All glories to Śrī Śrī Guru Gaurāṅga
Gandharva-pati Citraketu Mahārāja was enjoying the full kṛpā of Ananta Deva Bhagavān because of his exclusive never feels disturbance in any situation in which he can be bhajan. One day he was travelingaround by the help of his chariot in the sky, meanwhile, he came across Śaṅkara Bhagavān—Kailāśa-pati, who was speaking Hari-kathā in front of all big big Muni-Ṛṣis, keeping Pārvatī Devī at his left cushion. Everybody knows that Śaṅkara Bhagavān is Kāma-jayī and topmost Paramahaṁsa. That is why from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam we can get the following śloka:
nimna-gānāṁ yathā gaṅgā
devānām acyuto yathā
vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ
purāṇānām idam tathā
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.13.16)
Which is going to speak to us clearly that: “Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā Śambhuḥ”. The meaning of the above śloka is:
“Just as the Gaṅgā is the holiest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta is the supreme of all devas, and Lord Śambhu [Śiva] is the greatest of all Vaiṣṇavas, and similarly Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the topmost of all Purāṇas.”
But his friend and godbrother Citraketu wanted to pass some remark with joking mood. He started speaking: “How funny, Jagat Guru Śaṅkara sitting in Vyāsāsana together with his wife in a very intimate pose, which is really derogatory for a spiritual teacher like him.” Then Śaṅkara Bhagavān because of his Paramahaṁsa nature, didn’t think it necessary to reply in return, but Bhagavatī Devī was very angry to hear that kind of remark from Citraketu Maharaj and started giving a curse to him to take birth as a demon. But Citraketu—the great servant of Ananta Deva—was not feeling any disturbance from that curse on him given by Bhagavatī Devī, because he was totally established in advaya-jñāna-tattva.
Thus this pastime teaches us the spotless conclusion of bhāgavata-dharma. A true Bhāgavata sees only the will and mercy of Bhagavān everywhere and never becomes disturbed by honor or dishonor, gain or loss, happiness or distress. Whether cursed or blessed, Citraketu Mahārāja remained fixed in his exclusive shelter of Ananta Deva, understanding that nothing in this world can touch one who has taken refuge at the lotus feet of the Lord. At the same time, this līlā establishes the exalted position of Śaṅkara Bhagavān as the foremost of Vaiṣṇavas—externally behaving according to his role, yet internally always absorbed in Hari-bhajana. It also warns us against aparādha, especially Vaiṣṇava-aparādha, born from superficial vision and a joking mentality toward exalted personalities.
Gaura Hari Haribol