Text 10] Mother Parvati Curses Citraketu 173

Cakravarti Thakura, however, has made the following observations.
Lord Siva, being the most exalted Vaisnava and one of the most powerful
demigods, is able to do anything he desires. Although he was externally
exhibiting the behavior of a common man and not following etiquette,
such actions cannot diminish his exalted position. The difficulty is that a
common man, seeing Lord Siva’s behavior, might follow his example. As

stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.21):

yad yad acarati sresthas
tat tad evetaro janah

sa yat pramanam kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

“‘Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And
whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” A
common man might also criticize Lord Siva, like Daksa, who suffered the
consequences for his criticism. King Citraketu desired that Lord Siva
cease this external behavior so that others might be saved from criticiz-
ing him and thus becoming offenders. If one thinks that Visnu, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the only perfect personality whereas
the demigods, even such demigods as Lord Siva, are inclined to improper
social affairs, he is an offender. Considering all this, King Citraketu was
somewhat harsh in his behavior with Lord Siva.

Lord Siva, who is always deep in knowledge, could understand
Citraketu’s purpose, and therefore he was not at all angry; rather, he
simply smiled and remained silent. The members of the assembly sur-
rounding Lord Siva could also understand Citraketu’s purpose. Conse-
quently, following the behavior of Lord Siva, they did not protest; in-
stead, following their master, they remained silent. If the members of
the assembly thought that Citraketu had blasphemed Lord Siva, they
would certainly have left at once, blocking their ears with their hands.

TEXT 10
eeraatafagha gat TEMA |
GME sat sera Fforanfatar —2oll
