Shloka 85
अध्यात्मपारोक्ष्यमिदं मयाधिगतमद्भुतम् । एवं स्त्रियाश्रम: पुंसश्छिन्नोऽमुत्र च संशय: ॥ ८५ ॥
adhyātma-pārokṣyam idaṁ mayādhigatam adbhutam evaṁ striyāśramaḥ puṁsaś chinno ’mutra ca saṁśayaḥ
This wondrous, profound spiritual teaching I learned from my spiritual master. One who understands the purpose of this allegory is freed from bodily identification and clearly comprehends life after death; even the truth of the soul’s transmigration becomes fully understood by studying this narration.
The word striyā, meaning “along with the wife,” is significant. The male and female living together constitute the sum and substance of material existence. The attraction between male and female in this material world is very strong. In all species of life the attraction between male and female is the basic principle of existence. The same principle of intermingling is also in human society, but is in a regulative form. Material existence means living together as male and female and being attracted by one another. However, when one fully understands spiritual life, his attraction for the opposite sex is completely vanquished. By such attraction one becomes overly attached to this material world. It is a hard knot within the heart:
FAQs
This verse states that the soul can take different bodily conditions—male or female—in the next life according to karma, and that proper spiritual understanding removes doubt about this.
Nārada was concluding his instruction (through the allegory of Purañjana) to shift the king from ritualistic attachment toward clear spiritual knowledge and devotion, removing confusion about the soul’s transmigration.
Identify yourself as the soul rather than the body, act responsibly knowing actions shape future outcomes, and cultivate bhakti and detachment to dissolve anxiety about changing identities and circumstances.