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Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 51

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

ท่ามกลางเหล่าเสนาบดีและพราหมณ์ กษัตริย์ทรงเข้าไปใกล้และล้มลงหมดสติที่เท้าของเด็กน้อย ผมและฉลองพระองค์หลุดลุ่ย เมื่อกษัตริย์ทรงหายใจแรงและได้สติกลับคืนมา ดวงตาของพระองค์เต็มไปด้วยน้ำตา และพระองค์ตรัสอะไรไม่ออกเพราะความโศกเศร้าจุกอยู่ที่คอ

papātafell down
papāta:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpat (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
bālasyaof the child
bālasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootbāla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun
pāda-mūleat the feet (near the feet)
pāda-mūle:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpāda (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘at the foot-base’
mṛtasyaof the dead (one)
mṛtasya:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < mṛ (धातु)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifying bālasya
visrasta-śiroruha-ambaraḥwith dishevelled hair and loosened garments
visrasta-śiroruha-ambaraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvisrasta (कृदन्त) < sras (धातु) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + ruha (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi: ‘he whose head-hair and garment were dishevelled/slipped’ (śiras+ruha = śiroruha ‘hair’)
dīrghamfor a long time / long
dīrgham:
Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपे द्वितीया)
śvasanbreathing
śvasan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootśvas (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative Singular
bāṣpa-kalā-upa-rodhataḥbecause of the choking obstruction of tear-drops
bāṣpa-kalā-upa-rodhataḥ:
Hetu/Ablative cause (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootbāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + upa-rodha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘due to/ from the obstruction by droplets of tears’
niruddha-kaṇṭhaḥwith throat choked
niruddha-kaṇṭhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootniruddha (कृदन्त) < rudh (धातु) + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘one whose throat is blocked’
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध)
śaśākawas able
śaśāka:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśak (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
bhāṣitumto speak
bhāṣitum:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootbhāṣ (धातu)
FormInfinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to speak’
K
King Citraketu
C
Citraketu’s son
B
Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

This verse shows that grief intensifies when the heart is bound by affection (sneha-anubandha); the shock of loss can overwhelm one’s natural composure, revealing the need for spiritual grounding beyond temporary relationships.

Because his deep attachment to his son inflamed his sorrow; in that moment his vision failed, he ran and stumbled, and he lost consciousness—illustrating how sudden death can shatter worldly stability.

Cultivate loving relationships while remembering impermanence; strengthen daily spiritual practice so that unexpected loss does not completely break one’s inner balance.