King Chitraketu's Lament

Verse 1 (bhagavata.6.14.1)

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच रजस्तमःस्वभावस्य ब्रह्मन् वृत्रस्य पाप्मनः । नारायणे भगवति कथमासीद् दृढा मतिः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-parīkṣid uvāca rajas-tamaḥ-svabhāvasya brahman vṛtrasya pāpmanaḥ nārāyaṇe bhagavati katham āsīd dṛḍhā matiḥ

King Parikshit said: O brahmana, Vritrasura's very nature was governed by the modes of passion and ignorance, and he was sinful. How, then, did his mind become so firmly fixed upon Bhagavan Narayana?

Verse 2 (bhagavata.6.14.2)

देवानां शुद्धसत्त्वानामृषीणां चामलात्मनाम् । भक्तिर्मुकुन्दचरणे न प्रायेणोपजायते ॥ २ ॥

devānāṁ śuddha-sattvānām ṛṣīṇāṁ cāmalātmanām bhaktir mukunda-caraṇe na prāyeṇopajāyate

Even among gods established in pure goodness, and among sages of untainted heart, devotion to the lotus feet of Mukunda rarely arises.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.6.14.3)

रजोभिः समसङ्ख्याताः पार्थिवैरिह जन्तवः । तेषां ये केचनेहन्ते श्रेयो वै मनुजादयः ॥ ३ ॥

rajobhiḥ sama-saṅkhyātāḥ pārthivair iha jantavaḥ teṣāṁ ye kecanehante śreyo vai manujādayaḥ

In this world, living beings are as numerous as grains of dust. Among these, human beings and the like are few, and among them, only some strive for the good.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.6.14.4)

प्रायो मुमुक्षवस्तेषां केचनैव द्विजोत्तम । मुमुक्षूणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिन्मुच्येत सिध्यति ॥ ४ ॥

prāyo mumukṣavas teṣāṁ kecanaiva dvijottama mumukṣūṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścin mucyeta sidhyati

O best of the twice-born, of those, only a few even desire liberation; and among a thousand who desire it, scarcely one is actually freed and attains perfection.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.6.14.5)

मुक्तानामपि सिद्धानां नारायणपरायणः । सुदुर्लभः प्रशान्तात्मा कोटिष्वपि महामुने ॥ ५ ॥

muktānām api siddhānāṁ nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ su-durlabhaḥ praśāntātmā koṭiṣv api mahā-mune

O great sage, even among those who are liberated and perfected, one in millions is truly devoted to Narayana, at peace within, and exceedingly rare to find.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.6.14.6)

वृत्रस्तु स कथं पापः सर्वलोकोपतापनः । इत्थं दृढमतिः कृष्ण आसीत्सङ्ग्राम उल्बणे ॥ ६ ॥

vṛtras tu sa kathaṁ pāpaḥ sarva-lokopatāpanaḥ itthaṁ dṛḍha-matiḥ kṛṣṇa āsīt saṅgrāma ulbaṇe

But Vritra was a sinner, a scourge to all the worlds — how, then, could his mind remain so unshakably fixed on Krishna even in the midst of that terrible battle?

Verse 7 (bhagavata.6.14.7)

अत्र नः संशयो भूयाञ्छ्रोतुं कौतूहलं प्रभो । यः पौरुषेण समरे सहस्राक्षमतोषयत् ॥ ७ ॥

atra naḥ saṁśayo bhūyāñ chrotuṁ kautūhalaṁ prabho yaḥ pauruṣeṇa samare sahasrākṣam atoṣayat

O lord, on this we have great doubt, and a strong wish to hear — how could one whose might in battle satisfied even thousand-eyed Indra himself have been such a soul?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.6.14.8)

श्रीसूत उवाच परीक्षितोऽथ सम्प्रश्नं भगवान् बादरायणिः । निशम्य श्रद्दधानस्य प्रतिनन्द्य वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-sūta uvāca parīkṣito ’tha sampraśnaṁ bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ niśamya śraddadhānasya pratinandya vaco ’bravīt

Shri Suta said: Then the illustrious Badarayani, hearing Parikshit's question and seeing his sincere faith, gladly welcomed it and began to speak.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.6.14.9)

