Shloka 37
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
इति भागवतो देव्या: प्रतिशप्तुमलन्तम: । मूर्ध्ना स जगृहे शापमेतावत्साधुलक्षणम् ॥ ३७ ॥
iti bhāgavato devyāḥ pratiśaptum alantamaḥ mūrdhnā sa jagṛhe śāpam etāvat sādhu-lakṣaṇam
Der große Geweihte Citraketu hätte die Göttin als Vergeltung verfluchen können, doch er tat es nicht; er neigte demütig das Haupt und nahm den Fluch vor Śiva und dessen Gemahlin an—so handelt ein Vaiṣṇava.
Upon being informed by Lord Śiva, mother Pārvatī could understand that she was wrong in cursing Citraketu. King Citraketu was so exalted in his character that in spite of being wrongly cursed by Pārvatī, he immediately descended from his airplane and bowed his head before the mother, accepting her curse. This has already been explained: nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati. Citraketu very sportingly felt that since the mother wanted to curse him, he could accept this curse just to please her. This is called sādhu-lakṣaṇam, the characteristic of a sādhu, or a devotee. As explained by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā. A devotee should always be very humble and meek and should offer all respect to others, especially to superiors. Being protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee is always powerful, but a devotee does not wish to show his power unnecessarily. However, when a less intelligent person has some power, he wants to use it for sense gratification. This is not the behavior of a devotee.
FAQs
This verse highlights that a true sadhu is tolerant and humble—able to retaliate, yet choosing to accept hardship without hatred or revenge.
Although capable, Citraketu acted as a bhāgavata devotee—accepting the curse respectfully, showing the saintly nature of forgiveness and self-restraint.
When provoked, pause before reacting, avoid retaliatory speech, and accept criticism or injustice without escalating—responding with dignity and devotion-centered humility.