Shloka 11
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
नलिनी नालिनी नासे गन्ध: सौरभ उच्यते । घ्राणोऽवधूतो मुख्यास्यं विपणो वाग्रसविद्रस: ॥ ११ ॥
nalinī nālinī nāse gandhaḥ saurabha ucyate ghrāṇo ’vadhūto mukhyāsyaṁ vipaṇo vāg rasavid rasaḥ
नलिनी नालिनी इति द्वे नासिकापुटे ज्ञेये; सौरभाख्या पुरी गन्धः। अवधूतः सहचरः घ्राणेन्द्रियम्; मुख्या द्वारं मुखम्, विपणो वाक्शक्तिः, रसविद्रसः रसज्ञेन्द्रियम्।
The word avadhūta means “most free.” A person is not under the rules and regulations of any injunction when he has attained the stage of avadhūta. In other words, he can act as he likes. This avadhūta stage is exactly like air, which does not care for any obstruction. In Bhagavad-gītā (6.34) it is said:
FAQs
In the Purañjana allegory, Nārada explains the body as a city: openings like the mouth and nose are gates/centers of experience, and senses (like smell) are personified to show how the jīva becomes entangled through sense perception.
Because the mouth is where exchange happens—speech is traded, and tastes are consumed—highlighting how the tongue drives attachment through both talking and eating.
Practice restraint of speech and diet: speak truthfully and beneficially, and take sanctified, sāttvika food—this directly weakens sense-driven habits and supports bhakti.