
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend (Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination)
Continuing Nārada’s instruction to King Prācīnabarhiṣat, the allegory reaches its crisis: Yavana-rāja (fear/death) and Kālakanyā (Time/old age) invade Purañjana’s city (the body), exhausting its pleasures and turning the ‘citizens’ (faculties/relations) against him. The serpent-guardian (prāṇa/life-air) is weakened and forced out as the city is burned by Prajvāra (fever) and dismantled—signifying bodily collapse. Bound and dragged away, Purañjana fails to remember his true well-wisher, the Paramātmā, and suffers karmic reactions (the sacrificed animals torment him). Dying absorbed in his wife (material attachment), he takes rebirth as a woman (Vaidarbhī) and later becomes the devoted wife of Malayadhvaja, who renounces and attains steady bhakti through austerity and discrimination between jīva and Supersoul. After his departure, the grieving queen is instructed by an old brāhmaṇa—revealed as the Supersoul, the swan-companion in the heart—who explains the “city of nine gates” and concludes the indirect teaching. The chapter thus transitions from bondage under Time to liberation through remembrance and right identity, preparing Prācīnabarhiṣat for renunciation and bhakti-oriented action.
Verse 1
नारद उवाच सैनिका भयनाम्नो ये बर्हिष्मन् दिष्टकारिण: । प्रज्वारकालकन्याभ्यां विचेरुरवनीमिमाम् ॥ १ ॥
The great sage Nārada continued: My dear King Prācīnabarhiṣat, afterward the King of the Yavanas, whose name is fear itself, as well as Prajvāra, Kālakanyā, and his soldiers, began to travel all over the world.
Verse 2
त एकदा तु रभसा पुरञ्जनपुरीं नृप । रुरुधुर्भौमभोगाढ्यां जरत्पन्नगपालिताम् ॥ २ ॥
Once the dangerous soldiers attacked the city of Purañjana with great force. Although the city was full of paraphernalia for sense gratification, it was being protected by the old serpent.
Verse 3
कालकन्यापि बुभुजे पुरञ्जनपुरं बलात् । ययाभिभूत: पुरुष: सद्यो नि:सारतामियात् ॥ ३ ॥
Gradually Kālakanyā, with the help of dangerous soldiers, attacked all the inhabitants of Purañjana’s city and thus rendered them useless for all purposes.
Verse 4
तयोपभुज्यमानां वै यवना: सर्वतोदिशम् । द्वार्भि: प्रविश्य सुभृशं प्रार्दयन् सकलां पुरीम् ॥ ४ ॥
When Kālakanyā, daughter of Time, attacked the body, the dangerous soldiers of the King of the Yavanas entered the city through different gates. They then began to give severe trouble to all the citizens.
Verse 5
तस्यां प्रपीड्यमानायामभिमानी पुरञ्जन: । अवापोरुविधांस्तापान् कुटुम्बी ममताकुल: ॥ ५ ॥
When the city was thus endangered by the soldiers and Kālakanyā, King Purañjana, being overly absorbed in affection for his family, was placed in difficulty by the attack of Yavana-rāja and Kālakanyā.
Verse 6
कन्योपगूढो नष्टश्री: कृपणो विषयात्मक: । नष्टप्रज्ञो हृतैश्वर्यो गन्धर्वयवनैर्बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
When King Purañjana was embraced by Kālakanyā, he gradually lost all his beauty. Having been too much addicted to sex, he became very poor in intelligence and lost all his opulence. Being bereft of all possessions, he was conquered forcibly by the Gandharvas and the Yavanas.
Verse 7
विशीर्णां स्वपुरीं वीक्ष्य प्रतिकूलाननादृतान् । पुत्रान् पौत्रानुगामात्याञ्जायां च गतसौहृदाम् ॥ ७ ॥
King Purañjana then saw that everything in his town was scattered and that his sons, grandsons, servants and ministers were all gradually opposing him. He also noted that his wife was becoming cold and indifferent.
