Shloka 16
The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
प्रसज्जति क्वापि लताभुजाश्रय- स्तदाश्रयाव्यक्तपदद्विजस्पृह: । क्वचित्कदाचिद्धरिचक्रतस्त्रसन् सख्यं विधत्ते बककङ्कगृध्रै: ॥ १६ ॥
prasajjati kvāpi latā-bhujāśrayas tad-āśrayāvyakta-pada-dvija-spṛhaḥ kvacit kadācid dhari-cakratas trasan sakhyaṁ vidhatte baka-kaṅka-gṛdhraiḥ
Manchmal sucht das Lebewesen im Wald des materiellen Daseins Zuflucht bei den Ranken der Lianen und begehrt das Zwitschern der Vögel darin zu hören. Manchmal, aus Furcht vor dem Brüllen der Löwen, schließt es Freundschaft mit Kranichen, Reihern und Geiern.
In the forest of the material world there are many animals and birds, trees and creepers. Sometimes the living entity wants to take shelter of the creepers; in other words, he wants to be happy by being embraced by the creeperlike arms of his wife. Within the creepers there are many chirping birds; this indicates that he wants to satisfy himself by hearing the sweet voice of his wife. In old age, however, he sometimes becomes afraid of imminent death, which is compared to a roaring lion. To save himself from the lion’s attack, he takes shelter of some bogus svāmīs, yogīs, incarnations, pretenders and cheaters. Being misled by the illusory energy in this way, he spoils his life. It is said, hariṁ vinā mṛtiṁ na taranti: no one can be saved from the imminent danger of death without taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word hari indicates the lion as well as the Supreme Lord. To be saved from the hands of hari, the lion of death, one must take shelter of the supreme Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. People with a poor fund of knowledge take shelter of nondevotee cheaters and pretenders in order to be saved from the clutches of death. In the forest of the material world, the living entity first of all wants to be very happy by taking shelter of the creeperlike arms of his wife and hearing her sweet voice. Later, he sometimes takes shelter of so-called gurus and sādhus who are like cranes, herons and vultures. Thus he is cheated both ways by not taking shelter of the Supreme Lord.
FAQs
This verse portrays how one becomes trapped by alluring supports (symbolized by creepers) and then seeks fleeting, unclear goals, showing how attachment deepens bondage in material life.
Hari’s discus represents the Lord’s controlling power and the fear that arises when one feels threatened by divine law or consequences; instead of surrender, the conditioned soul often seeks refuge in misguided alliances.
Reduce entangling attachments, be careful about the company you keep, and replace fear-driven coping with conscious turning toward Hari through bhakti practices like nāma-japa and sādhusanga.