Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
सा शयानमुपव्रज्य दृष्ट्वा चोत्तारलोचनम् । प्राणेन्द्रियात्मभिस्त्यक्तं हतास्मीत्यपतद्भुवि ॥ ४६ ॥
sā śayānam upavrajya dṛṣṭvā cottāra-locanam prāṇendriyātmabhis tyaktaṁ hatāsmīty apatad bhuvi
Approaching the child as he lay, the maidservant saw his eyes turned upward. With life and senses gone, she understood he was dead; crying, “I am ruined!” she fell to the ground.
This verse depicts overwhelming lamentation upon seeing the body bereft of prāṇa and senses, highlighting how attachment can shatter the mind when confronted with death.
She recognized the unmistakable signs of death—eyes turned upward and the departure of life-air and senses—and, identifying herself with her loss, cried out and fainted in sorrow.
Remembering the soul’s distinction from the body and preparing the mind through devotion and detachment helps one face inevitable loss with steadiness rather than collapse into despair.