Mother Parvati Curses Chitraketu

Verse 1 (bhagavata.6.17.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच यतश्चान्तर्हितोऽनन्तस्तस्यै कृत्वा दिशे नमः । विद्याधरश्चित्रकेतुश्चचार गगने चरः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca yataś cāntarhito ’nantas tasyai kṛtvā diśe namaḥ vidyādharaś citraketuś cacāra gagane caraḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: Bowing toward the direction in which the illustrious Ananta had vanished, Chitraketu, now moving among the Vidyadharas, began to roam through the sky.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.6.17.2)

स लक्षं वर्षलक्षाणामव्याहतबलेन्द्रियः । स्तूयमानो महायोगी मुनिभिः सिद्धचारणैः ॥ २ ॥

sa lakṣaṁ varṣa-lakṣāṇām avyāhata-balendriyaḥ stūyamāno mahā-yogī munibhiḥ siddha-cāraṇaiḥ

That great yogi, his strength and senses ever unimpaired, wandered for hundreds of thousands of years, praised all the while by siddhas, charanas, and sages.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.6.17.3)

कुलाचलेन्द्रद्रोणीषु नानासङ्कल्पसिद्धिषु । रेमे विद्याधरस्त्रीभिर्गापयन् हरिमीश्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥

kulācalendra-droṇīṣu nānā-saṅkalpa-siddhiṣu reme vidyādhara-strībhir gāpayan harim īśvaram

In the valleys of the great mountain ranges, blessed with every kind of mystic perfection, he sported with the women of the Vidyadharas, having them sing all the while the glories of Bhagavan Hari.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.6.17.4)

एकदा स विमानेन विष्णुदत्तेन भास्वता । गिरिशं ददृशे गच्छन् परीतं सिद्धचारणैः ॥ ४ ॥

ekadā sa vimānena viṣṇu-dattena bhāsvatā giriśaṁ dadṛśe gacchan parītaṁ siddha-cāraṇaiḥ

Once, traveling in his radiant celestial chariot given to him by Bhagavan Vishnu, he beheld Girisha, Lord of the Mountain, surrounded by siddhas and charanas.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.6.17.5)

आलिङ्गयाङ्कीकृतां देवीं बाहुना मुनिसंसदि । उवाच देव्याः शृण्वन्त्या जहासोच्चैस्तदन्तिके ॥ ५ ॥

āliṅgyāṅkīkṛtāṁ devīṁ bāhunā muni-saṁsadi uvāca devyāḥ śṛṇvantyā jahāsoccais tad-antike

Seeing him, in the midst of an assembly of sages, embracing the goddess with his arm and holding her upon his lap, Chitraketu, right there within the goddess's own hearing, burst into loud laughter.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.6.17.6)

चित्रकेतुरुवाच एष लोकगुरुः साक्षाद्धर्मं वक्ता शरीरिणाम् । आस्ते मुख्यः सभायां वै मिथुनीभूय भार्यया ॥ ६ ॥

citraketur uvāca eṣa loka-guruḥ sākṣād dharmaṁ vaktā śarīriṇām āste mukhyaḥ sabhāyāṁ vai mithunī-bhūya bhāryayā

Chitraketu said: Here sits the very teacher of the worlds, proclaimer of dharma to all embodied beings, foremost of this whole assembly — and yet seated here united with his wife in an embrace!

Verse 7 (bhagavata.6.17.7)

जटाधरस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापतिः । अङ्कीकृत्य स्त्रियं चास्ते गतह्रीः प्राकृतो यथा ॥ ७ ॥

jaṭā-dharas tīvra-tapā brahmavādi-sabhā-patiḥ aṅkīkṛtya striyaṁ cāste gata-hrīḥ prākṛto yathā

This matted-haired ascetic of fierce austerity, president over the assembly of those who expound the Vedas, sits here with a woman upon his lap, as unabashed as any ordinary worldly man.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.6.17.8)

प्रायशः प्राकृताश्चापि स्त्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति । अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभर्ति सदसि स्त्रियम् ॥ ८ ॥

prāyaśaḥ prākṛtāś cāpi striyaṁ rahasi bibhrati ayaṁ mahā-vrata-dharo bibharti sadasi striyam

Even ordinary householders, as a rule, keep their wives' company only in private — yet this great observer of vows holds a woman openly, right here in the midst of the assembly!

