Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, 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
わが子よ、私はなんと不幸なのだろう。もはやお前の柔らかな微笑みも、喜びの眼差しをたたえた蓮華の顔も見られない。お前の目は永遠に閉じられた。無慈悲な者がこの世から別の世へ連れ去り、もう戻らぬのだと悟る。わが子よ、甘美な声も二度と聞けない。
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.