Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 55
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
स त्वं विचक्ष्य मृगचेष्टितमात्मनोऽन्त- श्चित्तं नियच्छ हृदि कर्णधुनीं च चित्ते । जह्यङ्गनाश्रममसत्तमयूथगाथं प्रीणीहि हंसशरणं विरम क्रमेण ॥ ५५ ॥
sa tvaṁ vicakṣya mṛga-ceṣṭitam ātmano ’ntaś cittaṁ niyaccha hṛdi karṇa-dhunīṁ ca citte jahy aṅganāśramam asattama-yūtha-gāthaṁ prīṇīhi haṁsa-śaraṇaṁ virama krameṇa
My dear King, just try to understand the allegorical position of the deer. Be fully conscious of yourself, and give up the pleasure of hearing about promotion to heavenly planets by fruitive activity. Give up household life, which is full of sex, as well as stories about such things, and take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the mercy of the liberated souls. In this way, please give up your attraction for material existence.
In one of his songs, Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura writes:
FAQs
This verse advises fixing the mind by bringing into consciousness the purifying ‘stream through the ear’—absorbing oneself in hearing sacred teachings—so the restless mind becomes restrained and steadied.
Nārada instructs the king to turn from ritualistic, materially motivated life and sense attachment toward bhakti—seeking saintly association, regulating the mind, and gradually renouncing degrading worldly talk and company.
Reduce distracting media and gossip, prioritize daily hearing/reading of Bhagavatam or kīrtana, seek uplifting association, and make gradual lifestyle changes that weaken compulsive sense-driven habits.