Verse 9 (bhagavata.6.17.9)

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवानपि तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रहस्यागाधधीर्नृप । तूष्णीं बभूव सदसि सभ्याश्च तदनुव्रताः ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bhagavān api tac chrutvā prahasyāgādha-dhīr nṛpa tūṣṇīṁ babhūva sadasi sabhyāś ca tad-anuvratāḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: O King, hearing this, the illustrious Shiva, whose wisdom is unfathomable, merely smiled and remained silent, and every member of that assembly, following his lead, said nothing at all.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.6.17.10)

इत्यतद्वीर्यविदुषि ब्रुवाणे बह्वशोभनम् । रुषाह देवी धृष्टाय निर्जितात्माभिमानिने ॥ १० ॥

ity atad-vīrya-viduṣi bruvāṇe bahv-aśobhanam ruṣāha devī dhṛṣṭāya nirjitātmābhimānine

Not knowing the true power of Shiva and his consort, Chitraketu had spoken so unbecomingly; and the goddess, angered at this presumptuous man so proud of his own self-mastery, spoke as follows.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.6.17.11)

श्रीपार्वत्युवाच अयं किमधुना लोके शास्ता दण्डधरः प्रभुः । अस्मद्विधानां दुष्टानां निर्लज्जानां च विप्रकृत् ॥ ११ ॥

śrī-pārvaty uvāca ayaṁ kim adhunā loke śāstā daṇḍa-dharaḥ prabhuḥ asmad-vidhānāṁ duṣṭānāṁ nirlajjānāṁ ca viprakṛt

Shri Parvati said: Has this one now become, in this world, the appointed ruler and wielder of the rod of justice, come to correct wretches as shameless as ourselves?

Verse 12 (bhagavata.6.17.12)

न वेद धर्मं किल पद्मयोनि- र्न ब्रह्मपुत्रा भृगुनारदाद्याः । न वै कुमारः कपिलो मनुश्च ये नो निषेधन्त्यतिवर्तिनं हरम् ॥ १२ ॥

na veda dharmaṁ kila padmayonir na brahma-putrā bhṛgu-nāradādyāḥ na vai kumāraḥ kapilo manuś ca ye no niṣedhanty ati-vartinaṁ haram

Does lotus-born Brahma himself not know dharma? Do Brahma's own sons Bhrigu, Narada, and the rest not know it? Do Sanat-kumara, Kapila, and Manu not know it either? — that must be why none of them restrains this Hara who so transgresses the bounds!

Verse 13 (bhagavata.6.17.13)

एषामनुध्येयपदाब्जयुग्मं जगद्गुरुं मङ्गलमङ्गलं स्वयम् । यः क्षत्रबन्धुः परिभूय सूरीन् प्रशास्ति धृष्टस्तदयं हि दण्ड्यः ॥ १३ ॥

eṣām anudhyeya-padābja-yugmaṁ jagad-guruṁ maṅgala-maṅgalaṁ svayam yaḥ kṣatra-bandhuḥ paribhūya sūrīn praśāsti dhṛṣṭas tad ayaṁ hi daṇḍyaḥ

That very pair of feet which all these sages ceaselessly meditate upon belongs to the teacher of all worlds, himself the very source of all auspiciousness — and this basest of kshatriyas, spurning the wise, has had the gall to sit in judgment over him; he deserves nothing but punishment.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.6.17.14)

नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठपादमूलोपसर्पणम् । सम्भावितमतिः स्तब्धः साधुभिः पर्युपासितम् ॥ १४ ॥

nāyam arhati vaikuṇṭha- pāda-mūlopasarpaṇam sambhāvita-matiḥ stabdhaḥ sādhubhiḥ paryupāsitam

This man, so puffed up with pride in his own understanding, so rigid in his conceit, is not even fit to draw near the feet of the Lord of Vaikuntha, feet that are served by the saintly.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.6.17.15)

अतः पापीयसीं योनिमासुरीं याहि दुर्मते । यथेह भूयो महतां न कर्ता पुत्र किल्बिषम् ॥ १५ ॥

ataḥ pāpīyasīṁ yonim āsurīṁ yāhi durmate yatheha bhūyo mahatāṁ na kartā putra kilbiṣam

Therefore, O foolish one, go and take birth in a most sinful demoniac womb, so that never again will you commit such an offense against great souls — this I say to you, my son, out of no less than a mother's own regard.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.6.17.16)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं शप्तश्चित्रकेतुर्विमानादवरुह्य सः । प्रसादयामास सतीं मूर्ध्ना नम्रेण भारत ॥ १६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ śaptaś citraketur vimānād avaruhya saḥ prasādayām āsa satīṁ mūrdhnā namreṇa bhārata