श्रीशुक उवाच शृणुष्वावहितो राजन्नितिहासमिमं यथा । श्रुतं द्वैपायनमुखान्नारदाद्देवलादपि ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājann itihāsam imaṁ yathā śrutaṁ dvaipāyana-mukhān nāradād devalād api

Shri Shukadeva said: O King, listen attentively as I now relate this history, just as I heard it from the mouths of Vyasa, Narada, and Devala.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.6.14.10)

आसीद्राजा सार्वभौमः शूरसेनेषु वै नृप । चित्रकेतुरिति ख्यातो यस्यासीत्कामधुङ्मही ॥ १० ॥

āsīd rājā sārvabhaumaḥ śūraseneṣu vai nṛpa citraketur iti khyāto yasyāsīt kāmadhuṅ mahī

There once ruled, in the land of the Shurasenas, a sovereign king named Chitraketu, O King, in whose reign the earth yielded every desire like a wish-granting cow.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.6.14.11)

तस्य भार्यासहस्राणां सहस्राणि दशाभवन् । सान्तानिकश्चापि नृपो न लेभे तासु सन्ततिम् ॥ ११ ॥

tasya bhāryā-sahasrāṇāṁ sahasrāṇi daśābhavan sāntānikaś cāpi nṛpo na lebhe tāsu santatim

That king had ten thousand queens, yet though fully capable of begetting offspring, he obtained no child from any of them.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.6.14.12)

रूपौदार्यवयोजन्मविद्यैश्वर्यश्रियादिभिः । सम्पन्नस्य गुणैः सर्वैश्चिन्ता बन्ध्यापतेरभूत् ॥ १२ ॥

rūpaudārya-vayo-janma- vidyaiśvarya-śriyādibhiḥ sampannasya guṇaiḥ sarvaiś cintā bandhyā-pater abhūt

Though endowed with beauty, generosity, youth, noble birth, learning, wealth, and every fortune, this husband — lacking offspring — remained ever burdened with anxiety.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.6.14.13)

न तस्य सम्पदः सर्वा महिष्यो वामलोचनाः । सार्वभौमस्य भूश्चेयमभवन्प्रीतिहेतवः ॥ १३ ॥

na tasya sampadaḥ sarvā mahiṣyo vāma-locanāḥ sārvabhaumasya bhūś ceyam abhavan prīti-hetavaḥ

None of his riches, his fair-eyed queens, nor his sovereignty over the whole earth could bring him any source of joy.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.6.14.14)

तस्यैकदा तु भवनमङ्गिरा भगवानृषिः । लोकाननुचरन्नेतानुपागच्छद्यदृच्छया ॥ १४ ॥

tasyaikadā tu bhavanam aṅgirā bhagavān ṛṣiḥ lokān anucarann etān upāgacchad yadṛcchayā

One day the illustrious sage Angira, wandering through all the worlds, arrived at his palace of his own accord, quite by chance.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.6.14.15)

तं पूजयित्वा विधिवत्प्रत्युत्थानार्हणादिभिः । कृतातिथ्यमुपासीदत्सुखासीनं समाहितः ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ pūjayitvā vidhivat pratyutthānārhaṇādibhiḥ kṛtātithyam upāsīdat sukhāsīnaṁ samāhitaḥ

The king rose and duly worshiped him with proper honors; having performed the rites of hospitality, he attended with focused mind upon the sage, now seated comfortably.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.6.14.16)

महर्षिस्तमुपासीनं प्रश्रयावनतं क्षितौ । प्रतिपूज्य महाराज समाभाष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ १६ ॥

maharṣis tam upāsīnaṁ praśrayāvanataṁ kṣitau pratipūjya mahārāja samābhāṣyedam abravīt

O great king, the sage, honoring him as he sat humbly bowed upon the ground, addressed him with these words.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.6.14.17)

अङ्गिरा उवाच अपि तेऽनामयं स्वस्ति प्रकृतीनां तथात्मनः । यथा प्रकृतिभिर्गुप्तः पुमान् राजा च सप्तभिः ॥ १७ ॥

aṅgirā uvāca api te ’nāmayaṁ svasti prakṛtīnāṁ tathātmanaḥ yathā prakṛtibhir guptaḥ pumān rājā ca saptabhiḥ

Angira said: Is all well with your body and mind, and with your subjects? Are you protected, as a king should be, by all seven constituent elements of rule?

