Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 6 · Chapter 14
श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच रजस्तम:स्वभावस्य ब्रह्मन् वृत्रस्य पाप्मन: । नारायणे भगवति कथमासीद् दृढा मति: ॥ १ ॥
sri-pariksid uvaca rajas-tamah-svabhavasya brahman vrtrasya papmanah narayane bhagavati katham asid drdha matih
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: O learned brahmana, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vrtrasura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana?
देवानां शुद्धसत्त्वानामृषीणां चामलात्मनाम् । भक्तिर्मुकुन्दचरणे न प्रायेणोपजायते ॥ २ ॥
devanam suddha-sattvanam rsinam camalatmanam bhaktir mukunda-carane na prayenopajayate
Demigods situated in the mode of goodness and great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment hardly ever render pure devotional service at the lotus feet of Mukunda.
रजोभि: समसङ्ख्याता: पार्थिवैरिह जन्तव: । तेषां ये केचनेहन्ते श्रेयो वै मनुजादय: ॥ ३ ॥
rajobhih sama-sankhyatah parthivair iha jantavah tesam ye kecanehante sreyo vai manujadayah
In this material world there are as many living entities as atoms. Among these living entities, a very few are human beings, and among them, few are interested in following religious principles.
प्रायो मुमुक्षवस्तेषां केचनैव द्विजोत्तम । मुमुक्षूणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिन्मुच्येत सिध्यति ॥ ४ ॥
prayo mumuksavas tesam kecanaiva dvijottama mumuksunam sahasresu kascin mucyeta sidhyati
O best of the brahmanas, Sukadeva Gosvami, out of many persons who follow religious principles, only a few desire liberation from the material world. Among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, country, home, wife and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare.
मुक्तानामपि सिद्धानां नारायणपरायण: । सुदुर्लभ: प्रशान्तात्मा कोटिष्वपि महामुने ॥ ५ ॥
muktanam api siddhanam narayana-parayanah sudurlabhah prasantatma kotisv api maha-mune
O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krsna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.
वृत्रस्तु स कथं पाप: सर्वलोकोपतापन: । इत्थं दृढमति: कृष्ण आसीत्सङ्ग्राम उल्बणे ॥ ६ ॥
vrtras tu sa katham papah sarva-lokopatapanah ittham drdha-matih krsna asit sangrama ulbane
Vrtrasura was situated in the blazing fire of battle and was an infamous, sinful demon, always engaged in giving troubles and anxieties to others. How could such a demon become so greatly Krsna conscious?
अत्र न: संशयो भूयाञ्छ्रोतुं कौतूहलं प्रभो । य: पौरुषेण समरे सहस्राक्षमतोषयत् ॥ ७ ॥
atra nah samsayo bhuyan chrotum kautuhalam prabho yah paurusena samare sahasraksam atosayat
My dear lord, Sukadeva Gosvami, although Vrtrasura was a sinful demon, he showed the prowess of a most exalted ksatriya and satisfied Lord Indra in battle. How could such a demon be a great devotee of Lord Krsna? These contradictions have caused me great doubt, and they have made me eager to hear of this from you.
श्रीसूत उवाच परीक्षितोऽथ सम्प्रश्नं भगवान् बादरायणि: । निशम्य श्रद्दधानस्य प्रतिनन्द्य वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ८ ॥
sri-suta uvaca pariksito ’tha samprasnam bhagavan badarayanih nisamya sraddadhanasya pratinandya vaco ’bravit
Sri Suta Gosvami said: After hearing Maharaja Pariksit’s very intelligent question, Sukadeva Gosvami, the most powerful sage, began answering his disciple with great affection.
श्रीशुक उवाच शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्नितिहासमिमं यथा । श्रुतं द्वैपायनमुखान्नारदाद्देवलादपि ॥ ९ ॥
sri-suka uvaca srnusvavahito rajann itihasam imam yatha srutam dvaipayana-mukhan naradad devalad api
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, I shall speak to you the same history I have heard from the mouths of Vyasadeva, Narada and Devala. Please listen with attention.
