PLATE FIVE

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