Verse 18 (bhagavata.6.14.18)

आत्मानं प्रकृतिष्वद्धा निधाय श्रेय आप्नुयात् । राज्ञा तथा प्रकृतयो नरदेवाहिताधयः ॥ १८ ॥

ātmānaṁ prakṛtiṣv addhā nidhāya śreya āpnuyāt rājñā tathā prakṛtayo naradevāhitādhayaḥ

A king attains true good only by wholly relying upon these constituent elements of his rule; likewise his subjects find their own good in devotion to their king.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.6.14.19)

अपि दाराः प्रजामात्या भृत्याः श्रेण्योऽथ मन्त्रिणः । पौरा जानपदा भूपा आत्मजा वशवर्तिनः ॥ १९ ॥

api dārāḥ prajāmātyā bhṛtyāḥ śreṇyo ’tha mantriṇaḥ paurā jānapadā bhūpā ātmajā vaśa-vartinaḥ

Are your wives, your subjects, your ministers, your servants, the guilds, your counselors, the townsfolk, the countryfolk, other kings, and your own sons — are all of them under your control?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.6.14.20)

यस्यात्मानुवशश्चेत्स्यात्सर्वे तद्वशगा इमे । लोकाः सपाला यच्छन्ति सर्वे बलिमतन्द्रिताः ॥ २० ॥

yasyātmānuvaśaś cet syāt sarve tad-vaśagā ime lokāḥ sapālā yacchanti sarve balim atandritāḥ

When a man's own mind is under his control, all these fall naturally under his sway; then every realm, together with its rulers, offers him tribute without delay.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.6.14.21)

आत्मनः प्रीयते नात्मा परतः स्वत एव वा । लक्षयेऽलब्धकामं त्वां चिन्तया शबलं मुखम् ॥ २१ ॥

ātmanaḥ prīyate nātmā parataḥ svata eva vā lakṣaye ’labdha-kāmaṁ tvāṁ cintayā śabalaṁ mukham

Yet it seems the self finds no contentment, neither from another nor from itself — I see that some desire of yours remains unfulfilled, for your face is clouded with anxiety.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.6.14.22)

एवं विकल्पितो राजन् विदुषा मुनिनापि सः । प्रश्रयावनतोऽभ्याह प्रजाकामस्ततो मुनिम् ॥ २२ ॥

evaṁ vikalpito rājan viduṣā munināpi saḥ praśrayāvanato ’bhyāha prajā-kāmas tato munim

O King, though the wise sage already knew everything, being thus questioned, King Chitraketu, desiring a son, bowed humbly and spoke to the sage as follows.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.6.14.23)

चित्रकेतुरुवाच भगवन् किं न विदितं तपोज्ञानसमाधिभिः । योगिनां ध्वस्तपापानां बहिरन्तः शरीरिषु ॥ २३ ॥

citraketur uvāca bhagavan kiṁ na viditaṁ tapo-jñāna-samādhibhiḥ yogināṁ dhvasta-pāpānāṁ bahir antaḥ śarīriṣu

Chitraketu said: O lord, to yogis whose sins have been destroyed by austerity, knowledge, and meditative absorption, nothing about embodied beings — outer or inner — remains unknown.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.6.14.24)

तथापि पृच्छतो ब्रूयां ब्रह्मन्नात्मनि चिन्तितम् । भवतो विदुषश्चापि चोदितस्त्वदनुज्ञया ॥ २४ ॥

tathāpi pṛcchato brūyāṁ brahmann ātmani cintitam bhavato viduṣaś cāpi coditas tvad-anujñayā

And yet, O brahmana, since you have asked and, by your leave, urged me to speak, I shall tell even one as wise as you what troubles my mind.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.6.14.25)

लोकपालैरपि प्रार्थ्याः साम्राज्यैश्वर्यसम्पदः । न नन्दयन्त्यप्रजं मां क्षुत्तृट्काममिवापरे ॥ २५ ॥

loka-pālair api prārthyāḥ sāmrājyaiśvarya-sampadaḥ na nandayanty aprajaṁ māṁ kṣut-tṛṭ-kāmam ivāpare