आसीद्राजा सार्वभौम: शूरसेनेषु वै नृप । चित्रकेतुरिति ख्यातो यस्यासीत्कामधुङ्मही ॥ १० ॥
asid raja sarvabhaumah surasenesu vai nrpa citraketur iti khyato yasyasit kamadhun mahi
O King Pariksit, in the province of Surasena there was a king named Citraketu, who ruled the entire earth. During his reign, the earth produced all the necessities for life.
तस्य भार्यासहस्राणां सहस्राणि दशाभवन् । सान्तानिकश्चापि नृपो न लेभे तासु सन्ततिम् ॥ ११ ॥
tasya bharya-sahasranam sahasrani dasabhavan santanikas capi nrpo na lebhe tasu santatim
This Citraketu had ten million wives, but although he was capable of producing children, he did not receive a child from any of them. By chance, all the wives were barren.
रूपौदार्यवयोजन्मविद्यैश्वर्यश्रियादिभि: । सम्पन्नस्य गुणै: सर्वैश्चिन्ता बन्ध्यापतेरभूत् ॥ १२ ॥
rupaudarya-vayo-janma- vidyaisvarya-sriyadibhih sampannasya gunaih sarvais cinta bandhya-pater abhut
Citraketu, the husband of these millions of wives, was endowed with a beautiful form, magnanimity and youth. He was born in a high family, he had a complete education, and he was wealthy and opulent. Nevertheless, in spite of being endowed with all these assets, he was full of anxiety because he did not have a son.
न तस्य सम्पद: सर्वा महिष्यो वामलोचना: । सार्वभौमस्य भूश्चेयमभवन्प्रीतिहेतव: ॥ १३ ॥
na tasya sampadah sarva mahisyo vama-locanah sarvabhaumasya bhus ceyam abhavan priti-hetavah
His queens all had beautiful faces and attractive eyes, yet neither his opulences, his hundreds and thousands of queens, nor the lands of which he was the supreme proprietor were sources of happiness for him.
तस्यैकदा तु भवनमङ्गिरा भगवानृषि: । लोकाननुचरन्नेतानुपागच्छद्यदृच्छया ॥ १४ ॥
tasyaikada tu bhavanam angira bhagavan rsih lokan anucarann etan upagacchad yadrcchaya
Once upon a time, when the powerful sage named Angira was traveling all over the universe without engagement, by his sweet will he came to the palace of King Citraketu.
तं पूजयित्वा विधिवत्प्रत्युत्थानार्हणादिभि: । कृतातिथ्यमुपासीदत्सुखासीनं समाहित: ॥ १५ ॥
tam pujayitva vidhivat pratyutthanarhanadibhih krtatithyam upasidat sukhasinam samahitah
Citraketu immediately stood up from his throne and offered him worship. He offered drinking water and eatables and in this way performed his duty as a host to a great guest. When the rsi was seated very comfortably, the King, restraining his mind and senses, sat on the ground at the side of the rsi’s feet.
महर्षिस्तमुपासीनं प्रश्रयावनतं क्षितौ । प्रतिपूज्य महाराज समाभाष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १६ ॥
maharsis tam upasinam prasrayavanatam ksitau pratipujya maharaja samabhasyedam abravit
O King Pariksit, when Citraketu, bent low in humility, was seated at the lotus feet of the great sage, the sage congratulated him for his humility and hospitality. The sage addressed him in the following words.
अङ्गिरा उवाच अपि तेऽनामयं स्वस्ति प्रकृतीनां तथात्मन: । यथा प्रकृतिभिर्गुप्त: पुमान् राजा च सप्तभि: ॥ १७ ॥
angira uvaca api te ’namayam svasti prakrtinam tathatmanah yatha prakrtibhir guptah puman raja ca saptabhih
The great sage Angira said: My dear King, I hope that your body and mind and your royal associates and paraphernalia are well. When the seven properties of material nature (the total material energy, the ego and the five objects of sense gratification) are in proper order, the living entity within the material elements is happy. Without these seven elements one cannot exist. Similarly, a king is always protected by seven elements—his instructor (svami or guru), his ministers, his kingdom, his fort, his treasury, his royal order and his friends.
