Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 23
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality
गात्रेषु वलयः प्राप्ता श्श्वेताश्चैव शिरोरुहाः।जरया पुरुषो जीर्णः किं हि कृत्वा प्रभावयेत्।।2.105.23।।
gātreṣu valayaḥ prāptāḥ śvetāś caiva śiroruhāḥ | jarayā puruṣo jīrṇaḥ kiṃ hi kṛtvā prabhāvayet ||2.105.23||
Wrinkles come upon the limbs, and the hair turns white; worn down by age, what indeed can a person do to assert mastery (over such forces)?
Wrinkels form on the body and hair turns grey in old age. In this way, decayed with age, what can a man do to have control over death.
FAQs
It teaches humility and right priorities: since aging is unstoppable, dharma is to cultivate virtue and truth rather than chasing illusory control.
The speaker points to visible signs of aging to argue that human power is limited and thus grief should be tempered by wisdom.
Anasakti (non-attachment): loosening identification with the body and its inevitable decline.