Even sovereignty and opulence, desirable to the very guardians of the worlds, bring me no joy, childless as I am — just as, to one tormented by hunger and thirst, no other pleasure can satisfy.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.6.14.26)

ततः पाहि महाभाग पूर्वैः सह गतं तमः । यथा तरेम दुष्पारं प्रजया तद्विधेहि नः ॥ २६ ॥

tataḥ pāhi mahā-bhāga pūrvaiḥ saha gataṁ tamaḥ yathā tarema duṣpāraṁ prajayā tad vidhehi naḥ

Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, save me and my forefathers, who are sinking together with me into darkness; grant that through offspring we may cross that otherwise impassable gloom.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.6.14.27)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यर्थितः स भगवान् कृपालुर्ब्रह्मणः सुतः । श्रपयित्वा चरुं त्वाष्ट्रं त्वष्टारमयजद्विभुः ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity arthitaḥ sa bhagavān kṛpālur brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ śrapayitvā caruṁ tvāṣṭraṁ tvaṣṭāram ayajad vibhuḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus entreated, the compassionate sage Angira, son of Brahma, prepared a sacred oblation and, by that mighty rite, worshiped the god Tvashta.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.6.14.28)

ज्येष्ठा श्रेष्ठा च या राज्ञो महिषीणां च भारत । नाम्ना कृतद्युतिस्तस्यै यज्ञोच्छिष्टमदाद् द्विजः ॥ २८ ॥

jyeṣṭhā śreṣṭhā ca yā rājño mahiṣīṇāṁ ca bhārata nāmnā kṛtadyutis tasyai yajñocchiṣṭam adād dvijaḥ

O descendant of Bharata, to the eldest and most excellent of the king's queens, named Kritadyuti, that brahmana gave the remnants of the sacrifice.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.6.14.29)

अथाह नृपतिं राजन् भवितैकस्तवात्मजः । हर्षशोकप्रदस्तुभ्यमिति ब्रह्मसुतो ययौ ॥ २९ ॥

athāha nṛpatiṁ rājan bhavitaikas tavātmajaḥ harṣa-śoka-pradas tubhyam iti brahma-suto yayau

Then he said to the king: O King, you shall now have a son, who will bring you both joy and sorrow — and having said this, the son of Brahma departed.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.6.14.30)

सापि तत्प्राशनादेव चित्रकेतोरधारयत् । गर्भं कृतद्युतिर्देवी कृत्तिकाग्नेरिवात्मजम् ॥ ३० ॥

sāpi tat-prāśanād eva citraketor adhārayat garbhaṁ kṛtadyutir devī kṛttikāgner ivātmajam

By the very taking of that offering, Queen Kritadyuti conceived a child by Chitraketu, just as Krittika once conceived a son through Agni.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.6.14.31)

तस्या अनुदिनं गर्भः शुक्लपक्ष इवोडुपः । ववृधे शूरसेनेशतेजसा शनकैर्नृप ॥ ३१ ॥

tasyā anudinaṁ garbhaḥ śukla-pakṣa ivoḍupaḥ vavṛdhe śūraseneśa- tejasā śanakair nṛpa

O King, nourished by the vigor of the lord of the Shurasenas, that womb grew day by day, gently, like the moon waxing in its bright fortnight.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.6.14.32)

अथ काल उपावृत्ते कुमारः समजायत । जनयन् शूरसेनानां शृण्वतां परमां मुदम् ॥ ३२ ॥

atha kāla upāvṛtte kumāraḥ samajāyata janayan śūrasenānāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ paramāṁ mudam

When the time came, a son was born, bringing the greatest joy to all the people of Shurasena who heard the news.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.6.14.33)

हृष्टो राजा कुमारस्य स्नातः शुचिरलङ्कृतः । वाचयित्वाशिषो विप्रैः कारयामास जातकम् ॥ ३३ ॥

hṛṣṭo rājā kumārasya snātaḥ śucir alaṅkṛtaḥ vācayitvāśiṣo vipraiḥ kārayām āsa jātakam

The delighted king, having bathed, purified, and adorned himself, had learned brahmanas pronounce blessings and perform the birth ceremony for the child.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.6.14.34)

