CHAPTER SIXTEEN
King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord

As related in this chapter, Citraketu was able to talk with his dead son
and hear from him the truth of life. When Citraketu was appeased, the
great sage Narada gave him a mantra, and by chanting this mantra
Citraketu found shelter at the lotus feet of Sankarsana.

The living entity is eternal. Thus he has neither birth nor death (na
hanyate hanyamane Sarire). According to the reactions of one’s fruitive
activities, one takes birth in various species of life among the birds,
beasts, trees, human beings, demigods and so on, thus rotating through
various bodies. For a certain period of time, one receives a particular
type of body as a son or father in a false relationship. All our relation-
ships in this material world with friends, relatives or enemies consist of
duality, in which one feels happy and distressed on the basis of illusion.
The living entity is actually a spiritual soul who is part and parcel of God
and has nothing to do with relationships in the world of duality.
Therefore Narada Muni advised Citraketu not to lament for his so-
called dead son.

After hearing instructions from their dead child, Citraketu and his
wife could understand that all relationships in this material world are
causes of misery. The queens who had administered poison to the son of
Krtadyuti were very much ashamed. They atoned for the sinful act of
killing a child and gave up their aspiration to have sons. Thereafter.
Narada Muni chanted prayers to Narayana, who exists as catur-vyitha,
and instructed Citraketu about the Supreme Lord, who creates, main-
tains and annihilates everything and who is the master of the material
nature. After instructing King Citraketu in this way, he returned to
Brahmaloka. These instructions about the Absolute Truth are called the
mahda-vidya. After being initiated by Narada Muni, King Citraketu
chanted the mahd-vidya, and after one week he attained the presence of
Lord Sankarsana, who was surrounded by the four Kumaras. The Lord

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