Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Purañjana Captivated by Lust; Time (Caṇḍavega) and Old Age (Kālakanyā) Begin the Siege
क्षीयमाणे स्वसम्बन्धे एकस्मिन् बहुभिर्युधा । चिन्तां परां जगामार्त: सराष्ट्रपुरबान्धव: ॥ १७ ॥
kṣīyamāṇe sva-sambandhe ekasmin bahubhir yudhā cintāṁ parāṁ jagāmārtaḥ sa-rāṣṭra-pura-bāndhavaḥ
اتنے بڑے بڑے جنگجوؤں سے اکیلا لڑتے لڑتے پانچ پھَنوں والا سانپ بہت کمزور ہو گیا۔ اپنے نہایت قریبی دوست کو ڈھلتا دیکھ کر بادشاہ پورنجن اور شہر و ریاست کے رشتہ دار اور باشندے سخت پریشان ہو گئے۔
The living entity resides within the body and struggles for existence with the limbs of the body, which are referred to here as citizens and friends. One can struggle alone with many soldiers for some time, but not for all time. The living entity within the body can struggle up to the limit of a hundred years with good luck, but after that it is not possible to prolong the struggle. Thus the living entity submits and falls victim. In this regard, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung, vṛddha kāla āola saba sukha bhāgala: when one becomes old, it becomes impossible to enjoy material happiness. Generally people think that religion and piety come at the end of life, and at this time one generally becomes meditative and takes to some so-called yogic process to relax in the name of meditation. Meditation, however, is simply a farce for those who have enjoyed life in sense gratification. As described in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, meditation ( dhyāna, dhāraṇā ) is a difficult subject matter that one has to learn from his very youth. To meditate, one must restrain himself from all kinds of sense gratification. Unfortunately, meditation has now become a fashion for those who are overly addicted to sensual things. Such meditation is defeated by the struggle for existence. Sometimes such meditative processes pass for transcendental meditation. King Purañjana, the living entity, being thus victimized by the hard struggle for existence, took to transcendental meditation with his friends and relatives.
FAQs
This verse shows that when one’s sole material support is threatened, attachment to possessions, social identity, and family produces intense anxiety—highlighting the need to shift shelter to the Supreme Lord rather than worldly bonds.
Śukadeva depicts how, at the time of crisis, the conditioned soul clings to external identifications—state, home, and relationships—revealing the deep roots of bodily and social attachment in the allegory of Purañjana.
When pressures “attack” from many sides, reduce identity-based clinging (status, possessions, roles) and cultivate steady spiritual shelter through devotion, remembrance, and disciplined practice—so anxiety lessens even amid uncertainty.