The Supreme Lord continued,
“Labdhveha mānuṣīṁ yoniṁ jñāna-vijñāna-sambhavām Ātmānaṁ yo na buddhyeta na kvacit kṣemam āpnuyāt
In this creation, only a human being has the rare opportunity to understand about the Self and to practically experience his original state. However, the living entity, who after getting human birth, fails to understand the Self, lacks mental peace.
Sri Swamiji explains: In this human birth we can obtain Self-realization. The attempts to know our Self should begin from here alone! We should ponder ‘who am I’? What is Self and what is non-Self? How and why are we differentiating between Self and non-Self? Only when we are born as humans we obtain the ability to enquire about the Self. However the person who fails to understand the Self lacks mental peace wherever he is.
“Engaging in fruitive activities is not only a sheer waste of physical effort, but, contrary to the expectations, it ultimately brings only misery and grief to the person. Only when desires are given up in entirety, Self-realization can be obtained. The wise person who understands this supreme truth should never engage in fruitive activities seeking fulfillment of desires.
Men and women in this world perform fruitive activities so as to obtain happiness and destroy sorrows. Nevertheless, these activities do not help them destroy sorrows nor do they help them obtain happiness. Considering themselves intelligent, they engage in fruitive activities, which ultimately showers only negative results. Realizing the futility in this, the human being should instead search for his inner Self which is beyond the perception of the senses.
Although it is the Self which illumines the waking, dream and deep sleep states, it maintains an existence separate from them. Therefore, the individual should, using his intelligence, develop dispassion towards the material comforts seen in this world and towards the comforts pertaining to the other worlds which he has heard of. He should acquire Self-knowledge, obtain Self-realization and should remain devoted towards Me.
Through practice of Karma yoga (Yoga of action) the spiritual aspirant should sharpen his mind. He should then strive in every possible way to practically experience the Supreme Lord, who exists as his own inner Self. He should understand that accomplishing Purusharthas (the four goals) is the only purpose of life.
O King, do not forget this advice. Retain this instruction clearly in your mind. Through this you will quickly obtain Self-realization and absolute liberation”.
Having instructed Chitraketu, the Supreme Father of the universe, who is none other than the Supreme Self, vanished even as the king was watching.
With this the sixteenth chapter of the sixth canto comes to an end
Sixth Canto Chapter Seventeen
In this chapter, Chitraketu getting cursed and being born as demon Vṛtta is narrated.
Maharishi Śuka said to Emperor Parikshit, “King Chitraketu offered obeisance in that direction in which Lord Sankarśana had disappeared. Thereafter he wandered freely in space per his will.
For a period of 100 billion years, Chitraketu traveled in the valleys of Mount Meru, the king of all mountains and which fulfills the trillions of desires that arise. Even after such long period, this great Yogi was unsurpassed in sensory strength and mystical powers.
Such was Chitraketu’s position that Maharishis and Cāraṇās extolled his glories. Inspired by him, women-folk of Vidyādhara planet worshipped Lord Srihari.
One day, seated in the celestial plane gifted to him by Srihari, he was wandering freely when he happened to see Lord Shiva, who is worshipped by accomplished siddhas and cāraṇās, seated in an assembly of great saints and embracing Goddess Parvati who was seated on his lap.
Chitraketu neared them. Laughing derisively and without caring that Mother Goddess Parvati was present, he rebuked Shiva saying,
“Here is the father and Guru of all the universes who preaches dharma to all human beings. He who is presiding over this august assembly is embracing his wife publicly. This Lord who wears long braids and undertakes intense austerities and who presides over the assemblies conducted by eminent Vedic scholars, today shamelessly seats his wife on his lap and publicly embraces her in every body’s presence, when even ordinary mortals choose lonely places to engage in amorous activities.”
Hearing these words, Shiva, the Supreme Lord whose intentions are beyond understanding, laughed and remained silent. All the assembled guests followed Shiva’s actions and remained silent. Mother Goddess Parvati however was enraged hearing the words of Chitraketu who, being totally intoxicated by the pride that he had conquered his mind and senses, had failed to understand Lord Shiva’s supreme essence. She retorted,
“Oho, is he now a Lord who is to rule and punish us, who are behaving shamelessly? Why is it that Lord Brahma along with Bhrigu, Narada and other mind-born sons, Maharishis Sanat-kumara, Kapila and Manu all of whom are exponent in matters pertaining to dharma, have never ever questioned Shiva’s shameless behaviour?
eṣām anudhyeya-padābja-yugmaṁ jagad-guruṁ maṅgala-maṅgalaṁ svayam
They never question because they eternally meditate upon the lotus feet of Lord Shiva, who is the father and Guru for the entire creation. It is Shiva who causes auspiciousness to auspiciousness itself!
This abominable kshatriya is very arrogant and self-conceited. Without respecting others, he dares to punish Lord Shiva himself. Therefore it is imperative that he should be punished. Considering himself the best, he has become haughty. He therefore is not eligible to reach the lotus feet of Lord Srihari, who is served by eminent saints”.
Adhokśajāya namah