Shloka 62
Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins
City of Nine Gates
विप्रलब्धो महिष्यैवं सर्वप्रकृतिवञ्चित: । नेच्छन्ननुकरोत्यज्ञ: क्लैब्यात्क्रीडामृगो यथा ॥ ६२ ॥
vipralabdho mahiṣyaivaṁ sarva-prakṛti-vañcitaḥ necchann anukaroty ajñaḥ klaibyāt krīḍā-mṛgo yathā
Thus King Purañjana, enchanted by his beautiful queen, was deceived and cheated throughout his life in the material world. Even against his will, that foolish king remained under her control and imitated her—like a pet animal that dances at its master’s command.
The word vipralabdhaḥ is very significant in this verse. Vi means “specifically,” and pralabdha means “obtained.” Just to satisfy his desires, the King got the Queen, and thus he became cheated by material existence. Although he was not willing to do so, he remained a pet animal under the control of material intelligence. Just as a pet monkey dances according to the desires of its master, the King danced according to the desires of the Queen. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.2) it is said, mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ: if one associates with a saintly person, a devotee, one’s path of liberation becomes clear. But if one associates with a woman or with a person who is too much addicted to a woman, his path of bondage becomes completely clear.
FAQs
This verse says that when one is deluded by prakṛti, even if one inwardly knows better, one still follows her impulses—like a trained animal—due to ignorance and weakness.
Because under the influence of the mind and senses (symbolized by the queen), the soul is made to act for temporary pleasure, losing true independence and spiritual purpose.
Recognize the mechanism of delusion (prakṛti driving actions) and cultivate bhakti and self-discipline—choosing devotion-based habits so the mind stops “playing” with you.