आत्मानं प्रकृतिष्वद्धा निधाय श्रेय आप्नुयात् । राज्ञा तथा प्रकृतयो नरदेवाहिताधय: ॥ १८ ॥
atmanam prakrtisv addha nidhaya sreya apnuyat rajna tatha prakrtayo naradevahitadhayah
O King, O lord of humanity, when a king directly depends upon his associates and follows their instructions, he is happy. Similarly, when his associates offer their gifts and activities to the king and follow his orders, they are also happy.
अपि दारा: प्रजामात्या भृत्या: श्रेण्योऽथ मन्त्रिण: । पौरा जानपदा भूपा आत्मजा वशवर्तिन: ॥ १९ ॥
api darah prajamatya bhrtyah srenyo ’tha mantrinah paura janapada bhupa atmaja vasa-vartinah
O King, are your wives, citizens, secretaries and servants and the merchants who sell spices and oil under your control? Are you also in full control of ministers, the inhabitants of your palace, your provincial governors, your sons and your other dependents?
यस्यात्मानुवशश्चेत्स्यात्सर्वे तद्वशगा इमे । लोका: सपाला यच्छन्ति सर्वे बलिमतन्द्रिता: ॥ २० ॥
yasyatmanuvasas cet syat sarve tad-vasaga ime lokah sapala yacchanti sarve balim atandritah
If the king’s mind is fully controlled, all his family members and governmental officers are subordinate to him. His provincial governors present taxes on time, without resistance, and what to speak of lesser servants?
आत्मन: प्रीयते नात्मा परत: स्वत एव वा । लक्षयेऽलब्धकामं त्वां चिन्तया शबलं मुखम् ॥ २१ ॥
atmanah priyate natma paratah svata eva va laksaye ’labdha-kamam tvam cintaya sabalam mukham
O King Citraketu, I can observe that your mind is not pleased. You seem not to have achieved your desired goal. Is this because of you yourself, or has it been caused by others? Your pale face reflects your deep anxiety.
एवं विकल्पितो राजन् विदुषा मुनिनापि स: । प्रश्रयावनतोऽभ्याह प्रजाकामस्ततो मुनिम् ॥ २२ ॥
evam vikalpito rajan vidusa muninapi sah prasrayavanato ’bhyaha praja-kamas tato munim
Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, although the great sage Angira knew everything, he inquired from the King in this way. Thus King Citraketu, desiring a son, bent low in great humility and spoke to the great sage as follows.
चित्रकेतुरुवाच भगवन् किं न विदितं तपोज्ञानसमाधिभि: । योगिनां ध्वस्तपापानां बहिरन्त: शरीरिषु ॥ २३ ॥
citraketur uvaca bhagavan kim na viditam tapo-jnana-samadhibhih yoginam dhvasta-papanam bahir antah saririsu
King Citraketu said: O great lord Angira, because of austerity, knowledge and transcendental samadhi, you are freed from all the reactions of sinful life. Therefore, as a perfect yogi, you can understand everything external and internal regarding embodied, conditioned souls like us.
तथापि पृच्छतो ब्रूयां ब्रह्मन्नात्मनि चिन्तितम् । भवतो विदुषश्चापि चोदितस्त्वदनुज्ञया ॥ २४ ॥
tathapi prcchato bruyam brahmann atmani cintitam bhavato vidusas capi coditas tvad-anujnaya
O great soul, you are aware of everything, yet you are asking me why I am full of anxiety. Therefore, in response to your order, let me disclose the cause.