Verse 8
आत्मानं कन्यया ग्रस्तं पञ्चालानरिदूषितान् । दुरन्तचिन्तामापन्नो न लेभे तत्प्रतिक्रियाम् ॥ ८ ॥
When King Purañjana saw that all his family members, relatives, followers, servants, secretaries and everyone else had turned against him, he certainly became very anxious. But he could not counteract the situation because he was thoroughly overwhelmed by Kālakanyā.
Verse 9
कामानभिलषन्दीनो यातयामांश्च कन्यया । विगतात्मगतिस्नेह: पुत्रदारांश्च लालयन् ॥ ९ ॥
The objects of enjoyment became stale by the influence of Kālakanyā. Due to the continuance of his lusty desires, King Purañjana became very poor in everything. Thus he did not understand the aim of life. He was still very affectionate toward his wife and children, and he worried about maintaining them.
Verse 10
गन्धर्वयवनाक्रान्तां कालकन्योपमर्दिताम् । हातुं प्रचक्रमे राजा तां पुरीमनिकामत: ॥ १० ॥
The city of King Purañjana was overcome by the Gandharva and Yavana soldiers, and although the King had no desire to leave the city, he was circumstantially forced to do so, for it was smashed by Kālakanyā.
Verse 11
भयनाम्नोऽग्रजो भ्राता प्रज्वार: प्रत्युपस्थित: । ददाह तां पुरीं कृत्स्नां भ्रातु: प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥ ११ ॥
Under the circumstances, the elder brother of Yavana-rāja, known as Prajvāra, set fire to the city to please his younger brother, whose other name is fear itself.
Verse 12
तस्यां सन्दह्यमानायां सपौर: सपरिच्छद: । कौटुम्बिक: कुटुम्बिन्या उपातप्यत सान्वय: ॥ १२ ॥
When the city was set ablaze, all the citizens and servants of the King, as well as all family members, sons, grandsons, wives and other relatives, were within the fire. King Purañjana thus became very unhappy.
Verse 13
यवनोपरुद्धायतनो ग्रस्तायां कालकन्यया । पुर्यां प्रज्वारसंसृष्ट: पुरपालोऽन्वतप्यत ॥ १३ ॥
The city’s superintendent of police, the serpent, saw that the citizens were being attacked by Kālakanyā, and he became very aggrieved to see his own residence set ablaze after being attacked by the Yavanas.
Verse 14
न शेके सोऽवितुं तत्र पुरुकृच्छ्रोरुवेपथु: । गन्तुमैच्छत्ततो वृक्षकोटरादिव सानलात् ॥ १४ ॥
As a serpent living within the cavity of a tree wishes to leave when there is a forest fire, so the city’s police superintendent, the snake, wished to leave the city due to the fire’s severe heat.
Verse 15
शिथिलावयवो यर्हि गन्धर्वैर्हृतपौरुष: । यवनैररिभी राजन्नुपरुद्धो रुरोद ह ॥ १५ ॥
The limbs of the serpent’s body were slackened by the Gandharvas and Yavana soldiers, who had thoroughly defeated his bodily strength. When he attempted to leave the body, he was checked by his enemies. Being thus baffled in his attempt, he began to cry loudly.
Verse 16
दुहितृ: पुत्रपौत्रांश्च जामिजामातृपार्षदान् । स्वत्वावशिष्टं यत्किञ्चिद् गृहकोशपरिच्छदम् ॥ १६ ॥
King Purañjana then began to think of his daughters, sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, servants and other associates, as well as his house, his household paraphernalia and his little accumulation of wealth.
Verse 17
अहं ममेति स्वीकृत्य गृहेषु कुमतिर्गृही । दध्यौ प्रमदया दीनो विप्रयोग उपस्थिते ॥ १७ ॥
King Purañjana was overly attached to his family and conceptions of “I” and “mine.” Because he was overly attracted to his wife, he was already quite poverty-stricken. At the time of separation, he became very sorry.
Verse 18
लोकान्तरं गतवति मय्यनाथा कुटुम्बिनी । वर्तिष्यते कथं त्वेषा बालकाननुशोचती ॥ १८ ॥
King Purañjana was anxiously thinking, “Alas, my wife is encumbered by so many children. When I pass from this body, how will she be able to maintain all these family members? Alas, she will be greatly harassed by thoughts of family maintenance.”