तेभ्यो हिरण्यं रजतं वासांस्याभरणानि च । ग्रामान् हयान् गजान् प्रादाद् धेनूनामर्बुदानि षट् ॥ ३४ ॥

tebhyo hiraṇyaṁ rajataṁ vāsāṁsy ābharaṇāni ca grāmān hayān gajān prādād dhenūnām arbudāni ṣaṭ

To the brahmanas he gave in charity gold, silver, garments, ornaments, villages, horses, elephants, and six hundred million cows.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.6.14.35)

ववर्ष कामानन्येषां पर्जन्य इव देहिनाम् । धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं कुमारस्य महामनाः ॥ ३५ ॥

vavarṣa kāmān anyeṣāṁ parjanya iva dehinām dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ kumārasya mahā-manāḥ

That great-hearted king, wishing his son fame, blessedness, and long life, poured forth every desired thing upon everyone, like a raincloud showering the earth.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.6.14.36)

कृच्छ्रलब्धेऽथ राजर्षेस्तनयेऽनुदिनं पितुः । यथा निःस्वस्य कृच्छ्राप्ते धने स्नेहोऽन्ववर्धत ॥ ३६ ॥

kṛcchra-labdhe ’tha rājarṣes tanaye ’nudinaṁ pituḥ yathā niḥsvasya kṛcchrāpte dhane sneho ’nvavardhata

As a poor man's affection for wealth gained after great hardship grows daily, so too did the royal sage's affection for his son, obtained after such difficulty, grow with each passing day.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.6.14.37)

मातुस्त्वतितरां पुत्रे स्नेहो मोहसमुद्भवः । कृतद्युतेः सपत्नीनां प्रजाकामज्वरोऽभवत् ॥ ३७ ॥

mātus tv atitarāṁ putre sneho moha-samudbhavaḥ kṛtadyuteḥ sapatnīnāṁ prajā-kāma-jvaro ’bhavat

The mother's love for the child, born of deep attachment, grew still stronger. And because of this, in Kritadyuti's co-wives arose a burning, fever-like craving for children of their own.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.6.14.38)

चित्रकेतोरतिप्रीतिर्यथा दारे प्रजावति । न तथान्येषु सञ्जज्ञे बालं लालयतोऽन्वहम् ॥ ३८ ॥

citraketor atiprītir yathā dāre prajāvati na tathānyeṣu sañjajñe bālaṁ lālayato ’nvaham

The deep affection Chitraketu felt, day after day, for the wife who had given him a son — as he fondled the child — arose for none of his other queens.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.6.14.39)

ताः पर्यतप्यन्नात्मानं गर्हयन्त्योऽभ्यसूयया । आनपत्येन दुःखेन राज्ञश्चानादरेण च ॥ ३९ ॥

tāḥ paryatapyann ātmānaṁ garhayantyo ’bhyasūyayā ānapatyena duḥkhena rājñaś cānādareṇa ca

Those other queens, tormented by the sorrow of being childless and by the king's neglect, began, out of envy, to reproach themselves and burn with constant grief.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.6.14.40)

धिगप्रजां स्त्रियं पापां पत्युश्चागृहसम्मताम् । सुप्रजाभिः सपत्नीभिर्दासीमिव तिरस्कृताम् ॥ ४० ॥

dhig aprajāṁ striyaṁ pāpāṁ patyuś cāgṛha-sammatām suprajābhiḥ sapatnībhir dāsīm iva tiraskṛtām

Cursed indeed is a childless woman, unwelcome in her husband's own house, scorned like a maidservant by co-wives blessed with children.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.6.14.41)

दासीनां को नु सन्तापः स्वामिनः परिचर्यया । अभीक्ष्णं लब्धमानानां दास्या दासीव दुर्भगाः ॥ ४१ ॥

dāsīnāṁ ko nu santāpaḥ svāminaḥ paricaryayā abhīkṣṇaṁ labdha-mānānāṁ dāsyā dāsīva durbhagāḥ

Even maidservants, by constant service to their master, receive honor now and then — what grief have they? But we are servants even to that servant, and so are the most unfortunate of all.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.6.14.42)

