Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 6
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
कन्योपगूढो नष्टश्री: कृपणो विषयात्मक: । नष्टप्रज्ञो हृतैश्वर्यो गन्धर्वयवनैर्बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
kanyopagūḍho naṣṭa-śrīḥ kṛpaṇo viṣayātmakaḥ naṣṭa-prajño hṛtaiśvaryo gandharva-yavanair balāt
Lorsque le roi Purañjana fut enlacé par Kālakanyā, sa beauté s’éteignit peu à peu. Trop attaché aux plaisirs des sens, son intelligence s’appauvrit, sa splendeur lui fut ravie, et les Gandharvas ainsi que les Yavanas le vainquirent de force.
When a person is attacked by the invalidity of old age and is still addicted to sense gratification, he gradually loses all his personal beauty, intelligence and good possessions. He thus cannot resist the forceful attack of the daughter of Time.
FAQs
In King Purañjana’s allegory, the Gandharvas and Yavanas symbolize the irresistible movement of time—especially days and nights—which forcibly diminishes one’s strength, beauty, and worldly opulence.
Śukadeva describes King Purañjana (representing the conditioned soul) to show how attachment to sensual enjoyment makes one spiritually miserly, ruins discernment, and leaves one helpless before time.
Recognize how time steadily drains energy and opportunities; reduce sense-driven habits, cultivate discernment through sādhana (hearing/chanting), and invest life in devotion rather than temporary status and pleasure.