Shloka 22
एवं कृपणया बुद्ध्या शोचन्तमतदर्हणम् । ग्रहीतुं कृतधीरेनं भयनामाभ्यपद्यत ॥ २२ ॥
evaṁ kṛpaṇayā buddhyā śocantam atad-arhaṇam grahītuṁ kṛta-dhīr enaṁ bhaya-nāmābhyapadyata
Thus, with miserly intelligence, he lamented what was not worthy of lamentation; meanwhile Yavana-rāja—whose very name was Fear—at once drew near to seize him.
Foolish people do not know that every individual soul is responsible for his own actions and reactions in life. As long as a living entity in the form of a child or boy is innocent, it is the duty of the father and mother to lead him into a proper understanding of the values of life. When a child is grown, it should be left up to him to execute the duties of life properly. The parent, after his death, cannot help his child. A father may leave some estate for his children’s immediate help, but he should not be overly absorbed in thoughts of how his family will survive after his death. This is the disease of the conditioned soul. Not only does he commit sinful activities for his own sense gratification, but he accumulates great wealth to leave behind so that his children may also gorgeously arrange for sense gratification.
FAQs
This verse shows that when one laments with kṛpaṇa-buddhi (miserly, materialistic intelligence) over unworthy objects, “Bhaya” (fear) comes to seize the person—implying fear follows attachment and misplaced grief.
Bhaya is a personified force in the allegory of Purañjana. He approaches to capture the lamenting, attached soul, illustrating how fear overtakes one absorbed in bodily and worldly identification.
Reduce lamentation over temporary losses by cultivating detachment and devotion; when priorities shift from possessions/ego to spiritual purpose, fear loses its grip.