Chitraketu’s Lamentation

Chapter 14

When Maharaja Pariksit enquired how a demon could possess such exalted consciousness, Sukadeva Goswami described Vritrasura’s previous birth as Chitraketu.

Despite marrying ten million wives, Chitraketu had no children. When the great sage Angira Rishi visited, Chitraketu warmly received him. He frankly expressed his dissatisfaction to the sage, who mercifully arranged for his first wife, Krtadyuti, to have a son. There was, however, a caveat – he predicted the child would bring both happiness (harsa) and lamentation (soka).

Upon the birth of this son, Chitraketu and all the citizens were overjoyed. His dream had finally been fulfilled! The other wives, however, didn’t share that joy, feeling neglected and sidelined by their husband. Clouded by envy and overcome by selfishness, they administered poison to the child and mercilessly killed him. Krtadyuti fainted in shock, the inhabitants of the palace were in tears and Chitraketu practically lost all consciousness! The mother condemned the cruel acts of providence and begged her child to wake up, but it was futile. Understanding their pain, the sages Narada and Angira arrived on the scene to offer enlightening words.