Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 33
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
तत: समाधाय मनो मनीषया बभाष एतत्प्रतिलब्धवागसौ । नियम्य सर्वेन्द्रियबाह्यवर्तनं जगद्गुरुं सात्वतशास्त्रविग्रहम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tataḥ samādhāya mano manīṣayā babhāṣa etat pratilabdha-vāg asau niyamya sarvendriya-bāhya-vartanaṁ jagad-guruṁ sātvata-śāstra-vigraham
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. Thus he began offering prayers to the Lord, who is the personification of the holy scriptures [the sātvata-saṁhitās like the Brahma-saṁhitā and the Nārada-pañcarātra] and who is the spiritual master of all. He offered his prayers as follows.
One cannot offer prayers to the Lord with mundane words. One must become spiritually advanced by controlling the mind and senses. Then he can find suitable words to offer in prayers to the Lord. Quoting the following verse from the Padma Purāṇa, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī forbids us to sing any song not sung by authorized devotees.
FAQs
This verse highlights that one should restrain the outward pull of the senses and steady the mind; only then can one speak and act with clarity in devotional life and properly approach the jagad-guru.
After receiving guidance and regaining composure, Citraketu controlled his senses and then addressed Nārada and Aṅgirā respectfully, recognizing them as representatives of divine instruction.
Reduce external distractions, regulate sense habits, and intentionally bring the mind back to prayer, japa, and attentive hearing—then decisions and speech become calmer and more spiritually aligned.