Shloka 8
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
अक्षिणी नासिके कर्णौ मुखं शिश्नगुदाविति । द्वे द्वे द्वारौ बहिर्याति यस्तदिन्द्रियसंयुत: ॥ ८ ॥
akṣiṇī nāsike karṇau mukhaṁ śiśna-gudāv iti dve dve dvārau bahir yāti yas tad-indriya-saṁyutaḥ
The eyes, nostrils, and ears are gates in pairs, set in their places; the mouth, genitals, and rectum are other gates. Dwelling in this nine-gated body, the jīva acts outwardly in the material world and tastes sense objects such as form and flavor.
Not being aware of his spiritual position, the living entity, directed by the mind, goes out through the nine gates to enjoy material objects. Because of long association with material objects, he forgets his real, spiritual activities and is thus misled. The entire world is going on being misled by so-called leaders like scientists and philosophers, who have no knowledge of the spirit soul. Thus the conditioned soul becomes more and more entangled.
FAQs
This verse describes the eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, genitals, and anus as gateways through which the embodied soul turns outward, engaging the external world via sense contact.
Narada was instructing the king through the allegory of Purañjana, showing how identification with the body and outward sense life binds the soul, and why one should turn toward devotional self-realization instead.
Treat the senses as gateways that need mindful regulation—reduce impulsive consumption (media, food, sexuality), and redirect attention toward sādhana like hearing and chanting about Krishna.