Shloka 26
Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana
राज्ञ: काशीपतेर्ज्ञात्वा महिष्य: पुत्रबान्धवा: । पौराश्च हा हता राजन् नाथ नाथेति प्रारुदन् ॥ २६ ॥
rājñaḥ kāśī-pater jñātvā mahiṣyaḥ putra-bāndhavāḥ paurāś ca hā hatā rājan nātha nātheti prārudan
Wahai Raja, ketika mereka mengenalinya sebagai kepala raja mereka, penguasa Kāśī, para permaisuri, putra-putra, kerabat, dan seluruh warga kota menangis pilu: “Aduhai, kita binasa! Wahai Tuan, wahai Tuan!”
FAQs
This verse shows the natural worldly grief of queens, relatives, and citizens who cry “nātha, nātha,” illustrating attachment to temporal protection and the pain that follows loss.
Śukadeva is narrating the events to King Parīkṣit, so “rājan” marks the direct address within the ongoing teacher–disciple dialogue of the Bhāgavatam.
It reminds us that worldly shelter is fragile; cultivating devotion and inner spiritual refuge helps one face loss with greater steadiness and faith.