Shloka 23
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
आधयो व्याधयस्तस्य सैनिका यवनाश्चरा: । भूतोपसर्गाशुरय: प्रज्वारो द्विविधो ज्वर: ॥ २३ ॥ एवं बहुविधैर्दु:खैर्दैवभूतात्मसम्भवै: । क्लिश्यमान: शतं वर्षं देहे देही तमोवृत: ॥ २४ ॥ प्राणेन्द्रियमनोधर्मानात्मन्यध्यस्य निर्गुण: । शेते कामलवान्ध्यायन्ममाहमिति कर्मकृत् ॥ २५ ॥
ādhayo vyādhayas tasya sainikā yavanāś carāḥ bhūtopasargāśu-rayaḥ prajvāro dvi-vidho jvaraḥ
आधयो व्याधयश्च तस्य यवनाश्चराः सैनिका इव; भूतोपसर्गाश्चासुरयः। प्रज्वारो द्विविधो ज्वरः। एवं दैव-भूत-आत्मसम्भवैर्बहुविधैर्दुःखैः क्लिश्यमानो देहे देही तमोवृतः शतं वर्षं वसति। प्राणेन्द्रियमनोधर्मानात्मन्यध्यस्य निर्गुणोऽपि कामलवोऽन्ध्यायन् ‘ममाहम्’ इति कर्मकृत् शेते॥
In the Vedas it is stated: asaṅgo hy ayaṁ puruṣaḥ: the living entity is actually separate from material existence, for the soul is not material. In Bhagavad-gītā it is also said that the living entity is the superior energy and the material elements — earth, water, fire, air and so on — are the inferior energy. The material elements are also described as bhinna, or separated energy. When the internal or superior energy comes in contact with the external energy, it is subjected to so many tribulations. In Bhagavad-gītā (2.14) the Lord also says, mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ: because of the material body, the living entity is subjected to many tribulations brought about by air, water, fire, extreme heat, extreme cold, sunshine, excessive eating, unhealthy food, maladjustments of the three elements of the body ( kapha, pitta and vāyu ), and so on. The intestines, the throat, the brain and the other parts of the body are affected by all kinds of diseases that are so powerful that they become sources of extreme suffering for the living entity. The living entity, however, is different from all these material elements. The two types of fever described in this verse can be explained in contemporary language as pneumonia and typhoid. When there is an extreme fever in the body, there is typhoid and pneumonia, and they are described as Prajvāra. There are also other miseries created by other living entities — the state exacts taxes, and there are also many thieves, rogues and cheaters. Miseries brought about by other living entities are called adhibhautika. There are also miseries in the form of famine, pestilence, scarcity, war, earthquakes and so on. These are caused by the demigods or other sources beyond our control. Actually there are many enemies of the living entities, and these are all described to point out how miserable this material existence is.
FAQs
This verse portrays anxiety (ādhi) and disease (vyādhi) as invading forces that attack the embodied soul, illustrating how material life brings unavoidable mental and physical suffering.
In the Purañjana allegory, such figures symbolize destructive agents of time and karma—afflictions that overpower one who identifies with the body and worldly life.
Recognize anxiety and illness as reminders to shift identity from the body-mind to the soul, and strengthen spiritual practice (bhakti, remembrance, sādhana) rather than living only for temporary security.