Shloka 63
Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment
जरादोषैः प्रभग्नोऽसौ अत्र स्थातुं स नेच्छति । आकुलव्याकुलो भूत्वा जीवस्त्यक्त्वा प्रयाति सः
jarādoṣaiḥ prabhagno'sau atra sthātuṃ sa necchati | ākulavyākulo bhūtvā jīvastyaktvā prayāti saḥ
เมื่อถูกความทุกข์แห่งชราบีบคั้นจนยับเยิน เขาย่อมไม่ปรารถนาจะอยู่ ณ ที่นี้ ครั้นเกิดความว้าวุ่นสับสนยิ่งนัก ชีวะก็ละกายแล้วจากไป
Unspecified (narrative voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: The embodied self departs when the body is overwhelmed by old age; therefore one should not cling to the perishable body.
Application: Contemplate mortality daily; reduce attachment to bodily identity; cultivate steady remembrance of Vishnu and regular sādhana before decline arrives.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An aged figure sits on the edge of a simple cot, body bent and trembling, eyes wide with confusion as the life-breath seems to loosen its hold. A subtle, translucent jīva-form rises upward, leaving the heavy body behind, while unseen time (kāla) is suggested by falling petals and a dimming lamp.","primary_figures":["Aging human (symbolic everyman)","Subtle jīva (luminous silhouette)","Kāla (symbolic presence, optional)"],"setting":"A quiet chamber with a small oil lamp, a window showing twilight sky, scattered lotus petals and a water pot—minimal, intimate, mortal.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky indigo","lamp-gold","ash gray","withered saffron","pale lotus pink"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an aged man on a low cot, ornate but subdued interior, a glowing subtle jiva rising from the chest, stylized lotus motifs at the border, gold leaf highlighting the departing soul’s aura and the lamp flame, rich maroon and deep green accents, traditional South Indian ornamentation kept minimal to emphasize vairagya.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate linework showing an old man with expressive eyes, a faint luminous jiva drifting upward like mist, twilight through a lattice window, soft Himalayan-like cool palette, lyrical naturalism with falling petals symbolizing time, refined facial features and gentle shading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, simplified interior chamber, large expressive eyes of the aged figure, the jiva as a pale golden form outlined in red, natural pigment palette with ochre, deep green, and vermilion, temple-wall aesthetic emphasizing the moral lesson of impermanence.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—withered lotus garlands and a dim diya in the foreground, a subtle jiva rising toward a distant Vishnu-lotus motif in the upper register, intricate floral borders, deep blue background with gold highlights, devotional undertone of seeking refuge beyond the body."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","long silence between pādas","faint wind","single low conch note (distant)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prabhagno'sau = prabhagnaḥ + asau; necchati = na + icchati; jīvastyaktvā = jīvaḥ + tyaktvā.
FAQs
It highlights impermanence: under the pains of old age, the embodied being becomes distressed and ultimately leaves the body, urging detachment from bodily identity.
Yes. It explicitly says the jīva “abandons” (tyaktvā) and “departs” (prayāti), implying the self is distinct from the body it leaves behind.
Since aging and death are unavoidable, one should cultivate steadiness, spiritual practice, and non-attachment rather than relying on bodily permanence.