Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 34
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 cao quý này là người bhakta thân yêu, trung thành theo hầu Chúa; ông nhìn mọi loài bình đẳng và an tịnh. Cũng vậy, ta đây cũng rất được Acyuta (Nārāyaṇa) yêu mến. Vì thế chớ lấy làm lạ trước hành vi của các mahātmā—những bhakta tối thượng của Nārāyaṇa—vì họ không vướng chấp trước và ganh tị, luôn an hòa và bình đẳng với mọi người.
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 highlights a devotee as sama-dṛk (equal-minded), śānta (peaceful), and especially dear to the Lord (Acyuta-priya).
Lord Śiva identifies Citraketu as a dear devotee—peaceful and equal in vision—and thus worthy of honor rather than criticism.
By cultivating calmness and seeing others without envy or bias—measuring people by devotion and character rather than status.