लोकपालैरपि प्रार्थ्या: साम्राज्यैश्वर्यसम्पद: । न नन्दयन्त्यप्रजं मां क्षुत्तृट्काममिवापरे ॥ २५ ॥
loka-palair api prarthyah samrajyaisvarya-sampadah na nandayanty aprajam mam ksut-trt-kamam ivapare
As a person aggrieved by hunger and thirst is not pleased by the external gratification of flower garlands or sandalwood pulp, I am not pleased with my empire, opulence or possessions, which are desirable even for great demigods, because I have no son.
तत: पाहि महाभाग पूर्वै: सह गतं तम: । यथा तरेम दुष्पारं प्रजया तद्विधेहि न: ॥ २६ ॥
tatah pahi maha-bhaga purvaih saha gatam tamah yatha tarema dusparam prajaya tad vidhehi nah
Therefore, O great sage, please save me and my forefathers, who are descending to the darkness of hell because I have no progeny. Kindly do something so that I may have a son to deliver us from hellish conditions.
श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यर्थित: स भगवान् कृपालुर्ब्रह्मण: सुत: । श्रपयित्वा चरुं त्वाष्ट्रं त्वष्टारमयजद्विभु: ॥ २७ ॥
sri-suka uvaca ity arthitah sa bhagavan krpalur brahmanah sutah srapayitva carum tvastram tvastaram ayajad vibhuh
In response to the request of Maharaja Citraketu, Angira Rsi, who was born of Lord Brahma’s mind, was very merciful toward him. Because the sage was a greatly powerful personality, he performed a sacrifice by offering oblations of sweetrice to Tvasta.
ज्येष्ठा श्रेष्ठा च या राज्ञो महिषीणां च भारत । नाम्ना कृतद्युतिस्तस्यै यज्ञोच्छिष्टमदाद् द्विज: ॥ २८ ॥
jyestha srestha ca ya rajno mahisinam ca bharata namna krtadyutis tasyai yajnocchistam adad dvijah
O Pariksit Maharaja, best of the Bharatas, the remnants of the food offered in the yajna were given by the great sage Angira to the first and most perfect among Citraketu’s millions of queens, whose name was Krtadyuti.
अथाह नृपतिं राजन् भवितैकस्तवात्मज: । हर्षशोकप्रदस्तुभ्यमिति ब्रह्मसुतो ययौ ॥ २९ ॥
athaha nrpatim rajan bhavitaikas tavatmajah harsa-soka-pradas tubhyam iti brahma-suto yayau
Thereafter, the great sage told the King, O great King, now you will have a son who will be the cause of both jubilation and lamentation The sage then left, without waiting for Citraketu’s response.
सापि तत्प्राशनादेव चित्रकेतोरधारयत् । गर्भं कृतद्युतिर्देवी कृत्तिकाग्नेरिवात्मजम् ॥ ३० ॥
sapi tat-prasanad eva citraketor adharayat garbham krtadyutir devi krttikagner ivatmajam
As Krttikadevi, after receiving the semen of Lord Siva from Agni, conceived a child named Skanda (Karttikeya), Krtadyuti, having received semen from Citraketu, became pregnant after eating remnants of food from the yajna performed by Angira.
तस्या अनुदिनं गर्भ: शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुप: । ववृधे शूरसेनेशतेजसा शनकैर्नृप ॥ ३१ ॥
tasya anudinam garbhah sukla-paksa ivodupah vavrdhe surasenesa- tejasa sanakair nrpa
After receiving semen from Maharaja Citraketu, the King of Surasena, Queen Krtadyuti gradually developed in her pregnancy, O King Pariksit, just as the moon develops during the bright fortnight.
अथ काल उपावृत्ते कुमार: समजायत । जनयन् शूरसेनानां शृण्वतां परमां मुदम् ॥ ३२ ॥
atha kala upavrtte kumarah samajayata janayan surasenanam srnvatam paramam mudam
Thereafter, in due course of time, a son was born to the King. Hearing news of this, all the inhabitants of the state of Surasena were extremely pleased.
