāṇendriyātmabhis tyaktaḿ
hatāsmīty apatad bhuvi
sā — she (the maidservant); śayānam — lying down; upavrajya — going to; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; ca — also; uttāra-locanam — his eyes turned upward (as are those of a dead body); prāṇa-indriya-ātmabhiḥ — by the life force, senses and mind; tyaktam — abandoned; hatā 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.
6.14.47
tasyās tadākarṇya bhṛśāturaḿ svaraḿ
ghnantyāḥ karābhyām ura uccakair api
praviśya rājñī tvarayātmajāntikaḿ
dadarśa bālaḿ sahasā mṛtaḿ sutam
tasyāḥ — of her (the maidservant); tadā — at that time; ākarṇya — hearing; bhṛśa-āturam — highly regretful and agitated; svaram — voice; ghnantyāḥ — striking; karābhyām — with the hands; uraḥ — the chest; uccakaiḥ — loudly; api — also; praviśya — entering; rājñī — the Queen; tvarayā — hastily; ātmaja-antikam — near her son; dadarśa — she saw; bālam — the child; sahasā — suddenly; mṛtam — 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.
6.14.48
papāta bhūmau parivṛddhayā śucā
mumoha vibhraṣṭa-śiroruhāmbarā
papāta — fell down; bhūmau — on the ground; parivṛddhayā — highly increased; śucā — out of lamentation; mumoha — she became unconscious; vibhraṣṭa — scattered; śiroruha — hair; ambarā — and dress.
TRANSLATION
In great lamentation, her hair and dress in disarray, the Queen fell to the ground unconscious.
6.14.49
tato nṛpāntaḥpura-vartino janā
narāś ca nāryaś ca niśamya rodanam
āgatya tulya-vyasanāḥ suduḥkhitās
tāś ca vyalīkaḿ ru