Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship
पिधाय कर्णौ निर्घोषं न शृणोत्यात्मसम्भवम् ।
नश्यते चक्षुषोर्ज्योतिर्यस्य सोऽपि न जीवति ॥
pidhāya karṇau nirghoṣaṃ na śṛṇoty ātmasambhavam / naśyate cakṣuṣor jyotir yasya so 'pi na jīvati
もし人が耳をふさいだ後、自らの内より起こる内なる音を聞き得ず、また眼の光(力)が消え失せるならば—その者はもはや生きてはいない(死が近い)。
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
The verse treats the body as an instrument whose subtle functions (inner auditory perception, ocular vitality) indicate life’s stability. Ethically, it urges sobriety and preparedness—when faculties fail, one should turn to dharma and final duties rather than denial.
This passage is not primarily sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita; it belongs to ancillary didactic material (dharma-upadeśa) commonly embedded in Purāṇas.
‘Inner sound’ can be read as the prāṇic/subtle resonance; inability to perceive it symbolizes prāṇa-withdrawal. The ‘light of the eyes’ signifies tejas departing—an inward sign of the jīva’s impending separation from the body.