Shloka 28
The Lord’s Supervision of Embodiment: Fetal Development, Womb-Suffering, and the Jīva’s Prayer (Garbha-stuti) — and the Trap of Māyā
इत्येवं शैशवं भुक्त्वा दु:खं पौगण्डमेव च । अलब्धाभीप्सितोऽज्ञानादिद्धमन्यु: शुचार्पित: ॥ २८ ॥
ity evaṁ śaiśavaṁ bhuktvā duḥkhaṁ paugaṇḍam eva ca alabdhābhīpsito ’jñānād iddha-manyuḥ śucārpitaḥ
ଏଭଳି ଶୈଶବର ଦୁଃଖ ଭୋଗି ସେ ପୌଗଣ୍ଡ ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚେ; ସେଠାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଇଚ୍ଛିତ ବସ୍ତୁ ନମିଳିବାରୁ ଅଜ୍ଞାନବଶେ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ଓ ଶୋକାକୁଳ ହୁଏ।
From birth to the end of five years of age is called childhood. After five years up to the end of the fifteenth year is called paugaṇḍa. At sixteen years of age, youth begins. The distresses of childhood are already explained, but when the child attains boyhood he is enrolled in a school which he does not like. He wants to play, but he is forced to go to school and study and take responsibility for passing examinations. Another kind of distress is that he wants to get some things with which to play, but circumstances may be such that he is not able to attain them, and he thus becomes aggrieved and feels pain. In one word, he is unhappy, even in his boyhood, just as he was unhappy in his childhood, what to speak of youth. Boys are apt to create so many artificial demands for playing, and when they do not attain satisfaction they become furious with anger, and the result is suffering.
FAQs
This verse explains that when a person does not obtain what he longs for, ignorance fuels frustration, which then kindles anger and results in lamentation.
In this chapter’s discussion of the conditioned soul, Śukadeva highlights that even early life is marked by dependence, craving, and disappointment—showing the pervasive nature of material suffering.
Notice how unmet expectations trigger anger and sadness; reduce attachment to outcomes, cultivate spiritual understanding, and redirect desire toward devotional service to steady the mind.