Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 22
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
कालकन्या जरा साक्षाल्लोकस्तां नाभिनन्दति । स्वसारं जगृहे मृत्यु: क्षयाय यवनेश्वर: ॥ २२ ॥
kāla-kanyā jarā sākṣāl lokas tāṁ nābhinandati svasāraṁ jagṛhe mṛtyuḥ kṣayāya yavaneśvaraḥ
Yang disebut Kālakanyā hendaknya dipahami sebagai Jarā, yakni usia tua. Tiada seorang pun menyambut usia tua, namun Yavaneśvara—maut—menerima Jarā sebagai saudari demi kehancuran.
Encaged within the body, the living being accepts Kālakanyā, old age, just before death. Yavaneśvara is the emblem of death, Yamarāja. Before going to the place of Yamarāja, the living entity accepts Jarā, old age, the sister of Yamarāja. One is subjected to the influence of Yavana-rāja and his sister due to impious activity. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and are engaged in devotional service under the instructions of Nārada Muni are not subjected to the influence of Yamarāja and his sister Jarā. If one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he conquers death. After leaving the material body, he does not accept another body that is material but returns home, back to Godhead. This is verified by Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) .
FAQs
This verse personifies old age as Kāla-kanyā, unwanted by all, and links her with Mṛtyu (Death), showing that time brings inevitable decline and destruction to embodied life.
Kāla-kanyā is an allegorical figure representing jarā (old age), a force of time that no one welcomes, yet inevitably approaches all conditioned souls.
Recognize the certainty of aging and death, and prioritize lasting spiritual practice—especially bhakti—rather than living only for temporary bodily comfort and worldly achievements.