Verse 19
न मय्यनाशिते भुङ्क्ते नास्नाते स्नाति मत्परा । मयि रुष्टे सुसन्त्रस्ता भर्त्सिते यतवाग्भयात् ॥ १९ ॥
King Purañjana then began to think of his past dealings with his wife. He recalled that his wife would not take her dinner until he had finished his, that she would not take her bath until he had finished his, and that she was always very much attached to him, so much so that if he would sometimes become angry and chastise her, she would simply remain silent and tolerate his misbehavior.
Verse 20
प्रबोधयति माविज्ञं व्युषिते शोककर्शिता । वर्त्मैतद् गृहमेधीयं वीरसूरपि नेष्यति ॥ २० ॥
King Purañjana continued thinking how, when he was in a state of bewilderment, his wife would give him good counsel and how she would become aggrieved when he was away from home. Although she was the mother of so many sons and heroes, the King still feared that she would not be able to maintain the responsibility of household affairs.
Verse 21
कथं नु दारका दीना दारकीर्वापरायणा: । वर्तिष्यन्ते मयि गते भिन्ननाव इवोदधौ ॥ २१ ॥
King Purañjana continued worrying: “After I pass from this world, how will my sons and daughters, who are now fully dependent on me, live and continue their lives? Their position will be similar to that of passengers aboard a ship wrecked in the midst of the ocean.”
Verse 22
एवं कृपणया बुद्ध्या शोचन्तमतदर्हणम् । ग्रहीतुं कृतधीरेनं भयनामाभ्यपद्यत ॥ २२ ॥
Although King Purañjana should not have lamented over the fate of his wife and children, he nonetheless did so due to his miserly intelligence. In the meantime, Yavana-rāja, whose name was fear itself, immediately drew near to arrest him.
Verse 23
पशुवद्यवनैरेष नीयमान: स्वकं क्षयम् । अन्वद्रवन्ननुपथा: शोचन्तो भृशमातुरा: ॥ २३ ॥
When the Yavanas were taking King Purañjana away to their place, binding him like an animal, the King’s followers became greatly aggrieved. While they lamented, they were forced to go along with him.
Verse 24
पुरीं विहायोपगत उपरुद्धो भुजङ्गम: । यदा तमेवानु पुरी विशीर्णा प्रकृतिं गता ॥ २४ ॥
The serpent, who had already been arrested by the soldiers of Yavana-rāja and was out of the city, began to follow his master along with the others. As soon as they all left the city, it was immediately dismantled and smashed to dust.
Verse 25
विकृष्यमाण: प्रसभं यवनेन बलीयसा । नाविन्दत्तमसाविष्ट: सखायं सुहृदं पुर: ॥ २५ ॥
When King Purañjana was being dragged with great force by the powerful Yavana, out of his gross ignorance he still could not remember his friend and well-wisher, the Supersoul.
Verse 26
तं यज्ञपशवोऽनेन संज्ञप्ता येऽदयालुना । कुठारैश्चिच्छिदु: क्रुद्धा: स्मरन्तोऽमीवमस्य तत् ॥ २६ ॥
That most unkind king, Purañjana, had killed many animals in various sacrifices. Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, all these animals began to pierce him with their horns. It was as though he were being cut to pieces by axes.
Verse 27
अनन्तपारे तमसि मग्नो नष्टस्मृति: समा: । शाश्वतीरनुभूयार्तिं प्रमदासङ्गदूषित: ॥ २७ ॥
Due to his contaminated association with women, a living entity like King Purañjana eternally suffers all the pangs of material existence and remains in the dark region of material life, bereft of all remembrance for many, many years.
Verse 28
तामेव मनसा गृह्णन् बभूव प्रमदोत्तमा । अनन्तरं विदर्भस्य राजसिंहस्य वेश्मनि ॥ २८ ॥
King Purañjana gave up his body while remembering his wife, and consequently in his next life he became a very beautiful and well-situated woman. He took his next birth as the daughter of King Vidarbha in the very house of the King.