हृष्टो राजा कुमारस्य स्नात: शुचिरलङ्कृत: । वाचयित्वाशिषो विप्रै: कारयामास जातकम् ॥ ३३ ॥
hrsto raja kumarasya snatah sucir alankrtah vacayitvasiso vipraih karayam asa jatakam
King Citraketu was especially pleased. After purifying himself by bathing and by decorating himself with ornaments, he engaged learned brahmanas in offering benedictions to the child and performing the birth ceremony.
तेभ्यो हिरण्यं रजतं वासांस्याभरणानि च । ग्रामान् हयान् गजान् प्रादाद् धेनूनामर्बुदानि षट् ॥ ३४ ॥
tebhyo hiranyam rajatam vasamsy abharanani ca graman hayan gajan pradad dhenunam arbudani sat
Unto the brahmanas who took part in the ritualistic ceremony the King gave charity of gold, silver, garments, ornaments, villages, horses and elephants, as well as sixty crores of cows (six hundred million cows).
ववर्ष कामानन्येषां पर्जन्य इव देहिनाम् । धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं कुमारस्य महामना: ॥ ३५ ॥
vavarsa kaman anyesam parjanya iva dehinam dhanyam yasasyam ayusyam kumarasya maha-manah
As a cloud indiscriminately pours water on the earth, the beneficent King Citraketu, to increase the reputation, opulence and longevity of his son, distributed like rainfall all desirable things to everyone.
कृच्छ्रलब्धेऽथ राजर्षेस्तनयेऽनुदिनं पितु: । यथा नि:स्वस्य कृच्छ्राप्ते धने स्नेहोऽन्ववर्धत ॥ ३६ ॥
krcchra-labdhe ’tha rajarses tanaye ’nudinam pituh yatha nihsvasya krcchrapte dhane sneho ’nvavardhata
When a poor man gets some money after great difficulty, his affection for the money increases daily. Similarly, when King Citraketu, after great difficulty, received a son, his affection for the son increased day after day.
मातुस्त्वतितरां पुत्रे स्नेहो मोहसमुद्भव: । कृतद्युते: सपत्नीनां प्रजाकामज्वरोऽभवत् ॥ ३७ ॥
matus tv atitaram putre sneho moha-samudbhavah krtadyuteh sapatninam praja-kama-jvaro ’bhavat
The mother’s attraction and attention to the son, like that of the child’s father, excessively increased. The other wives, seeing Krtadyuti’s son, were very much agitated, as if by high fevers, with a desire to have sons.
चित्रकेतोरतिप्रीतिर्यथा दारे प्रजावति । न तथान्येषु सञ्जज्ञे बालं लालयतोऽन्वहम् ॥ ३८ ॥
citraketor atipritir yatha dare prajavati na tathanyesu sanjajne balam lalayato ’nvaham
As King Citraketu fostered his son very carefully, his affection for Queen Krtadyuti increased, but gradually he lost affection for the other wives, who had no sons.
ता: पर्यतप्यन्नात्मानं गर्हयन्त्योऽभ्यसूयया । आनपत्येन दु:खेन राज्ञश्चानादरेण च ॥ ३९ ॥
tah paryatapyann atmanam garhayantyo ’bhyasuyaya anapatyena duhkhena rajnas canadarena ca
The other queens were extremely unhappy due to their being sonless. Because of the King’s negligence toward them, they condemned themselves in envy and lamented.
धिगप्रजां स्त्रियं पापां पत्युश्चागृहसम्मताम् । सुप्रजाभि: सपत्नीभिर्दासीमिव तिरस्कृताम् ॥ ४० ॥
dhig aprajam striyam papam patyus cagrha-sammatam suprajabhih sapatnibhir dasim iva tiraskrtam
A wife who has no sons is neglected at home by her husband and dishonored by her co-wives exactly like a maidservant. Certainly such a woman is condemned in every respect because of her sinful life.
