172 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 17

that Lord Mahadeva, although a great master of austerity, is
embracing his wife openly in the midst of an assembly of great
saints.

PURPORT

The word mahd-vrata-dharah indicates a brahmacari who has never
fallen down. Lord Siva is counted among the best of yogis, yet he
embraced his wife in the midst of great saintly persons. Citraketu ap-
preciated how great Lord Siva was to be unaffected even in that situation.
Therefore Citraketu was not an offender; he merely expressed his
wonder.

TEXT 9
a Tat

waTaTAy it 3 TEAVTTTA ST |

TM TT Aaa AMA ATA I 8 Il

Sri-Suka uvaca
bhagavan api tac chrutva
prahasyagadha-dhir nrpa
tisnim babhiiva sadasi

sabhyds ca tad-anuvratah

Sri-Sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; bhagavan—Lord Siva;
api—also; tat—that; srutvd—hearing; prahasya—smiling; agadha-
dhih—whose intelligence is unfathomed; nrpa—O King; tisnim—
silent; babhiiva—remained; sadasi—in the assembly; sabhyah—every-
one assembled there; ca—and; tat-anuvratah—followed Lord Siva (re-
mained silent).

TRANSLATION

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, after hearing
Citraketu’s statement, Lord Siva, 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.

PURPORT

Citraketu’s purpose in criticizing Lord Siva is somewhat mysterious

and cannot be understood by a common man. Srila Visvanatha