Verse 29
उपयेमे वीर्यपणां वैदर्भीं मलयध्वज: । युधि निर्जित्य राजन्यान् पाण्ड्य: परपुरञ्जय: ॥ २९ ॥
It was fixed that Vaidarbhī, daughter of King Vidarbha, was to be married to a very powerful man, Malayadhvaja, an inhabitant of the Pāṇḍu country. After conquering other princes, he married the daughter of King Vidarbha.
Verse 30
तस्यां स जनयां चक्र आत्मजामसितेक्षणाम् । यवीयस: सप्त सुतान् सप्त द्रविडभूभृत: ॥ ३० ॥
King Malayadhvaja fathered one daughter, who had very black eyes. He also had seven sons, who later became rulers of that tract of land known as Draviḍa. Thus there were seven kings in that land.
Verse 31
एकैकस्याभवत्तेषां राजन्नर्बुदमर्बुदम् । भोक्ष्यते यद्वंशधरैर्मही मन्वन्तरं परम् ॥ ३१ ॥
My dear King Prācīnabarhiṣat, the sons of Malayadhvaja gave birth to many thousands and thousands of sons, and all of these have been protecting the entire world up to the end of one Manu’s life span and even afterward.
Verse 32
अगस्त्य: प्राग्दुहितरमुपयेमे धृतव्रताम् । यस्यां दृढच्युतो जात इध्मवाहात्मजो मुनि: ॥ ३२ ॥
The great sage named Agastya married the first-born daughter of Malayadhvaja, the avowed devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. From her one son was born, whose name was Dṛḍhacyuta, and from him another son was born, whose name was Idhmavāha.
Verse 33
विभज्य तनयेभ्य: क्ष्मां राजर्षिर्मलयध्वज: । आरिराधयिषु: कृष्णं स जगाम कुलाचलम् ॥ ३३ ॥
After this, the great saintly King Malayadhvaja divided his entire kingdom among his sons. Then, in order to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa with full attention, he went to a solitary place known as Kulācala.
Verse 34
हित्वा गृहान् सुतान् भोगान् वैदर्भी मदिरेक्षणा । अन्वधावत पाण्ड्येशं ज्योत्स्नेव रजनीकरम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Just as the moonshine follows the moon at night, immediately after King Malayadhvaja departed for Kulācala, his devoted wife, whose eyes were very enchanting, followed him, giving up all homely happiness, despite family and children.
Verse 35
तत्र चन्द्रवसा नाम ताम्रपर्णी वटोदका । तत्पुण्यसलिलैर्नित्यमुभयत्रात्मनो मृजन् ॥ ३५ ॥ कन्दाष्टिभिर्मूलफलै: पुष्पपर्णैस्तृणोदकै: । वर्तमान: शनैर्गात्रकर्शनं तप आस्थित: ॥ ३६ ॥
In the province of Kulācala, there were rivers named Candravasā, Tāmraparṇī and Vaṭodakā. King Malayadhvaja used to go to those pious rivers regularly and take his bath there. Thus he purified himself externally and internally. He took his bath and ate bulbs, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and grasses and drank water. In this way he underwent severe austerities. Eventually he became very skinny.
Verse 36
तत्र चन्द्रवसा नाम ताम्रपर्णी वटोदका । तत्पुण्यसलिलैर्नित्यमुभयत्रात्मनो मृजन् ॥ ३५ ॥ कन्दाष्टिभिर्मूलफलै: पुष्पपर्णैस्तृणोदकै: । वर्तमान: शनैर्गात्रकर्शनं तप आस्थित: ॥ ३६ ॥
In the province of Kulācala, there were rivers named Candravasā, Tāmraparṇī and Vaṭodakā. King Malayadhvaja used to go to those pious rivers regularly and take his bath there. Thus he purified himself externally and internally. He took his bath and ate bulbs, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and grasses and drank water. In this way he underwent severe austerities. Eventually he became very skinny.
Verse 37
शीतोष्णवातवर्षाणि क्षुत्पिपासे प्रियाप्रिये । सुखदु:खे इति द्वन्द्वान्यजयत्समदर्शन: ॥ ३७ ॥
Through austerity, King Malayadhvaja in body and mind gradually became equal to the dualities of cold and heat, happiness and distress, wind and rain, hunger and thirst, the pleasant and the unpleasant. In this way he conquered all relativities.
