Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 49
Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
ततो नृपान्त: पुरवर्तिनो जना नराश्च नार्यश्च निशम्य रोदनम् । आगत्य तुल्यव्यसना: सुदु:खिता- स्ताश्च व्यलीकं रुरुदु: कृतागस: ॥ ४९ ॥
tato nṛpāntaḥpura-vartino janā narāś ca nāryaś ca niśamya rodanam āgatya tulya-vyasanāḥ suduḥkhitās tāś ca vyalīkaṁ ruruduḥ kṛtāgasaḥ
O King Parīkṣit, hearing the loud wailing, all the palace residents—men and women—came running. Stricken with the same grief, they too began to weep. Even the queens who had given the poison cried deceitfully, fully aware of their offense.
FAQs
This verse shows that grief can spread through an entire community, yet it is still rooted in material attachment; the Bhagavatam later guides the hearer toward spiritual understanding and detachment through devotion.
Hearing the weeping from within the king’s quarters, they came and, sharing the same calamity and feeling implicated or at fault, they joined in the mourning.
In times of loss, recognize how collective emotion intensifies suffering; offer support, but also seek grounding through spiritual perspective—remembering the soul’s continuity and turning to bhakti practices for steadiness.