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
Khi Vua Citraketu nghe tin con trai mình qua đời không rõ nguyên nhân, ông gần như trở nên mù quáng. Vì tình yêu thương to lớn dành cho con trai, nỗi bi ai của ông bùng lên như ngọn lửa dữ dội, và khi đi đến nhìn đứa trẻ đã chết, ông liên tục trượt ngã xuống đất.
This verse shows how overpowering parental affection can cause intense lamentation and even fainting, highlighting the Bhagavatam’s theme that worldly attachments bind the heart and deepen sorrow when the temporary is lost.
Because his affection (sneha) for his son was extremely strong; the shock of loss, combined with not understanding the cause of death, overwhelmed him and he fainted as he hurried toward the child.
It reminds a devotee to recognize the fragility of material relationships and to gradually anchor the mind in devotion and spiritual understanding, so grief does not completely eclipse clarity and faith.