Shloka 63
Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya
एषामायुर्व्यर्थमेवं गतं च एषां दृष्ट्वा यौवनं तु ध्रुवं च / स्कन्धस्थमृत्युर्हसते कृष्ण विष्णो तं वै न जानन्ति विमूढचेतसः
eṣāmāyurvyarthamevaṃ gataṃ ca eṣāṃ dṛṣṭvā yauvanaṃ tu dhruvaṃ ca / skandhasthamṛtyurhasate kṛṣṇa viṣṇo taṃ vai na jānanti vimūḍhacetasaḥ
यौवनं ध्रुवमिव मन्यमानाः, एषामायुर्व्यर्थमेवं व्यतीतम्। स्कन्धस्थो मृत्युर्हसते—हे कृष्ण विष्णो—तं न जानन्ति विमूढचेतसः॥
Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Youth and certainty are illusions; death is imminent; ignorance prevents recognition—therefore awaken to Hari and pursue liberation-oriented living.
Vedantic Theme: Anityatā and mṛtyu-smaraṇa as viveka; pramāda (heedlessness) as bondage; turning to Viṣṇu as refuge.
Application: Daily contemplation of mortality; prioritize sādhanā, reconciliation, and dharmic duties now rather than ‘later’.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated mṛtyu-smaraṇa and urgency to perform dharma/dāna/bhakti before death; Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa: death as the gateway to Yama’s path
FAQs
This verse stresses that life becomes “wasted” when one assumes youth is permanent; remembering death prompts dharma, restraint, and timely spiritual practice.
It portrays death as already “on the shoulder,” meaning mortality is ever-present, yet people with deluded minds fail to recognize its nearness and live carelessly.
Treat youth and health as uncertain; prioritize dharmic living, daily remembrance of impermanence, and meaningful duties (family, charity, discipline, devotion) without procrastination.