Verse 38
तपसा विद्यया पक्वकषायो नियमैर्यमै: । युयुजे ब्रह्मण्यात्मानं विजिताक्षानिलाशय: ॥ ३८ ॥
By worshiping, executing austerities and following the regulative principles, King Malayadhvaja conquered his senses, his life and his consciousness. Thus he fixed everything on the central point of the Supreme Brahman [Kṛṣṇa].
Verse 39
आस्ते स्थाणुरिवैकत्र दिव्यं वर्षशतं स्थिर: । वासुदेवे भगवति नान्यद्वेदोद्वहन् रतिम् ॥ ३९ ॥
In this way he stayed immovable in one place for one hundred years by the calculation of the demigods. After this time, he developed pure devotional attraction for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and remained fixed in that position.
Verse 40
स व्यापकतयात्मानं व्यतिरिक्ततयात्मनि । विद्वान् स्वप्न इवामर्शसाक्षिणं विरराम ह ॥ ४० ॥
King Malayadhvaja attained perfect knowledge by being able to distinguish the Supersoul from the individual soul. The individual soul is localized, whereas the Supersoul is all-pervasive. He became perfect in knowledge that the material body is not the soul but that the soul is the witness of the material body.
Verse 41
साक्षाद्भगवतोक्तेन गुरुणा हरिणा नृप । विशुद्धज्ञानदीपेन स्फुरता विश्वतोमुखम् ॥ ४१ ॥
In this way King Malayadhvaja attained perfect knowledge because in his pure state he was directly instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By means of such enlightening transcendental knowledge, he could understand everything from all angles of vision.
Verse 42
परे ब्रह्मणि चात्मानं परं ब्रह्म तथात्मनि । वीक्षमाणो विहायेक्षामस्मादुपरराम ह ॥ ४२ ॥
King Malayadhvaja could thus observe that the Supersoul was sitting by his side, and that he, as the individual soul, was sitting by the side of the Supersoul. Since both were together, there was no need for separate interests; thus he ceased from such activities.
Verse 43
पतिं परमधर्मज्ञं वैदर्भी मलयध्वजम् । प्रेम्णा पर्यचरद्धित्वा भोगान् सा पतिदेवता ॥ ४३ ॥
The daughter of King Vidarbha accepted her husband all in all as the Supreme. She gave up all sensual enjoyment and in complete renunciation followed the principles of her husband, who was so advanced. Thus she remained engaged in his service.
Verse 44
चीरवासा व्रतक्षामा वेणीभूतशिरोरुहा । बभावुप पतिं शान्ता शिखा शान्तमिवानलम् ॥ ४४ ॥
The daughter of King Vidarbha wore old garments, and she was lean and thin because of her vows of austerity. Since she did not arrange her hair, it became entangled and twisted in locks. Although she remained always near her husband, she was as silent and unagitated as the flame of an undisturbed fire.
Verse 45
अजानती प्रियतमं यदोपरतमङ्गना । सुस्थिरासनमासाद्य यथापूर्वमुपाचरत् ॥ ४५ ॥
The daughter of King Vidarbha continued as usual to serve her husband, who was seated in a steady posture, until she could ascertain that he had passed away from the body.
Verse 46
यदा नोपलभेताङ्घ्रावूष्माणं पत्युरर्चती । आसीत्संविग्नहृदया यूथभ्रष्टा मृगी यथा ॥ ४६ ॥
While she was serving her husband by massaging his legs, she could feel that his feet were no longer warm and could thus understand that he had already passed from the body. She felt great anxiety upon being left alone. Bereft of her husband’s company, she felt exactly as the deer feels upon being separated from its mate.
Verse 47
आत्मानं शोचती दीनमबन्धुं विक्लवाश्रुभि: । स्तनावासिच्य विपिने सुस्वरं प्ररुरोद सा ॥ ४७ ॥
Being now alone and a widow in that forest, the daughter of Vidarbha began to lament, incessantly shedding tears, which soaked her breasts, and crying very loudly.
Verse 48
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे इमामुदधिमेखलाम् । दस्युभ्य: क्षत्रबन्धुभ्यो बिभ्यतीं पातुमर्हसि ॥ ४८ ॥
O best of kings, please get up! Get up! Just see this world surrounded by water and infested with rogues and so-called kings. This world is very much afraid, and it is your duty to protect her.
