A
Yes — the story of King Citraketu and the death of his son is narrated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 6, Chapters 14–16.
Here is a detailed retelling:
1. King Citraketu’s Desire for a Son (SB 6.14)
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Citraketu was a powerful king but had no son, despite having many wives.
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He lamented that without a son, his dynasty would end.
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The sage Aṅgirā Ṛṣi visited him and, seeing his sorrow, performed a sacrifice so the king could beget a child.
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He blessed Citraketu with one son — but with a warning: “This son will be the cause of both happiness and great grief.”
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Soon, Citraketu’s chief queen Kṛtadyuti gave birth to a boy. The king was overjoyed.
2. Envy and the Son’s Death (SB 6.14.49–55)
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Because the son was born only to Kṛtadyuti, the other queens became envious.
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Blinded by jealousy, they secretly poisoned the child, and the prince died.
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The palace plunged into grief. Citraketu and Kṛtadyuti were inconsolable, weeping over the dead body.
3. Arrival of Nārada and Aṅgirā (SB 6.15)
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Seeing the king’s sorrow, Nārada Muni and Aṅgirā appeared.
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They advised Citraketu: everything in this world is temporary, and family relations are due to karma.
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To teach detachment, Nārada called back the soul of the dead child by his mystic power.
4. The Soul Speaks (SB 6.15.12–15)
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When the child’s soul re-entered the body, it sat up and spoke in front of everyone:
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“In which birth were these people my parents? In which birth was I their son? Relationships are temporary, created by karma, like travelers meeting briefly on a road.”
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This profound teaching stunned the king, queen, and the whole assembly.
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The soul then departed again, and the body fell lifeless.
5. Transformation of Citraketu (SB 6.15–16)
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Hearing this truth, Citraketu realized the futility of material attachment.
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Nārada gave him spiritual instructions and taught him a mantra to worship Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa (an expansion of Viṣṇu).
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Citraketu practiced devotion with full determination.
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By Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa’s mercy, he obtained great spiritual realization and mystic powers.
Teachings of the Story
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Impermanence of Family Bonds – Parents, children, spouses are bound only for a short time by karma; at death, all ties break.
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Detachment through Knowledge – True wisdom is to see beyond temporary relationships and focus on the eternal soul.
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Role of Saints – Nārada and Aṅgirā guide Citraketu from worldly grief to spiritual awakening.
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Bhakti as the Goal – Citraketu eventually becomes a pure devotee, showing that sorrow can become a doorway to liberation.
✨ This story is one of the most famous in the Bhāgavatam for teaching how attachment to family can bind us, and how divine wisdom transforms grief into liberation.
Would you like me to also give you the direct Sanskrit verses with English translation for the soul’s speech (where the dead child speaks)? Those are very powerful.
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