Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 4
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
एकदा स विमानेन विष्णुदत्तेन भास्वता । गिरिशं ददृशे गच्छन् परीतं सिद्धचारणै: ॥ ४ ॥ आलिङ्गयाङ्कीकृतां देवीं बाहुना मुनिसंसदि । उवाच देव्या: शृण्वन्त्या जहासोच्चैस्तदन्तिके ॥ ५ ॥
ekadā sa vimānena viṣṇu-dattena bhāsvatā giriśaṁ dadṛśe gacchan parītaṁ siddha-cāraṇaiḥ
Once, as Citraketu traveled through the sky in a brilliantly effulgent airplane granted by Lord Viṣṇu, he saw Girīśa (Lord Śiva) surrounded by Siddhas and Cāraṇas. In an assembly of great sages, Śiva sat with Goddess Pārvatī upon his lap, embracing her with his arm. Within Pārvatī’s hearing, Citraketu laughed loudly and spoke nearby.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says in this connection,
FAQs
This verse shows Citraketu, blessed by Viṣṇu, directly beholding Lord Śiva—indicating that a pure devotee may honor and perceive Śiva as a great divine personality within the Lord’s arrangement.
Citraketu had received extraordinary divine favor due to his devotion; the narrative describes him moving freely in a radiant vimāna bestowed by Lord Viṣṇu.
It points to cultivating devotion and purity so that one’s perception becomes reverent and spiritually informed—seeing greatness in saints and the Lord’s servants rather than judging superficially.