Verse 49
एवं विलपन्ती बाला विपिनेऽनुगता पतिम् । पतिता पादयोर्भर्तू रुदत्यश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ॥ ४९ ॥
That most obedient wife thus fell down at the feet of her dead husband and began to cry pitifully in that solitary forest. Thus the tears rolled down from her eyes.
Verse 50
चितिं दारुमयीं चित्वा तस्यां पत्यु: कलेवरम् । आदीप्य चानुमरणे विलपन्ती मनो दधे ॥ ५० ॥
She then prepared a blazing fire with firewood and placed the dead body of her husband upon it. When this was finished, she lamented severely and prepared herself to perish in the fire with her husband.
Verse 51
तत्र पूर्वतर: कश्चित्सखा ब्राह्मण आत्मवान् । सान्त्वयन् वल्गुना साम्ना तामाह रुदतीं प्रभो ॥ ५१ ॥
My dear King, one brāhmaṇa, who was an old friend of King Purañjana, came to that place and began to pacify the Queen with sweet words.
Verse 52
ब्राह्मण उवाच का त्वं कस्यासि को वायं शयानो यस्य शोचसि । जानासि किं सखायं मां येनाग्रे विचचर्थ ह ॥ ५२ ॥
The brāhmaṇa inquired as follows: Who are you? Whose wife or daughter are you? Who is the man lying here? It appears you are lamenting for this dead body. Don’t you recognize Me? I am your eternal friend. You may remember that many times in the past you have consulted Me.
Verse 53
अपि स्मरसि चात्मानमविज्ञातसखं सखे । हित्वा मां पदमन्विच्छन् भौमभोगरतो गत: ॥ ५३ ॥
The brāhmaṇa continued: My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can’t you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world.
Verse 54
हंसावहं च त्वं चार्य सखायौ मानसायनौ । अभूतामन्तरा वौक: सहस्रपरिवत्सरान् ॥ ५४ ॥
My dear gentle friend, both you and I are exactly like two swans. We live together in the same heart, which is just like the Mānasa Lake. Although we have been living together for many thousands of years, we are still far away from our original home.
Verse 55
स त्वं विहाय मां बन्धो गतो ग्राम्यमतिर्महीम् । विचरन् पदमद्राक्षी: कयाचिन्निर्मितं स्त्रिया ॥ ५५ ॥
My dear friend, you are now My very same friend. Since you left Me, you have become more and more materialistic, and not seeing Me, you have been traveling in different forms throughout this material world, which was created by some woman.
Verse 56
पञ्चारामं नवद्वारमेकपालं त्रिकोष्ठकम् । षट्कुलं पञ्चविपणं पञ्चप्रकृति स्त्रीधवम् ॥ ५६ ॥
In that city [the material body] there are five gardens, nine gates, one protector, three apartments, six families, five stores, five material elements, and one woman who is lord of the house.
Verse 57
पञ्चेन्द्रियार्था आरामा द्वार: प्राणा नव प्रभो । तेजोऽबन्नानि कोष्ठानि कुलमिन्द्रियसङ्ग्रह: ॥ ५७ ॥
My dear friend, the five gardens are the five objects of sense enjoyment, and the protector is the life air, which passes through the nine gates. The three apartments are the chief ingredients — fire, water and earth. The six families are the aggregate total of the mind and five senses.
Verse 58
विपणस्तु क्रियाशक्तिर्भूतप्रकृतिरव्यया । शक्त्यधीश: पुमांस्त्वत्र प्रविष्टो नावबुध्यते ॥ ५८ ॥
The five stores are the five working sensory organs. They transact their business through the combined forces of the five elements, which are eternal. Behind all this activity is the soul. The soul is a person and an enjoyer in reality. However, because he is now hidden within the city of the body, he is devoid of knowledge.
Verse 59
तस्मिंस्त्वं रामया स्पृष्टो रममाणोऽश्रुतस्मृति: । तत्सङ्गादीदृशीं प्राप्तो दशां पापीयसीं प्रभो ॥ ५९ ॥
My dear friend, when you enter such a body along with the woman of material desires, you become overly absorbed in sense enjoyment. Because of this, you have forgotten your spiritual life. Due to your material conceptions, you are placed in various miserable conditions.
