Shloka 25

Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial

Devanagari script

लोकपालैरपि प्रार्थ्या: साम्राज्यैश्वर्यसम्पद: । न नन्दयन्त्यप्रजं मां क्षुत्तृट्काममिवापरे ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

loka-pālair api prārthyāḥ sāmrājyaiśvarya-sampadaḥ na nandayanty aprajaṁ māṁ kṣut-tṛṭ-kāmam ivāpare

Translation

ดุจคนที่ทุกข์ด้วยความหิวและกระหายย่อมไม่พอใจด้วยความรื่นรมย์ภายนอกอย่างพวงมาลัยหรือจันทน์หอม ฉันใด อาณาจักร ความรุ่งเรือง และทรัพย์สมบัติที่แม้เทพผู้พิทักษ์โลกยังปรารถนา ก็ไม่ทำให้ข้าพเจ้าชื่นใจ เพราะไร้บุตรฉันนั้น

Synonyms

• लोकपालैः: by the world-protectors (guardians)
• लोकपालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; Tatpuruṣa: लोकानां पालाः

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• प्रार्थ्याः: to be prayed for / desirable
• प्रार्थ्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थ्य (कृदन्त; प्रार्थ् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे योग्यतावाचक-तव्यत् (gerundive) = ‘to be prayed for’

• साम्राज्य-ऐश्वर्य-सम्पदः: sovereignty, power, and wealth
• साम्राज्य-ऐश्वर्य-सम्पदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्राज्य + ऐश्वर्य + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): ‘sovereignty, lordship, and riches’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• नन्दयन्ति: gladden / satisfy
• नन्दयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अप्रजम्: childless
• अप्रजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष: प्रजा न अस्ति यस्य = ‘without offspring’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्षुत्-तृट्-कामम्: one afflicted with hunger, thirst, and desire
• क्षुत्-तृट्-कामम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् + तृट् + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: ‘hunger, thirst, and desire’ (as a state/person)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘others’

Characters & Entities

• King Citraketu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about happiness from wealth and royal opulence?

This verse teaches that even vast sovereignty and opulence—desired by great cosmic rulers—cannot satisfy a heart burning with unmet material attachment; without inner fulfillment, external prosperity fails to bring joy.

Why did King Citraketu say this, and to whom was he speaking?

In Canto 6, Chapter 14, Citraketu expresses his grief over being sonless, describing how his immense kingdom and wealth feel meaningless; he speaks as a lamenting king within the narrative context of his longing for a child.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It cautions that success, status, and possessions cannot heal deeper emotional or spiritual lack; it encourages redirecting the search for fulfillment toward dharma, devotion, and inner contentment rather than external accumulation.