Shloka 17
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
अहं ममेति स्वीकृत्य गृहेषु कुमतिर्गृही । दध्यौ प्रमदया दीनो विप्रयोग उपस्थिते ॥ १७ ॥
ahaṁ mameti svīkṛtya gṛheṣu kumatir gṛhī dadhyau pramadayā dīno viprayoga upasthite
Embracing the notions of “I” and “mine,” King Purañjana, bound to household life, fell into misguided thinking. Overly drawn to his wife, he had already become impoverished within, and when separation approached he was overwhelmed with sorrow.
It is clear in this verse that at the time of death thoughts of material enjoyment do not go away. This indicates that the living entity, the soul, is carried by the subtle body — mind, intelligence and ego. Due to false ego, the living entity still wants to enjoy the material world, and for want of material enjoyment he becomes sorry or sad. He still makes intellectual plans to further his existence, and therefore, although he gives up the gross body, he is carried by the subtle body to another gross body. The transmigration of the subtle body is never visible to material eyes; therefore when one gives up the gross body, we think that he is finished. Plans for material enjoyment are made by the subtle body, and the gross body is the instrument for enjoying these plans. Thus the gross body can be compared to the wife, for the wife is the agent for all kinds of sense gratification. Because of long association with the gross body, the living entity becomes very sad to be separated from it. The mental activity of the living entity obliges him to accept another gross body and continue his material existence.
FAQs
This verse shows that accepting “I” and “mine” binds the soul to household identity and produces sorrow—especially when inevitable separation arrives.
Because his consciousness was absorbed in possessiveness and attachment to his wife and home, he became helpless and distressed when the time of separation (loss/transition) came.
Reduce possessiveness by remembering relationships and possessions are temporary; cultivate devotion and inner identity beyond roles, so life’s changes don’t overwhelm the mind.