Shri Shukadeva said: O descendant of Bharata, thus cursed, Chitraketu descended from his celestial chariot and, bowing his head low, set about pacifying the devoted Parvati.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.6.17.17)

चित्रकेतुरुवाच प्रतिगृह्णामि ते शापमात्मनोऽञ्जलिनाम्बिके । देवैर्मर्त्याय यत्प्रोक्तं पूर्वदिष्टं हि तस्य तत् ॥ १७ ॥

citraketur uvāca pratigṛhṇāmi te śāpam ātmano ’ñjalināmbike devair martyāya yat proktaṁ pūrva-diṣṭaṁ hi tasya tat

Chitraketu said: O mother, with my own hands joined together, I accept this curse of yours; for whatever a god pronounces upon a mortal is, in truth, nothing but what was already ordained by that mortal's own past deeds.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.6.17.18)

संसारचक्र एतस्मिञ्जन्तुरज्ञानमोहितः । भ्राम्यन् सुखं च दुःखं च भुङ्क्ते सर्वत्र सर्वदा ॥ १८ ॥

saṁsāra-cakra etasmiñ jantur ajñāna-mohitaḥ bhrāmyan sukhaṁ ca duḥkhaṁ ca bhuṅkte sarvatra sarvadā

In this wheel of birth and death, the being, deluded by ignorance, wanders on and on, everywhere and always, experiencing now happiness, now sorrow, in equal turn.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.6.17.19)

नैवात्मा न परश्चापि कर्ता स्यात् सुखदुःखयोः । कर्तारं मन्यतेऽत्राज्ञ आत्मानं परमेव च ॥ १९ ॥

naivātmā na paraś cāpi kartā syāt sukha-duḥkhayoḥ kartāraṁ manyate ’trājña ātmānaṁ param eva ca

Neither the self nor anyone else is truly the cause of one's happiness and sorrow; it is only the ignorant man who takes himself, or some other, to be their cause.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.6.17.20)

गुणप्रवाह एतस्मिन् कः शापः को न्वनुग्रहः । कः स्वर्गो नरकः को वा किं सुखं दुःखमेव वा ॥ २० ॥

guṇa-pravāha etasmin kaḥ śāpaḥ ko nv anugrahaḥ kaḥ svargo narakaḥ ko vā kiṁ sukhaṁ duḥkham eva vā

In this ceaseless flow of the three material modes, what, after all, is a curse, and what is a blessing? What is heaven, and what is hell? What, indeed, is happiness, and what is sorrow?

Verse 21 (bhagavata.6.17.21)

एकः सृजति भूतानि भगवानात्ममायया । एषां बन्धं च मोक्षं च सुखं दुःखं च निष्कलः ॥ २१ ॥

ekaḥ sṛjati bhūtāni bhagavān ātma-māyayā eṣāṁ bandhaṁ ca mokṣaṁ ca sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ ca niṣkalaḥ

The Lord alone, through his own maya, creates all these beings; and remaining himself entirely untouched and undivided, he fashions for them their bondage and their liberation, their happiness and their sorrow alike.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.6.17.22)

न तस्य कश्चिद्दयितः प्रतीपो न ज्ञातिबन्धुर्न परो न च स्वः । समस्य सर्वत्र निरञ्जनस्य सुखे न रागः कुत एव रोषः ॥ २२ ॥

na tasya kaścid dayitaḥ pratīpo na jñāti-bandhur na paro na ca svaḥ samasya sarvatra nirañjanasya sukhe na rāgaḥ kuta eva roṣaḥ

For him there is no one dear and no one hostile, no kinsman and no stranger, no one his own and no one alien. Being everywhere equal-minded and untouched by all, he has no attachment even to happiness — how, then, could anger ever arise in him?

Verse 23 (bhagavata.6.17.23)

तथापि तच्छक्तिविसर्ग एषां सुखाय दुःखाय हिताहिताय । बन्धाय मोक्षाय च मृत्युजन्मनोः शरीरिणां संसृतयेऽवकल्पते ॥ २३ ॥

tathāpi tac-chakti-visarga eṣāṁ sukhāya duḥkhāya hitāhitāya bandhāya mokṣāya ca mṛtyu-janmanoḥ śarīriṇāṁ saṁsṛtaye ’vakalpate

And yet it is that very unfolding of his own power which becomes, for embodied beings, the cause of happiness and sorrow, of gain and loss, of bondage and liberation, and of that whole cycle of birth and death.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.6.17.24)

