Shloka 15
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
शिथिलावयवो यर्हि गन्धर्वैर्हृतपौरुष: । यवनैररिभी राजन्नुपरुद्धो रुरोद ह ॥ १५ ॥
śithilāvayavo yarhi gandharvair hṛta-pauruṣaḥ yavanair aribhī rājann uparuddho ruroda ha
اے بادشاہ! گندھروؤں نے اس کی مردانگی کی قوت چھین لی اور یَوَن دشمنوں نے اسے روک لیا، اس کے اعضا ڈھیلے پڑ گئے۔ جب وہ جسم چھوڑ کر نکلنا چاہتا تھا تو دشمنوں نے اسے تھام لیا؛ ناکام ہو کر وہ بلند آواز سے رونے لگا۔
At the last stage of life, the different gates of the body are choked by the effects of disease, which are caused by an imbalance of bile, mucus and air. Thus the living entity cannot clearly express his difficulties, and surrounding relatives hear the sound “ghura ghura ” from a dying man. In his Mukunda-mālā-stotra, King Kulaśekhara states:
FAQs
This verse describes how one’s bodily power and confidence are gradually taken away (symbolized by the Gandharvas), and then the soul feels besieged by unavoidable forces (the Yavanas), leading to lamentation—showing the futility of relying on the body.
In the allegory, the Gandharvas represent the passing of time that steals vigor, and the Yavanas represent the overpowering attacks of old age and its symptoms, which surround and restrict a person’s enjoyment and independence.
Remembering that time will inevitably weaken the body, one should invest early in sādhana—hearing, chanting, and serving Bhagavān—so that when life’s limitations close in, the mind has spiritual shelter instead of fear and regret.