Shloka 23

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

अधुना पुत्रिणां तापो भवतैवानुभूयते । एवं दारा गृहा रायो विविधैश्वर्यसम्पद: ॥ २१ ॥ शब्दादयश्च विषयाश्चला राज्यविभूतय: । मही राज्यं बलं कोषो भृत्यामात्यसुहृज्जना: ॥ २२ ॥ सर्वेऽपि शूरसेनेमे शोकमोहभयार्तिदा: । गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या: स्वप्नमायामनोरथा: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

adhunā putriṇāṁ tāpo bhavataivānubhūyate evaṁ dārā gṛhā rāyo vividhaiśvarya-sampadaḥ

Translation

ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ, ਹੁਣ ਤੂੰ ਪੁੱਤਰ-ਧੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਤਾਪ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਭੋਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਪਤਨੀ, ਘਰ, ਰਾਜ-ਵੈਭਵ, ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸਭ ਔਪੁਲੈਂਸ ਅਸਥਿਰ ਹਨ; ਰਾਜ, ਸੈਨਿਕ ਬਲ, ਖਜ਼ਾਨਾ, ਨੌਕਰ, ਮੰਤਰੀ, ਮਿੱਤਰ ਤੇ ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰ—ਸਭ ਸ਼ੋਕ, ਮੋਹ, ਡਰ ਅਤੇ ਕਲੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਗੰਧਰਵ-ਨਗਰ ਵਰਗੇ ਹਨ—ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਲਪਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਸਤਿਤਵਹੀਨ ਮਹਲ; ਸੁਪਨੇ, ਮਾਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਮਨ ਦੀ ਕਲਪਨਾ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਨਹੀਂ।

Synonyms

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural

• api: even, also
• api: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• śūrasena: O Śūrasena
• śūrasena: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūrasena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative Singular (address)

• ime: these
• ime: Karta (कर्ता; with sarve)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative Plural

• śoka-moha-bhaya-ārtidāḥ: causing grief, delusion, fear, and distress
• śoka-moha-bhaya-ārtidāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + moha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ārti-da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘giving distress (da) of grief, delusion, and fear’

• gandharva-nagara-prakhyāḥ: like a Gandharva-city (illusory)
• gandharva-nagara-prakhyāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + nagara (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘resembling a Gandharva-city (illusory city)’

• svapna-māyā-manorathāḥ: dreams, illusions, fantasies
• svapna-māyā-manorathāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; appositional list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + manoratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; Dvandva: ‘dreams, illusions, and mental fancies’ (as a collective description)

Purport

This verse describes the entanglement of material existence. In material existence, the living entity possesses many things — the material body, children, wife and so on ( dehāpatya-kalatrādiṣu ). One may think that these will give him protection, but that is impossible. In spite of all these possessions, the spirit soul has to give up his present situation and accept another. The next situation may be unfavorable, but even if it is favorable, one must give it up and again accept another body. In this way, one’s tribulation in material existence continues. A sane man should be perfectly aware that these things will never be able to give him happiness. One must be situated in his spiritual identity and eternally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a devotee. Aṅgirā Ṛṣi and Nārada Muni gave this instruction to Mahārāja Citraketu.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• King Citraketu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to children and family life?

This verse states that the pain felt through attachment to children is a direct experience of how material relationships—children, spouse, home, and wealth—can become sources of suffering when taken as ultimate shelter.

Why did Nārada Muni speak this to King Citraketu?

Citraketu was overwhelmed by grief over his son; Nārada used the moment to awaken him to the temporary nature of worldly bonds and redirect him toward spiritual shelter.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life without neglecting my duties?

Perform family responsibilities with care, but shift dependence from possessions and relationships to devotion and remembrance of the Lord, recognizing that worldly supports are temporary.