King Citraketu - From Lamentation to Liberation
The history of King Citraketu, described in the Sixth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is a dramatic narrative that illustrates the journey from material entanglement to perfect renunciation. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses this history to teach that material possessions—kingdoms, wives, and children—cannot bring true happiness. Through the mercy of the spiritual master, represented by Nārada Muni and Aṅgirā Ṛṣi, one can transcend the duality of jubilation and lamentation and achieve the highest perfection of life, even in the face of severe reverses.
The Misery of Material Attachment
King Citraketu ruled the entire earth and possessed millions of wives, yet he was deeply unhappy because he had no son. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is the nature of the material world; even with all opulence, a perceived lack causes distress. When he finally obtained a son through the benediction of Aṅgirā Ṛṣi, the child became the cause of intense envy among the co-wives, who eventually poisoned the infant, plunging the King into overwhelming grief.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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."
Enlightenment by the Great Sages
Seeing the King's hopeless condition, Aṅgirā Ṛṣi returned, this time accompanied by the great sage Nārada. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how they instructed Citraketu on the distinction between the body and the soul. To prove their point, they called the soul of the dead child back into the body. The soul's declaration—that he had many fathers and mothers in many lives—shattered the King's illusion.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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?
Perfection and Vision of the Lord
Following the instructions of Nārada Muni, King Citraketu chanted a specific prayer (mantra) for one week. As a result, he achieved the status of the King of the Vidyādharas and ultimately obtained a direct audience with Lord Ananta Śeṣa. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that this rapid elevation demonstrates the power of following the spiritual master's order.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Upon reaching the shelter of Lord Sesa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Citraketu saw that He was as white as the white fibers of a lotus flower.
The Misunderstood Criticism
While traveling in his airplane, Citraketu saw Lord Śiva embracing Pārvatī in an assembly of sages. Being on friendly terms with Lord Śiva, Citraketu laughed and made a critical remark, wondering how such a great personality could act like an ordinary man. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Citraketu's intent was not offensive; he was expressing wonder at Lord Śiva's detachment. However, Mother Pārvatī took offense.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The Excellence of a Devotee
Pārvatī cursed Citraketu to take birth as a demon. The King's reaction to this curse is the hallmark of a pure devotee. He did not retaliate or protest but humbly accepted the curse as the will of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this tolerance is the "excellence of a devotee."
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Lord Śiva's Appreciation
After Citraketu left, Lord Śiva addressed Pārvatī to explain the greatness of a Vaiṣṇava. He explained that devotees of Nārāyaṇa are not afraid of any condition of life—heaven, hell, or liberation are all the same to them because they see the Lord everywhere. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Lord Śiva took this opportunity to instruct Pārvatī and the assembly on the equality and peacefulness of a pure devotee.
- 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.
- When Lord Siva and Parvati saw that Citraketu, although informed of the curse, was unafraid, they smiled, being fully astonished by his behavior.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Conclusion
The curse of Pārvatī, though seemingly a punishment, was ultimately a benediction. Citraketu took birth as the demon Vṛtrāsura, but because of his advanced consciousness, he remained fixed in devotion and achieved liberation. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the Supreme Lord arranges such situations to bring His devotees back to Him quickly. Whether in the body of a king, a Vidyādhara, or a demon, the pure devotee remains connected to the Lord, proving that external circumstances cannot impede the flow of bhakti.
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