Shloka 32
नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः
Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva
ते पिबन्त: कषायांश्र सर्पीषि विविधानि च । दृश्यन्ते जरया भग्ना नगा नागैरिवोत्तमै:,वे तरह-तरहके काढ़े और नाना प्रकारके घी पीते रहते हैं, तो भी बड़े-बड़े हाथी जैसे वृक्षोंको झुका देते हैं, वैसे ही वृद्धावस्था उनकी कमर टेढ़ी कर देती है; यह देखा जाता है
te pibantaḥ kaṣāyāṁś ca sarpīṁṣi vividhāni ca | dṛśyante jarayā bhagnā nagā nāgair ivottamaiḥ ||
Nārada berkata: “Walaupun mereka terus meminum ramuan kelat dan pelbagai jenis minyak sapi jernih (ghṛta), mereka tetap kelihatan dipatahkan oleh usia tua—seperti gunung-gunung besar yang dibengkokkan dan dihancurkan oleh gajah-gajah perkasa. Maka, biarpun ada ubat dan pemakanan, nyanyuk tetap menundukkan tubuh dan menyingkap batas kuasa manusia.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Old age is unavoidable: even sustained use of medicines and nourishing substances cannot prevent the body from being bent and weakened by time. The verse encourages sober realism, humility, and detachment from bodily pride.
Narada illustrates the power of senescence with a vivid simile: people drink decoctions and ghee as remedies, yet they are still visibly broken by old age, just as mountains are battered by mighty elephants.