Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 34
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
चित्रकेतुरुवाच अजित जित: सममतिभि: साधुभिर्भवान् जितात्मभिर्भवता । विजितास्तेऽपि च भजता- मकामात्मनां य आत्मदोऽतिकरुण: ॥ ३४ ॥
citraketur uvāca ajita jitaḥ sama-matibhiḥ sādhubhir bhavān jitātmabhir bhavatā vijitās te ’pi ca bhajatām akāmātmanāṁ ya ātmado ’ti-karuṇaḥ
Citraketu said: “O Ajita, unconquerable Lord! Though none can conquer You, You are surely conquered by saintly devotees of equal vision who have mastered mind and senses. For You are causelessly merciful to bhaktas who seek no material gain from You; You give Yourself to them, and thus they hold You under the sway of loving devotion.”
The Lord and the devotees both conquer. The Lord is conquered by the devotees, and the devotees are conquered by the Lord. Because of being conquered by one another, they both derive transcendental bliss from their relationship. The highest perfection of this mutual conquering is exhibited by Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs. The gopīs conquered Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa conquered the gopīs. Thus whenever Kṛṣṇa played His flute, He conquered the minds of the gopīs, and without seeing the gopīs Kṛṣṇa could not be happy. Other transcendentalists, such as jñānīs and yogīs, cannot conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead; only pure devotees can conquer Him.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is ‘conquered’ by self-controlled saints of equal vision through pure devotion; bhakti draws Him under the love of His devotees.
Citraketu highlights a Bhagavata theme: God cannot be forced by power or austerity, but He willingly becomes subordinate to the love and service of desireless devotees.
Practice steady devotion with self-control—reduce reactive habits, treat others with fairness, and serve the Lord sincerely; the verse teaches that purity and bhakti attract divine grace.