एवं सन्दह्यमानानां सपत्न्याः पुत्रसम्पदा । राज्ञोऽसम्मतवृत्तीनां विद्वेषो बलवानभूत् ॥ ४२ ॥

evaṁ sandahyamānānāṁ sapatnyāḥ putra-sampadā rājño ’sammata-vṛttīnāṁ vidveṣo balavān abhūt

Thus tormented by the good fortune of their co-wife's son, and slighted by the king, the hatred within those queens grew exceedingly strong.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.6.14.43)

विद्वेषनष्टमतयः स्त्रियो दारुणचेतसः । गरं ददुः कुमाराय दुर्मर्षा नृपतिं प्रति ॥ ४३ ॥

vidveṣa-naṣṭa-matayaḥ striyo dāruṇa-cetasaḥ garaṁ daduḥ kumārāya durmarṣā nṛpatiṁ prati

Their minds destroyed by hatred, their hearts grown cruel, and unable to bear the king's neglect any longer, those women finally administered poison to the child.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.6.14.44)

कृतद्युतिरजानन्ती सपत्नीनामघं महत् । सुप्त एवेति सञ्चिन्त्य निरीक्ष्य व्यचरद्गृहे ॥ ४४ ॥

kṛtadyutir ajānantī sapatnīnām aghaṁ mahat supta eveti sañcintya nirīkṣya vyacarad gṛhe

Unaware of her co-wives' terrible crime, Kritadyuti moved about the house thinking her son was simply in deep sleep, and went now and then to look upon him.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.6.14.45)

शयानं सुचिरं बालमुपधार्य मनीषिणी । पुत्रमानय मे भद्रे इति धात्रीमचोदयत् ॥ ४५ ॥

śayānaṁ suciraṁ bālam upadhārya manīṣiṇī putram ānaya me bhadre iti dhātrīm acodayat

Seeing the child asleep for so long, the intelligent queen said to the nurse: My dear friend, bring my son to me.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.6.14.46)

सा शयानमुपव्रज्य दृष्ट्वा चोत्तारलोचनम् । प्राणेन्द्रियात्मभिस्त्यक्तं हतास्मीत्यपतद्भुवि ॥ ४६ ॥

sā śayānam upavrajya dṛṣṭvā cottāra-locanam prāṇendriyātmabhis tyaktaṁ hatāsmīty apatad bhuvi

The nurse went to the sleeping child, and seeing his eyes fixed upward, understood that life and the senses had already departed. Crying, "I am undone!" she fell to the ground.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.6.14.47)

तस्यास्तदाकर्ण्य भृशातुरं स्वरं घ्नन्त्याः कराभ्यामुर उच्चकैरपि । प्रविश्य राज्ञी त्वरयात्मजान्तिकं ददर्श बालं सहसा मृतं सुतम् ॥ ४७ ॥

tasyās tadākarṇya bhṛśāturaṁ svaraṁ ghnantyāḥ karābhyām ura uccakair api praviśya rājñī tvarayātmajāntikaṁ dadarśa bālaṁ sahasā mṛtaṁ sutam

Hearing that nurse's anguished cry, as she struck her breast with both hands and wailed aloud, the queen rushed to her son's side and there suddenly found her child dead.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.6.14.48)

पपात भूमौ परिवृद्धया शुचा मुमोह विभ्रष्टशिरोरुहाम्बरा ॥ ४८ ॥

papāta bhūmau parivṛddhayā śucā mumoha vibhraṣṭa-śiroruhāmbarā

Overwhelmed by grief, she fell to the ground, her hair and garments falling into disarray, and she lost consciousness.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.6.14.49)

ततो नृपान्तः पुरवर्तिनो जना नराश्च नार्यश्च निशम्य रोदनम् । आगत्य तुल्यव्यसनाः सुदुःखिता- स्ताश्च व्यलीकं रुरुदुः कृतागसः ॥ ४९ ॥

tato nṛpāntaḥpura-vartino janā narāś ca nāryaś ca niśamya rodanam āgatya tulya-vyasanāḥ suduḥkhitās tāś ca vyalīkaṁ ruruduḥ kṛtāgasaḥ

Then the men and women dwelling in the palace, hearing that lamentation, came running, and, sharing the same grief, wept along with the rest; even the guilty queens, well aware of their crime, wept in false sorrow.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.6.14.50)

