Purañjana Captivated by Lust; Time (Caṇḍavega) and Old Age (Kālakanyā) Begin the Siege
तयैवं रममाणस्य कामकश्मलचेतस: । क्षणार्धमिव राजेन्द्र व्यतिक्रान्तं नवं वय: ॥ ५ ॥
tayaivaṁ ramamāṇasya kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ kṣaṇārdham iva rājendra vyatikrāntaṁ navaṁ vayaḥ
Oh rey Prācīnabarhiṣat, así, con la mente manchada por el deseo y por reacciones pecaminosas, el rey Purañjana se entregó al goce con su esposa, y su nueva edad y juventud se esfumaron como en medio instante.
Śrīla Govinda dāsa Ṭhākura has sung:
This verse says that when the mind is polluted by lust, one becomes absorbed in enjoyment and precious youth passes away unnoticed, as if in a moment.
Śukadeva is narrating the allegory to King Parīkṣit and directly instructs him—“O best of kings”—to emphasize the moral: time slips away quickly under sensual absorption.
Be mindful of where attention and desire go; reduce habits that intensify lust and instead invest time in sādhana, service, and purposeful duties so youth and energy support spiritual progress.