दासीनां को नु सन्ताप: स्वामिन: परिचर्यया । अभीक्ष्णं लब्धमानानां दास्या दासीव दुर्भगा: ॥ ४१ ॥
dasinam ko nu santapah svaminah paricaryaya abhiksnam labdha-mananam dasya dasiva durbhagah
Even maidservants who are constantly engaged in rendering service to the husband are honored by the husband, and thus they have nothing for which to lament. Our position, however, is that we are maidservants of the maidservant. Therefore we are most unfortunate.
एवं सन्दह्यमानानां सपत्न्या: पुत्रसम्पदा । राज्ञोऽसम्मतवृत्तीनां विद्वेषो बलवानभूत् ॥ ४२ ॥
evam sandahyamananam sapatnyah putra-sampada rajno ’sammata-vrttinam vidveso balavan abhut
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Being neglected by their husband and seeing Krtadyuti’s opulence in possessing a son, Krtadyuti’s co-wives always burned in envy, which became extremely strong.
विद्वेषनष्टमतय: स्त्रियो दारुणचेतस: । गरं ददु: कुमाराय दुर्मर्षा नृपतिं प्रति ॥ ४३ ॥
vidvesa-nasta-matayah striyo daruna-cetasah garam daduh kumaraya durmarsa nrpatim prati
As their envy increased, they lost their intelligence. Being extremely hardhearted and unable to tolerate the King’s neglect, they finally administered poison to the son.
कृतद्युतिरजानन्ती सपत्नीनामघं महत् । सुप्त एवेति सञ्चिन्त्य निरीक्ष्य व्यचरद्गृहे ॥ ४४ ॥
krtadyutir ajananti sapatninam agham mahat supta eveti sancintya niriksya vyacarad grhe
Unaware of the poison administered by her co-wives, Queen Krtadyuti walked within the house, thinking that her son was sleeping deeply. She did not understand that he was dead.
शयानं सुचिरं बालमुपधार्य मनीषिणी । पुत्रमानय मे भद्रे इति धात्रीमचोदयत् ॥ ४५ ॥
sayanam suciram balam upadharya manisini putram anaya me bhadre iti dhatrim acodayat
Thinking that her child had been sleeping for a long time, Queen Krtadyuti, who was certainly very intelligent, ordered the nurse, “My dear friend, please bring my son here.”
सा शयानमुपव्रज्य दृष्ट्वा चोत्तारलोचनम् । प्राणेन्द्रियात्मभिस्त्यक्तं हतास्मीत्यपतद्भुवि ॥ ४६ ॥
sa sayanam upavrajya drstva cottara-locanam pranendriyatmabhis tyaktam hatasmity apatad bhuvi
When the maidservant approached the child, who was lying down, she saw that his eyes were turned upward. There were no signs of life, all his senses having stopped, and she could understand that the child was dead. Seeing this, she immediately cried, Now I am doomed and fell to the ground.
तस्यास्तदाकर्ण्य भृशातुरं स्वरं घ्नन्त्या: कराभ्यामुर उच्चकैरपि । प्रविश्य राज्ञी त्वरयात्मजान्तिकं ददर्श बालं सहसा मृतं सुतम् ॥ ४७ ॥
tasyas tadakarnya bhrsaturam svaram ghnantyah karabhyam ura uccakair api pravisya rajni tvarayatmajantikam dadarsa balam sahasa mrtam sutam
In great agitation, the maidservant struck her breast with both hands and cried loudly in regretful words. Hearing her loud voice, the Queen immediately came, and when she approached her son, she saw that he was suddenly dead.
पपात भूमौ परिवृद्धया शुचा मुमोह विभ्रष्टशिरोरुहाम्बरा ॥ ४८ ॥
papata bhumau parivrddhaya suca mumoha vibhrasta-siroruhambara
In great lamentation, her hair and dress in disarray, the Queen fell to the ground unconscious.
