PLATE FIVE
Once while King Citraketu was traveling in outer space on a brilliantly effulgent airplane given to him by Lord Viṣṇu, he saw Lord Śiva sitting in an assembly of great saintly persons and embracing Pārvatī on his lap. Citraketu laughed loudly to see Lord Śiva in that situation, and, within the hearing of Pārvatī, he spoke expressing his wonder. Not knowing the prowess of Lord Śiva and Pārvatī, Citraketu strongly criticized them. Lord Śiva, the most powerful personality, whose knowledge is fathomless, simply smiled and remained silent, and all the members of the assembly followed the lord by not saying anything. Citraketu's statements were not at all pleasing, however, and therefore the goddess Pārvatī, being very angry, cursed Citraketu, who had thought himself better than Lord Śiva in controlling the senses. ( pp. 169–180 )