Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 35
Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava
तस्य चायं महाभागश्चित्रकेतु: प्रियोऽनुग: । सर्वत्र समदृक् शान्तो ह्यहं चैवाच्युतप्रिय: ॥ ३४ ॥ तस्मान्न विस्मय: कार्य: पुरुषेषु महात्मसु । महापुरुषभक्तेषु शान्तेषु समदर्शिषु ॥ ३५ ॥
tasya cāyaṁ mahā-bhāgaś citraketuḥ priyo ’nugaḥ sarvatra sama-dṛk śānto hy ahaṁ caivācyuta-priyaḥ
Citraketu yang mulia ini ialah bhakta yang dikasihi dan setia mengikuti Tuhan; dia memandang semua makhluk dengan sama rata dan berhati damai. Demikian juga aku amat dikasihi oleh Acyuta (Nārāyaṇa). Maka jangan hairan melihat perbuatan para mahātmā, bhakta agung Nārāyaṇa: mereka bebas daripada keterikatan dan iri, sentiasa tenang, serta memandang sama semua orang.
It is said, vaiṣṇavera kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya: one should not be astonished to see the activities of exalted, liberated Vaiṣṇavas. As one should not be misled by the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should also not be misled by the activities of His devotees. Both the Lord and His devotees are liberated. They are on the same platform, the only difference being that the Lord is the master and the devotees are servants. Qualitatively, they are one and the same. In Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) the Lord says:
FAQs
This verse says devotees of the Supreme Lord are śānta (peaceful) and sama-darśī (equal-visioned), so their unusual tolerance, humility, or behavior should not be a cause of surprise.
After Pārvatī’s reaction to Citraketu, Lord Śiva explains that exalted devotees are beyond ordinary social calculations; their devotion, peace, and equal vision make their conduct extraordinary yet natural for saints.
Practice seeing others beyond external labels—respond with respect, restraint, and compassion—grounded in devotion, so your mind becomes peaceful rather than reactive.