Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
श्रीशुक उवाच विलपन्त्या मृतं पुत्रमिति चित्रविलापनै: । चित्रकेतुर्भृशं तप्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ५९ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca vilapantyā mṛtaṁ putram iti citra-vilāpanaiḥ citraketur bhṛśaṁ tapto mukta-kaṇṭho ruroda ha
シュリー・シュカデーヴァ・ゴースヴァーミーは語った。亡き子をめぐり王妃がこのようにさまざまに嘆き悲しむと、深い苦悩に焼かれたチトラケートゥ王は、喉を開いて声高く泣き崩れた。
This verse shows even a great king like Citraketu becoming overwhelmed by sorrow at the death of his son, highlighting how powerful attachment is and setting the stage for the Bhagavatam’s guidance toward detachment and devotion.
Because the queen’s repeated, anguished lamentation—“My son is dead!”—intensified his own parental attachment, and he became deeply tormented, weeping openly without restraint.
It validates natural human grief, yet reminds us to seek higher understanding—seeing life and death as temporary—so sorrow can be transformed into spiritual reflection, prayer, and steadier devotion.