The story of Chitraketu, narrated in the Bhagavata Purana, helps to put in focus the actual plight of every jivatma who is bound to the cycle of birth owing to the veil of illusion that is cast on creation. The very name ‘Chitra Ketu’ is representative of the jivatma who leads his life trying to fulfill his dreams and desires and getting attached to his family, friends, kith and kin, pointed out Swami Paramasukananda in a discourse.
Until such time when one becomes enlightened, there is no hope of relief from samsara. Hence countless jivatmas continue in the cycle of birth and it is held that to even roughly estimate how many births an atma takes is as impossible as trying to count the grains of sand. Chitraketu, the king is sad that he is childless and then is blessed by Sage Angirasa to have a son. The sage warns him that the son will be as much a cause of joy as of sorrow. The son is born but is unfortunately killed by the jealous wives of the king. Chitraketu is unable to bear the sorrow and then Sages Angirasa and Narada visit him and console him. They enlighten him about the nature of the jivatma in a very convincing way. They make the dead son appear before the parents and when the parents express their concern for him, the son does not recognise them, having passed through many births when he has had many parents. All relations, enemies, friends, cousins, etc, in one’s lifetime are transitory and hence it is not wise to attach oneself or get involved in these. The atma alone is eternal and subtle and its welfare alone should be the focus. The Lord’s Maya is difficult to cross even by the most determined. It is achieved only by one who is resolute in this regard and also is a recipient of God’s grace.
