Shloka 52
Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
पतिं निरीक्ष्योरुशुचार्पितं तदा मृतं च बालं सुतमेकसन्ततिम् । जनस्य राज्ञी प्रकृतेश्च हृद्रुजं सती दधाना विललाप चित्रधा ॥ ५२ ॥
patiṁ nirīkṣyoru-śucārpitaṁ tadā mṛtaṁ ca bālaṁ sutam eka-santatim janasya rājñī prakṛteś ca hṛd-rujaṁ satī dadhānā vilalāpa citradhā
Lorsque la Reine vit son époux, le Roi Citraketu, plongé dans une grande lamentation et vit l'enfant mort, qui était le fils unique de la famille, elle se lamenta de diverses manières. Cela accrut la douleur au plus profond du cœur de tous les habitants du palais, des ministres et de tous les brāhmaṇas.
FAQs
This verse portrays grief as a powerful, shared human experience—felt by the king, the queen, and even the citizens—yet it also sets the stage for Bhagavatam’s deeper teaching: to move from lamentation to spiritual understanding of the soul’s eternity and life’s impermanence.
Because her lamentation is not portrayed as irreligious; she is a devoted, principled wife who compassionately bears the pain of her husband and the people, even as she herself suffers the loss of her only child.
It validates grief while reminding us to seek higher perspective: support others who are suffering, acknowledge the impermanence of worldly relations, and turn the heart toward spiritual grounding (bhakti) rather than being consumed by despair.