अथ प्रसादये न त्वां शापमोक्षाय भामिनि । यन्मन्यसे ह्यसाधूक्तं मम तत्क्षम्यतां सति ॥ २४ ॥

atha prasādaye na tvāṁ śāpa-mokṣāya bhāmini yan manyase hy asādhūktaṁ mama tat kṣamyatāṁ sati

Therefore, O gracious one, I do not beg you to release me from this curse. O virtuous one, whatever I have said that seemed to you improper — for that alone, I ask your forgiveness.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.6.17.25)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति प्रसाद्य गिरिशौ चित्रकेतुररिन्दम । जगाम स्वविमानेन पश्यतोः स्मयतोस्तयोः ॥ २५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti prasādya giriśau citraketur arindama jagāma sva-vimānena paśyatoḥ smayatos tayoḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: O subduer of enemies, having thus pacified the divine couple of the mountain, Chitraketu departed in his celestial chariot, while the two of them looked on, smiling in astonishment.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.6.17.26)

ततस्तु भगवान् रुद्रो रुद्राणीमिदमब्रवीत् । देवर्षिदैत्यसिद्धानां पार्षदानां च शृण्वताम् ॥ २६ ॥

tatas tu bhagavān rudro rudrāṇīm idam abravīt devarṣi-daitya-siddhānāṁ pārṣadānāṁ ca śṛṇvatām

Thereafter, the illustrious Rudra spoke these words to Rudrani, his consort, within the hearing of the celestial sages, the daityas, the siddhas, and his own attendants.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.6.17.27)

श्रीरुद्र उवाच दृष्टवत्यसि सुश्रोणि हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । माहात्म्यं भृत्यभृत्यानां निःस्पृहाणां महात्मनाम् ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-rudra uvāca dṛṣṭavaty asi suśroṇi harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ māhātmyaṁ bhṛtya-bhṛtyānāṁ niḥspṛhāṇāṁ mahātmanām

Shri Rudra said: O fair one, you have now witnessed the greatness of those great souls who, desiring nothing for themselves, are servants of the servants of Bhagavan Hari, the doer of wondrous deeds.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.6.17.28)

नारायणपराः सर्वे न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति । स्वर्गापवर्गनरकेष्वपि तुल्यार्थदर्शिनः ॥ २८ ॥

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati svargāpavarga-narakeṣv api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

All those devoted wholly to Bhagavan Narayana fear nothing whatsoever; heaven, liberation, and hell — all of these they regard with the very same, unwavering eye.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.6.17.29)

देहिनां देहसंयोगाद् द्वन्द्वानीश्वरलीलया । सुखं दुःखं मृतिर्जन्म शापोऽनुग्रह एव च ॥ २९ ॥

dehināṁ deha-saṁyogād dvandvānīśvara-līlayā sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ mṛtir janma śāpo ’nugraha eva ca

It is only through their contact with a body, and by the very play of the Lord himself, that embodied beings come to experience such pairs of opposites as happiness and sorrow, death and birth, curse and blessing.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.6.17.30)

अविवेककृतः पुंसो ह्यर्थभेद इवात्मनि । गुणदोषविकल्पश्च भिदेव स्रजिवत्कृतः ॥ ३० ॥

aviveka-kṛtaḥ puṁso hy artha-bheda ivātmani guṇa-doṣa-vikalpaś ca bhid eva srajivat kṛtaḥ

Just as, through a lack of true discernment, a man's mind conjures up a false division within the self where none truly exists, so too this distinction between good and bad qualities is itself only a construction — like mistaking a garland in the dark for a snake.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.6.17.31)

वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तिमुद्वहतां नृणाम् । ज्ञानवैराग्यवीर्याणां न हि कश्चिद् व्यपाश्रयः ॥ ३१ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati bhaktim udvahatāṁ nṛṇām jñāna-vairāgya-vīryāṇāṁ na hi kaścid vyapāśrayaḥ

For those men who bear devotion toward Bhagavan Vasudeva, there is never any lack of knowledge, of dispassion, or of true inner strength.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.6.17.32)

नाहं विरिञ्चो न कुमारनारदौ न ब्रह्मपुत्रा मुनयः सुरेशाः । विदाम यस्येहितमंशकांशका न तत्स्वरूपं पृथगीशमानिनः ॥ ३२ ॥

nāhaṁ viriñco na kumāra-nāradau na brahma-putrā munayaḥ sureśāḥ vidāma yasyehitam aṁśakāṁśakā na tat-svarūpaṁ pṛthag-īśa-māninaḥ

Neither I, nor Brahma, nor Sanat-kumara and Narada, nor Brahma's other sage-sons, nor even the ruling gods can truly know his doings — for we are all but a fraction of a fraction of him, yet each of us thinks himself a separate lord, and so none of us can grasp his true nature.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.6.17.33)

