Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 1

Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच यतश्चान्तर्हितोऽनन्तस्तस्यै कृत्वा दिशे नम: । विद्याधरश्चित्रकेतुश्चचार गगने चर: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca yataś cāntarhito ’nantas tasyai kṛtvā diśe namaḥ vidyādharaś citraketuś cacāra gagane caraḥ

Translation

圣舒迦提婆·乔斯瓦米说：向无量蛇阿难陀——至上人格神——隐没之方位致敬后，持罗计都作为毗陀耶陀罗之首，开始在虚空中遨游。

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्री + शुक)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यतः: from which; thereupon
• यतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/कारणार्थक (from which/thereupon)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अन्तर्हितः: having disappeared; hidden
• अन्तर्हितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (कृदन्त; अन्तर्धा + हि/धा)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अदृश्यः/लुप्तः’

• अनन्तः: Ananta (the Lord)
• अनन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्यै: to her
• तस्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done; having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘करित्वा’

• दिशे: to the direction (quarter)
• दिशे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection); नमस्कारार्थक

• विद्याधरः: a Vidyādhara
• विद्याधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विद्यायाः धरः)

• चित्रकेतुः: Citraketu
• चित्रकेतुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (चित्रः केतुः)

• चचार: wandered; moved about
• चचार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गगने: in the sky
• गगने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• चरः: moving; roaming
• चरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who moves)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva
• Ananta (Saṅkarṣaṇa)
• Citraketu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering obeisances after seeing the Lord?

This verse shows Citraketu offering namah to the very direction where Ananta disappeared, teaching reverence and continued remembrance even after the Lord is no longer visible.

Why did Citraketu offer obeisances to the direction where Ananta disappeared?

Because he honored the Lord’s presence and departure, expressing gratitude and devotion (bhakti) by bowing to the place associated with the Lord’s manifestation.

How can this verse be applied in modern life as a spiritual practice?

Maintain devotion after uplifting moments—by offering gratitude, remembering the Lord, and continuing steady practice even when inspiration or “darśana-like” experiences fade.