ततो नृपान्त: पुरवर्तिनो जना नराश्च नार्यश्च निशम्य रोदनम् । आगत्य तुल्यव्यसना: सुदु:खिता- स्ताश्च व्यलीकं रुरुदु: कृतागस: ॥ ४९ ॥
tato nrpantahpura-vartino jana naras ca naryas ca nisamya rodanam agatya tulya-vyasanah suduhkhitas tas ca vyalikam ruruduh krtagasah
O King Pariksit, hearing the loud crying, all the inhabitants of the palace came, both men and women. Being equally aggrieved, they also began to cry. The queens who had administered the poison also cried pretentiously, knowing full well their offense.
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 ॥
srutva mrtam putram alaksitantakam vinasta-drstih prapatan skhalan pathi snehanubandhaidhitaya suca bhrsam vimurcchito ’nuprakrtir dvijair vrtah papata balasya sa pada-mule mrtasya visrasta-siroruhambarah dirgham svasan baspa-kaloparodhato niruddha-kantho na sasaka bhasitum
When King Citraketu heard of his son’s death from unknown causes, he became almost blind. Because of his great affection for his son, his lamentation grew like a blazing fire, and as he went to see the dead child, he kept slipping and falling on the ground. Surrounded by his ministers and other officers and the learned brahmanas present, the King approached and fell unconscious at the child’s feet, his hair and dress scattered. When the King, breathing heavily, regained consciousness, his eyes were tearful, and he could not speak.
पतिं निरीक्ष्योरुशुचार्पितं तदा मृतं च बालं सुतमेकसन्ततिम् । जनस्य राज्ञी प्रकृतेश्च हृद्रुजं सती दधाना विललाप चित्रधा ॥ ५२ ॥
patim niriksyoru-sucarpitam tada mrtam ca balam sutam eka-santatim janasya rajni prakrtes ca hrd-rujam sati dadhana vilalapa citradha
When the Queen saw her husband, King Citraketu, merged in great lamentation and saw the dead child, who was the only son in the family, she lamented in various ways. This increased the pain in the cores of the hearts of all the inhabitants of the palace, the ministers and all the brahmanas.
स्तनद्वयं कुङ्कुमपङ्कमण्डितं निषिञ्चती साञ्जनबाष्पबिन्दुभि: । विकीर्य केशान् विगलत्स्रज: सुतं शुशोच चित्रं कुररीव सुस्वरम् ॥ ५३ ॥
stana-dvayam kunkuma-panka-manditam nisincati sanjana-baspa-bindubhih vikirya kesan vigalat-srajah sutam susoca citram kurariva susvaram
The garland of flowers decorating the Queen’s head fell, and her hair scattered. Falling tears melted the collyrium on her eyes and moistened her breasts, which were covered with kunkuma powder. As she lamented the loss of her son, her loud crying resembled the sweet sound of a kurari bird.
अहो विधातस्त्वमतीव बालिशो यस्त्वात्मसृष्ट्यप्रतिरूपमीहसे । परे नु जीवत्यपरस्य या मृति- र्विपर्ययश्चेत्त्वमसि ध्रुव: पर: ॥ ५४ ॥
aho vidhatas tvam ativa baliso yas tv atma-srsty-apratirupam ihase pare nu jivaty aparasya ya mrtir viparyayas cet tvam asi dhruvah parah
Alas, O Providence, O Creator, You are certainly inexperienced in creation, for during the lifetime of a father You have caused the death of his son, thus acting in opposition to Your creative laws. If You are determined to contradict these laws, You are certainly the enemy of living entities and are never merciful.
न हि क्रमश्चेदिह मृत्युजन्मनो: शरीरिणामस्तु तदात्मकर्मभि: । य: स्नेहपाशो निजसर्गवृद्धये स्वयं कृतस्ते तमिमं विवृश्चसि ॥ ५५ ॥
na hi kramas ced iha mrtyu-janmanoh saririnam astu tad atma-karmabhih yah sneha-paso nija-sarga-vrddhaye svayam krtas te tam imam vivrscasi
My Lord, You may say that there is no law that a father must die in the lifetime of his son and that a son must be born in the lifetime of his father, since everyone lives and dies according to his own fruitive activity. However, if fruitive activity is so strong that birth and death depend upon it, there is no need of a controller, or God. Again, if You say that a controller is needed because the material energy does not have the power to act, one may answer that if the bonds of affection You have created are disturbed by fruitive action, no one will raise children with affection; instead, everyone will cruelly neglect his children. Since You have cut the bonds of affection that compel a parent to raise his child, You appear inexperienced and unintelligent.