श्रुत्वा मृतं पुत्रमलक्षितान्तकं विनष्टदृष्टिः प्रपतन् स्खलन् पथि । स्नेहानुबन्धैधितया शुचा भृशं विमूर्च्छितोऽनुप्रकृतिर्द्विजैर्वृतः ॥ ५० ॥

śrutvā mṛtaṁ putram alakṣitāntakaṁ vinaṣṭa-dṛṣṭiḥ prapatan skhalan pathi snehānubandhaidhitayā śucā bhṛśaṁ vimūrcchito ’nuprakṛtir dvijair vṛtaḥ

Hearing of his son's death from an unknown cause, the king's sight grew dim; stumbling and falling along the way, overwhelmed by grief born of deep affection, and surrounded by brahmanas and attendants, he sank into unconsciousness.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.6.14.51)

पपात बालस्य स पादमूले मृतस्य विस्रस्तशिरोरुहाम्बरः । दीर्घं श्वसन् बाष्पकलोपरोधतो निरुद्धकण्ठो न शशाक भाषितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥

papāta bālasya sa pāda-mūle mṛtasya visrasta-śiroruhāmbaraḥ dīrghaṁ śvasan bāṣpa-kaloparodhato niruddha-kaṇṭho na śaśāka bhāṣitum

He fell at the feet of his dead child, his hair and clothes disheveled; breathing heavily, his throat choked with tears, he could not utter a single word.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.6.14.52)

पतिं निरीक्ष्योरुशुचार्पितं तदा मृतं च बालं सुतमेकसन्ततिम् । जनस्य राज्ञी प्रकृतेश्च हृद्रुजं सती दधाना विललाप चित्रधा ॥ ५२ ॥

patiṁ nirīkṣyoru-śucārpitaṁ tadā mṛtaṁ ca bālaṁ sutam eka-santatim janasya rājñī prakṛteś ca hṛd-rujaṁ satī dadhānā vilalāpa citradhā

Seeing her husband sunk in such deep grief, and her only son lying dead, the virtuous queen, stirring pain in the hearts of the subjects and all the household, lamented in many different ways.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.6.14.53)

स्तनद्वयं कुङ्कुमपङ्कमण्डितं निषिञ्चती साञ्जनबाष्पबिन्दुभिः । विकीर्य केशान् विगलत्स्रजः सुतं शुशोच चित्रं कुररीव सुस्वरम् ॥ ५३ ॥

stana-dvayaṁ kuṅkuma-paṅka-maṇḍitaṁ niṣiñcatī sāñjana-bāṣpa-bindubhiḥ vikīrya keśān vigalat-srajaḥ sutaṁ śuśoca citraṁ kurarīva susvaram

Drenching her kumkum-adorned breasts with tears mixed with kohl, her hair scattered and her garland slipping loose, she mourned her son in strange and varied ways, her voice as plaintive as a kurari bird's.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.6.14.54)

अहो विधातस्त्वमतीव बालिशो यस्त्वात्मसृष्ट्यप्रतिरूपमीहसे । परे नु जीवत्यपरस्य या मृति- र्विपर्ययश्चेत्त्वमसि ध्रुवः परः ॥ ५४ ॥

aho vidhātas tvam atīva bāliśo yas tv ātma-sṛṣṭy-apratirūpam īhase pare nu jīvaty aparasya yā mṛtir viparyayaś cet tvam asi dhruvaḥ paraḥ

Alas, O Creator! You are utterly childish, for you act against the very order of your own creation — if a son's death while his father yet lives is truly your rule, then you are, without doubt, an enemy and no friend to any.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.6.14.55)

न हि क्रमश्चेदिह मृत्युजन्मनोः शरीरिणामस्तु तदात्मकर्मभिः । यः स्नेहपाशो निजसर्गवृद्धये स्वयं कृतस्ते तमिमं विवृश्चसि ॥ ५५ ॥

na hi kramaś ced iha mṛtyu-janmanoḥ śarīriṇām astu tad ātma-karmabhiḥ yaḥ sneha-pāśo nija-sarga-vṛddhaye svayaṁ kṛtas te tam imaṁ vivṛścasi

If the order of birth and death among embodied beings truly proceeds only by their own actions, then why do you yourself sever this very bond of affection, which you yourself fashioned for the increase of your own creation?

