Shloka 58
Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
नाहं तनूज ददृशे हतमङ्गला ते मुग्धस्मितं मुदितवीक्षणमाननाब्जम् । किं वा गतोऽस्यपुनरन्वयमन्यलोकं नीतोऽघृणेन न शृणोमि कला गिरस्ते ॥ ५८ ॥
nāhaṁ tanūja dadṛśe hata-maṅgalā te mugdha-smitaṁ mudita-vīkṣaṇam ānanābjam kiṁ vā gato ’sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokaṁ nīto ’ghṛṇena na śṛṇomi kalā giras te
Mon fils, je suis vraiment la plus infortunée, car je ne puis plus voir ton doux sourire ni ton visage de lotus aux regards joyeux. Tes yeux se sont fermés pour toujours. J’en conclus qu’un être sans pitié t’a emporté de ce monde vers un autre, d’où tu ne reviendras pas. Mon enfant, je n’entends plus ta voix si agréable.
FAQs
This verse shows Citraketu’s intense sorrow and attachment, highlighting how death abruptly ends worldly relationships and pushes one to seek a higher, spiritual understanding beyond bodily ties.
His son had just died, and Citraketu, overwhelmed by parental love and shock, laments that he can no longer see his child’s smiling face or hear his voice.
It teaches that loss is inevitable under time and fate; channeling grief toward spiritual inquiry and remembrance of the soul’s journey can gradually transform attachment into wisdom and devotion.