Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 50
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
Ketika Raja Citraketu mendengar kematian putranya karena sebab yang tidak diketahui, ia menjadi hampir buta. Karena kasih sayangnya yang besar kepada putranya, ratapannya tumbuh seperti api yang berkobar, dan saat ia pergi untuk melihat anak yang sudah meninggal itu, ia terus tergelincir dan jatuh ke tanah.
FAQs
This verse shows how overpowering parental affection can cause intense lamentation and even fainting, highlighting the Bhagavatam’s theme that worldly attachments bind the heart and deepen sorrow when the temporary is lost.
Because his affection (sneha) for his son was extremely strong; the shock of loss, combined with not understanding the cause of death, overwhelmed him and he fainted as he hurried toward the child.
It reminds a devotee to recognize the fragility of material relationships and to gradually anchor the mind in devotion and spiritual understanding, so grief does not completely eclipse clarity and faith.