Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28
Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya
स्वप्नायितं नृपसुखं परतन्त्रमीश शश्वद्भयेन मृतकेन धुरं वहाम: । हित्वा तदात्मनि सुखं त्वदनीहलभ्यं क्लिश्यामहेऽतिकृपणास्तव माययेह ॥ २८ ॥
svapnāyitaṁ nṛpa-sukhaṁ para-tantram īśa śaśvad-bhayena mṛtakena dhuraṁ vahāmaḥ hitvā tad ātmani sukhaṁ tvad-anīha-labhyaṁ kliśyāmahe ’ti-kṛpaṇās tava māyayeha
主啊，受制于人的王者之乐如同梦境；我们以这常怀恐惧、如尸般的身体，背负其重担。舍弃了唯有以无私奉事你方能得的灵魂真乐，我们这些极其贫乏者，便在此受你幻力（māyā）所缚而受苦。
After expressing their doubts in the previous verse, the kings herein admit that actually they are suffering because of their own foolishness, having given up the eternal happiness of the soul in exchange for the temporary, conditional happiness of a so-called kingly position. Most people make a similar mistake, desiring wealth, power, prestige, aristocratic family and so on, in exchange for their own soul. The kings admit that they have fallen under the spell of the Lord’s illusory energy and have mistaken the tremendous anxiety of political leadership for happiness.
FAQs
This verse calls kingly happiness “dreamlike” and dependent on others, saying it brings constant fear and becomes a burdensome, lifeless load compared to the real joy of the self.
In their prayerful mood, they contrast worldly status and anxiety with the higher, inner happiness of the ātmā, acknowledging that only Kṛṣṇa’s grace frees one from māyā’s spell.
Treat external status as temporary, cultivate devotion and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, and prioritize inner discipline (sādhana) so that peace comes from spiritual identity rather than social control or possessions.