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
aT Tara
¢
WTA i TEAMNTTT |
TON TT a AMa Wasa ll Sil
Sri-Suka uvaca
bhagavan api tac chrutva
prahasyagadha-dhir nrpa
tisnim babhiiva sadasi
sabhyas 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
