Shloka 16
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
दुहितृ: पुत्रपौत्रांश्च जामिजामातृपार्षदान् । स्वत्वावशिष्टं यत्किञ्चिद् गृहकोशपरिच्छदम् ॥ १६ ॥
duhitṝḥ putra-pautrāṁś ca jāmi-jāmātṛ-pārṣadān svatvāvaśiṣṭaṁ yat kiñcid gṛha-kośa-paricchadam
King Purañjana then began to think of his daughters, sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, servants and other companions, as well as his home, household furnishings, and the small remainder of his accumulated wealth.
It is not infrequent for a person overly attached to the material body to request a physician to prolong his life at least for some time. If the so-called scientific physician is able to prolong one’s life for a few minutes through the use of oxygen or other medicines, he thinks that he is very successful in his attempts, although ultimately the patient will die. This is called the struggle for existence. At the time of death both patient and physician still think of prolonging life, although all the constituents of the body are practically dead and gone.
FAQs
This verse shows the act of distributing one’s remaining possessions—home, treasury, and household goods—indicating a deliberate move away from possessiveness and attachment as life turns toward higher spiritual priorities.
In the allegorical account, this transfer highlights the transient nature of material ownership and the householder’s eventual need to relinquish claims over family and assets as time and destiny compel departure.
Treat resources as stewardship rather than identity—plan responsible inheritance/charity, simplify possessions, and invest time daily in bhakti practices so spiritual life is not postponed by endless management of “mine.”