Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 51
Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
श्रुत्वा मृतं पुत्रमलक्षितान्तकं विनष्टदृष्टि: प्रपतन् स्खलन् पथि । स्नेहानुबन्धैधितया शुचा भृशं विमूर्च्छितोऽनुप्रकृतिर्द्विजैर्वृत: ॥ ५० ॥ पपात बालस्य स पादमूले मृतस्य विस्रस्तशिरोरुहाम्बर: । दीर्घं श्वसन् बाष्पकलोपरोधतो निरुद्धकण्ठो न शशाक भाषितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥
śrutvā mṛtaṁ putram alakṣitāntakaṁ vinaṣṭa-dṛṣṭiḥ prapatan skhalan pathi snehānubandhaidhitayā śucā bhṛśaṁ vimūrcchito ’nuprakṛtir dvijair vṛtaḥ
Rodeado por sus ministros y los brāhmaṇas, el Rey se acercó y cayó inconsciente a los pies del niño; su cabello y vestimenta estaban esparcidos. Cuando el Rey, respirando pesadamente, recobró el conocimiento, sus ojos estaban llenos de lágrimas y no podía hablar debido a que se le cerró la garganta.
FAQs
This verse shows that grief intensifies when the heart is bound by affection (sneha-anubandha); the shock of loss can overwhelm one’s natural composure, revealing the need for spiritual grounding beyond temporary relationships.
Because his deep attachment to his son inflamed his sorrow; in that moment his vision failed, he ran and stumbled, and he lost consciousness—illustrating how sudden death can shatter worldly stability.
Cultivate loving relationships while remembering impermanence; strengthen daily spiritual practice so that unexpected loss does not completely break one’s inner balance.