Shloka 24
Purañjana Captivated by Lust; Time (Caṇḍavega) and Old Age (Kālakanyā) Begin the Siege
ऋषभं यवनानां त्वां वृणे वीरेप्सितं पतिम् । सङ्कल्पस्त्वयि भूतानां कृत: किल न रिष्यति ॥ २४ ॥
ṛṣabhaṁ yavanānāṁ tvāṁ vṛṇe vīrepsitaṁ patim saṅkalpas tvayi bhūtānāṁ kṛtaḥ kila na riṣyati
Aproximando-se do rei dos Yavanas, Kālakanyā disse: “Ó herói, tu és o melhor entre os Yavanas; escolho-te como o esposo que desejo. Sei que ninguém fica frustrado ao fazer amizade contigo.”
The words yavanānām ṛṣabham refer to the King of the Yavanas. The Sanskrit words yavana and mleccha apply to those who do not follow the Vedic principles. According to the Vedic principles, one should rise early in the morning, take bath, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, offer maṅgala-ārati to the Deities, study Vedic literature, take prasāda and engage in dressing and decorating the Deities. One must also collect money for the temple expenditures, or if one is a householder he must go to work in accordance with the prescribed duties of a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra. In this way one should live a life of spiritual understanding, and this is the Vedic way of civilization. One who does not follow all these rules and regulations is called a yavana or mleccha. One should not mistakenly think that these words refer to certain classes of men in other countries. There is no question of limitation according to nationalism. Whether one lives in India or outside of India, he is called a yavana or mleccha if he does not follow the Vedic principles. One who does not actually follow the hygienic principles prescribed in the Vedic rules and regulations will be subjected to many contagious diseases. Because the students in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are advised to follow the Vedic principles, they naturally become hygienic.
FAQs
The queen (Purañjanī) declares her choice of Purañjana as her desired lord and says that the determination placed in him by living beings will not be thwarted—highlighting how strong resolve and desire drive one’s material course.
In this allegorical narration, such comparisons intensify the mood of passionate choice and worldly attraction; the language also foreshadows the later appearance of Yavana forces (often linked with time/death) in the broader symbolism of the story.
It cautions that determination anchored in worldly desire can strongly shape one’s destiny; redirecting the same resolve toward bhakti and self-discipline leads to steadier, uplifting outcomes.