Shloka 20
Praise of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha) and Prelude to the Greatness of Prayāga
विना राज्येन कर्तव्यं किं भोगैर्जीवितेनवा । धिक्कष्टमिति संचिंत्य राजा विह्वलतां गतः
vinā rājyena kartavyaṃ kiṃ bhogairjīvitenavā | dhikkaṣṭamiti saṃciṃtya rājā vihvalatāṃ gataḥ
“Không có vương quốc thì còn làm được gì—lạc thú có ích chi, đến cả mạng sống này có nghĩa gì?” Nghĩ vậy, “Than ôi, khốn khổ thay!”, nhà vua rơi vào nỗi bấn loạn tột cùng.
Narrator (describing the king’s inner thought)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भोगैः + जीवितेन + वा → भोगैर्जीवितेनवा; धिक् + कष्टम् + इति → धिक्कष्टमिति.
FAQs
Overwhelming despair born from the loss (or perceived loss) of sovereignty—so intense that the king questions the value of pleasure and even life.
It highlights attachment to power and status, showing how identity tied to external possessions (like a kingdom) can collapse into grief—hinting at the need for inner steadiness and detachment.
Not explicitly; it is primarily a psychological and moral observation. In broader Purāṇic contexts, such despair often becomes the turning point that leads a character toward dharma, renunciation, or devotion.