Verse 60
न त्वं विदर्भदुहिता नायं वीर: सुहृत्तव । न पतिस्त्वं पुरञ्जन्या रुद्धो नवमुखे यया ॥ ६० ॥
Actually, you are not the daughter of Vidarbha, nor is this man, Malayadhvaja, your well-wishing husband. Nor were you the actual husband of Purañjanī. You were simply captivated in this body of nine gates.
Verse 61
माया ह्येषा मया सृष्टा यत्पुमांसं स्त्रियं सतीम् । मन्यसे नोभयं यद्वै हंसौ पश्यावयोर्गतिम् ॥ ६१ ॥
Sometimes you think yourself a man, sometimes a chaste woman and sometimes a neutral eunuch. This is all because of the body, which is created by the illusory energy. This illusory energy is My potency, and actually both of us — you and I — are pure spiritual identities. Now just try to understand this. I am trying to explain our factual position.
Verse 62
अहं भवान्न चान्यस्त्वं त्वमेवाहं विचक्ष्व भो: । न नौ पश्यन्ति कवयश्छिद्रं जातु मनागपि ॥ ६२ ॥
My dear friend, I, the Supersoul, and you, the individual soul, are not different in quality, for we are both spiritual. In fact, My dear friend, you are qualitatively not different from Me in your constitutional position. Just try to consider this subject. Those who are actually advanced scholars, who are in knowledge, do not find any qualitative difference between you and Me.
Verse 63
यथा पुरुष आत्मानमेकमादर्शचक्षुषो: । द्विधाभूतमवेक्षेत तथैवान्तरमावयो: ॥ ६३ ॥
As a person sees the reflection of his body in a mirror to be one with himself and not different, whereas others actually see two bodies, so in our material condition, in which the living being is affected and yet not affected, there is a difference between God and the living entity.
Verse 64
एवं स मानसो हंसो हंसेन प्रतिबोधित: । स्वस्थस्तद्वयभिचारेण नष्टामाप पुन: स्मृतिम् ॥ ६४ ॥
In this way both swans live together in the heart. When the one swan is instructed by the other, he is situated in his constitutional position. This means he regains his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which was lost because of his material attraction.
Verse 65
बर्हिष्मन्नेतदध्यात्मं पारोक्ष्येण प्रदर्शितम् । यत्परोक्षप्रियो देवो भगवान् विश्वभावन: ॥ ६५ ॥
My dear King Prācīnabarhi, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, is celebrated to be known indirectly. Thus I have described the story of Purañjana to you. Actually it is an instruction for self-realization.
They function allegorically: Yavana-rāja represents fear and death overtaking the embodied being, while Kālakanyā represents Time manifesting as old age that drains beauty, strength, and enjoyment. Their ‘soldiers’ symbolize the progressive breakdown of bodily systems and the pressures that force the jīva to abandon the body.
The city is the material body (deha), described as having nine gates (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, anus, genitals). Within this city, the jīva misidentifies as the enjoyer, becomes absorbed in sense objects, and forgets the Paramātmā. The image teaches embodied psychology and the mechanics of bondage in a memorable narrative form.
The chapter applies the Bhagavatam’s principle that one’s consciousness at death shapes the next embodiment. Because Purañjana dies intensely remembering his wife and household attachment, the mind’s final fixation produces a corresponding birth—here as Vaidarbhī—illustrating how kāma and identification with relational roles redirect the jīva’s journey.
He is the Paramātmā, the Supersoul—present as the jīva’s eternal friend within the heart. He reminds the conditioned soul of their long companionship (the ‘two swans’) and reorients identity away from bodily designations toward spiritual self-knowledge and bhakti.
Malayadhvaja models the positive resolution of the allegory: disciplined living, austerity, sense control, and bhakti lead to steady realization—distinguishing the localized jīva from the all-pervading Supersoul—culminating in fixed devotional attraction to Kṛṣṇa. His life contrasts Purañjana’s downfall under attachment and forgetfulness.