Verse 56 (bhagavata.6.14.56)

त्वं तात नार्हसि च मां कृपणामनाथां त्यक्तुं विचक्ष्व पितरं तव शोकतप्तम् । अञ्जस्तरेम भवताप्रजदुस्तरं यद् ध्वान्तं न याह्यकरुणेन यमेन दूरम् ॥ ५६ ॥

tvaṁ tāta nārhasi ca māṁ kṛpaṇām anāthāṁ tyaktuṁ vicakṣva pitaraṁ tava śoka-taptam añjas tarema bhavatāpraja-dustaraṁ yad dhvāntaṁ na yāhy akaruṇena yamena dūram

O my child, it is not right for you to abandon me, helpless and without protector as I am. Look, at least, upon your grief-stricken father! Grant that we may easily cross that darkness otherwise impassable without you — do not go so far away with merciless Yama.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.6.14.57)

उत्तिष्ठ तात त इमे शिशवो वयस्या- स्त्वामाह्वयन्ति नृपनन्दन संविहर्तुम् । सुप्तश्चिरं ह्यशनया च भवान् परीतो भुङ्क्ष्व स्तनं पिब शुचो हर नः स्वकानाम् ॥ ५७ ॥

uttiṣṭha tāta ta ime śiśavo vayasyās tvām āhvayanti nṛpa-nandana saṁvihartum suptaś ciraṁ hy aśanayā ca bhavān parīto bhuṅkṣva stanaṁ piba śuco hara naḥ svakānām

Rise, my child! Here are your playmates calling you to come and play with them. You have slept so long, and must be hungry — rise, take your milk, and lift this sorrow from all of us who are your own.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.6.14.58)

नाहं तनूज ददृशे हतमङ्गला ते मुग्धस्मितं मुदितवीक्षणमाननाब्जम् । किं वा गतोऽस्यपुनरन्वयमन्यलोकं नीतोऽघृणेन न शृणोमि कला गिरस्ते ॥ ५८ ॥

nāhaṁ tanūja dadṛśe hata-maṅgalā te mugdha-smitaṁ mudita-vīkṣaṇam ānanābjam kiṁ vā gato ’sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokaṁ nīto ’ghṛṇena na śṛṇomi kalā giras te

O my son, unfortunate that I am, I can no longer see that lotus face with its innocent smile and joyful glance. Have you gone to some other world from which there is no return? O merciless one, I can no longer even hear your sweet voice.

Verse 59 (bhagavata.6.14.59)

श्रीशुक उवाच विलपन्त्या मृतं पुत्रमिति चित्रविलापनैः । चित्रकेतुर्भृशं तप्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ५९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca vilapantyā mṛtaṁ putram iti citra-vilāpanaiḥ citraketur bhṛśaṁ tapto mukta-kaṇṭho ruroda ha

Shri Shukadeva said: Hearing his wife lament for their dead son in so many strange and piteous ways, Chitraketu, overwhelmed with grief, broke into open, unrestrained weeping.

Verse 60 (bhagavata.6.14.60)

तयोर्विलपतोः सर्वे दम्पत्योस्तदनुव्रताः । रुरुदुः स्म नरा नार्यः सर्वमासीदचेतनम् ॥ ६० ॥

tayor vilapatoḥ sarve dampatyos tad-anuvratāḥ ruruduḥ sma narā nāryaḥ sarvam āsīd acetanam

As that royal couple lamented, all their male and female followers wept along with them, and the entire palace seemed to lose all consciousness, as if lifeless.

Verse 61 (bhagavata.6.14.61)

एवं कश्मलमापन्नं नष्टसंज्ञमनायकम् । ज्ञात्वाङ्गिरा नाम ऋषिराजगाम सनारदः ॥ ६१ ॥

evaṁ kaśmalam āpannaṁ naṣṭa-saṁjñam anāyakam jñātvāṅgirā nāma ṛṣir ājagāma sanāradaḥ

Knowing the king to have fallen into such delusion, bereft of consciousness and as if without any protector, the sage Angira came there together with Narada.