त्वं तात नार्हसि च मां कृपणामनाथां त्यक्तुं विचक्ष्व पितरं तव शोकतप्तम् । अञ्जस्तरेम भवताप्रजदुस्तरं यद् ध्वान्तं न याह्यकरुणेन यमेन दूरम् ॥ ५६ ॥
tvam tata narhasi ca mam krpanam anatham tyaktum vicaksva pitaram tava soka-taptam anjas tarema bhavatapraja-dustaram yad dhvantam na yahy akarunena yamena duram
My dear son, I am helpless and very much aggrieved. You should not give up my company. Just look at your lamenting father. We are helpless because without a son we shall have to suffer the distress of going to the darkest hellish regions. You are the only hope by which we can get out of these dark regions. Therefore I request you not to go any further with the merciless Yama.
उत्तिष्ठ तात त इमे शिशवो वयस्या- स्त्वामाह्वयन्ति नृपनन्दन संविहर्तुम् । सुप्तश्चिरं ह्यशनया च भवान् परीतो भुङ्क्ष्व स्तनं पिब शुचो हर न: स्वकानाम् ॥ ५७ ॥
uttistha tata ta ime sisavo vayasyas tvam ahvayanti nrpa-nandana samvihartum suptas ciram hy asanaya ca bhavan parito bhunksva stanam piba suco hara nah svakanam
My dear son, you have slept a long time. Now please get up. Your playmates are calling you to play. Since you must be very hungry, please get up and suck my breast and dissipate our lamentation.
नाहं तनूज ददृशे हतमङ्गला ते मुग्धस्मितं मुदितवीक्षणमाननाब्जम् । किं वा गतोऽस्यपुनरन्वयमन्यलोकं नीतोऽघृणेन न शृणोमि कला गिरस्ते ॥ ५८ ॥
naham tanuja dadrse hata-mangala te mugdha-smitam mudita-viksanam ananabjam kim va gato ’sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokam nito ’ghrnena na srnomi kala giras te
My dear son, I am certainly most unfortunate, for I can no longer see your mild smiling. You have closed your eyes forever. I therefore conclude that you have been taken from this plane to another, from which you will not return. My dear son, I can no longer hear your pleasing voice.
श्रीशुक उवाच विलपन्त्या मृतं पुत्रमिति चित्रविलापनै: । चित्रकेतुर्भृशं तप्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ५९ ॥
sri-suka uvaca vilapantya mrtam putram iti citra-vilapanaih citraketur bhrsam tapto mukta-kantho ruroda ha
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Accompanied by his wife, who was thus lamenting for her dead son, King Citraketu began crying loudly with an open mouth, being greatly aggrieved.
तयोर्विलपतो: सर्वे दम्पत्योस्तदनुव्रता: । रुरुदु: स्म नरा नार्य: सर्वमासीदचेतनम् ॥ ६० ॥
tayor vilapatoh sarve dampatyos tad-anuvratah ruruduh sma nara naryah sarvam asid acetanam
As the King and Queen lamented, all their male and female followers joined them in crying. Because of the sudden accident, all the citizens of the kingdom were almost unconscious.
एवं कश्मलमापन्नं नष्टसंज्ञमनायकम् । ज्ञात्वाङ्गिरा नाम ऋषिराजगाम सनारद: ॥ ६१ ॥
evam kasmalam apannam nasta-samjnam anayakam jnatvangira nama rsir ajagama sanaradah
When the great sage Angira understood that the King was almost dead in an ocean of lamentation, he went there with Narada Rsi.