न ह्यस्यास्ति प्रियः कश्चिन्नाप्रियः स्वः परोऽपि वा । आत्मत्वात्सर्वभूतानां सर्वभूतप्रियो हरिः ॥ ३३ ॥

na hy asyāsti priyaḥ kaścin nāpriyaḥ svaḥ paro ’pi vā ātmatvāt sarva-bhūtānāṁ sarva-bhūta-priyo hariḥ

For him nothing is dear, nothing unwelcome, nothing his own, nothing another's — for he himself is the very self of every being, and so Bhagavan Hari is dear to all beings alike.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.6.17.34)

तस्य चायं महाभागश्चित्रकेतुः प्रियोऽनुगः । सर्वत्र समदृक् शान्तो ह्यहं चैवाच्युतप्रियः ॥ ३४ ॥

tasya cāyaṁ mahā-bhāgaś citraketuḥ priyo ’nugaḥ sarvatra sama-dṛk śānto hy ahaṁ caivācyuta-priyaḥ

This most fortunate Chitraketu is a beloved follower of that very Lord, everywhere equal-sighted and at peace; and I too am beloved of that same Lord Achyuta.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.6.17.35)

तस्मान्न विस्मयः कार्यः पुरुषेषु महात्मसु । महापुरुषभक्तेषु शान्तेषु समदर्शिषु ॥ ३५ ॥

tasmān na vismayaḥ kāryaḥ puruṣeṣu mahātmasu mahāpuruṣa-bhakteṣu śānteṣu sama-darśiṣu

Therefore one should never be astonished at the conduct of great souls — the devotees of the Supreme Person — who remain at peace and look upon all things equally.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.6.17.36)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति श्रुत्वा भगवतः शिवस्योमाभिभाषितम् । बभूव शान्तधी राजन् देवी विगतविस्मया ॥ ३६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti śrutvā bhagavataḥ śivasyomābhibhāṣitam babhūva śānta-dhī rājan devī vigata-vismayā

Shri Shukadeva said: O King, hearing these words spoken by the illustrious Shiva, the goddess Uma's mind grew calm, and her astonishment departed from her.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.6.17.37)

इति भागवतो देव्याः प्रतिशप्तुमलन्तमः । मूर्ध्ना स जगृहे शापमेतावत्साधुलक्षणम् ॥ ३७ ॥

iti bhāgavato devyāḥ pratiśaptum alantamaḥ mūrdhnā sa jagṛhe śāpam etāvat sādhu-lakṣaṇam

Thus, although that great devotee was entirely capable of returning a curse upon the goddess herself, he simply bowed his head and accepted the curse as it was — and this alone is the true mark of a saintly soul.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.6.17.38)

जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाग्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः । वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः ॥ ३८ ॥

jajñe tvaṣṭur dakṣiṇāgnau dānavīṁ yonim āśritaḥ vṛtra ity abhivikhyāto jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ

That same Chitraketu took birth from the southern sacrificial fire of Tvashta, entering a demon's womb; and though still endowed with knowledge and its direct realization, he became renowned by the name Vritra.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.6.17.39)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । वृत्रस्यासुरजातेश्च कारणं भगवन्मतेः ॥ ३९ ॥

etat te sarvam ākhyātaṁ yan māṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi vṛtrasyāsura-jāteś ca kāraṇaṁ bhagavan-mateḥ

O King, all that you asked of me — the cause of Vritra's birth among the demons, and the secret of his mind so steeped in devotion to the Lord — I have now told you in full.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.6.17.40)

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं चित्रकेतोर्महात्मनः । माहात्म्यं विष्णुभक्तानां श्रुत्वा बन्धाद्विमुच्यते ॥ ४० ॥

itihāsam imaṁ puṇyaṁ citraketor mahātmanaḥ māhātmyaṁ viṣṇu-bhaktānāṁ śrutvā bandhād vimucyate

By hearing this sacred history of the great soul Chitraketu, and this glory of the devotees of Vishnu, a person becomes freed from the bondage of this world.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.6.17.41)

य एतत्प्रातरुत्थाय श्रद्धया वाग्यतः पठेत् । इतिहासं हरिं स्मृत्वा स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ४१ ॥

ya etat prātar utthāya śraddhayā vāg-yataḥ paṭhet itihāsaṁ hariṁ smṛtvā sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

One who rises at dawn and, with faith and restrained speech, recites this history while remembering Bhagavan Hari, attains the supreme destination.