Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 19

Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana

Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti

Devanagari script

देहो रथस्त्विन्द्रियाश्व: संवत्सररयोऽगति: । द्विकर्मचक्रस्त्रिगुणध्वज: पञ्चासुबन्धुर: ॥ १८ ॥ मनोरश्मिर्बुद्धिसूतो हृन्नीडो द्वन्द्वकूबर: । पञ्चेन्द्रियार्थप्रक्षेप: सप्तधातुवरूथक: ॥ १९ ॥ आकूतिर्विक्रमो बाह्यो मृगतृष्णां प्रधावति । एकादशेन्द्रियचमू: पञ्चसूनाविनोदकृत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

deho rathas tv indriyāśvaḥ saṁvatsara-rayo ’gatiḥ dvi-karma-cakras tri-guṇa- dhvajaḥ pañcāsu-bandhuraḥ

Translation

那罗陀牟尼继续说：我所称的“战车”其实就是此身；诸根为牵引之马。年复一年，随时间之疾驰，它们似无阻碍地奔走，却并无真实进展。善业与恶业为两轮；三德为旗帜；五种气（五 prāṇa）为系缚。心为缰绳，智为御者。心脏为座位；乐与苦等二对为结扣之处。七种要素为车之覆护；五种作业根为外在运作；十一根为军队。众生沉溺于感官享受，坐于车上，如逐海市蜃楼般追逐虚妄欲求，为求满足而生生世世奔走。

Synonyms

• मनोरश्मिः: the mind as the reins
• मनोरश्मिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मनसः रश्मिः)

• बुद्धिसूतः: intellect as the charioteer
• बुद्धिसूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि + सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (बुद्धिः सूतः)

• हृन्नीडः: heart as the seat/nest
• हृन्नीडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् + नीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (हृदः नीडः)

• द्वन्द्वकूबरः: pairs of opposites as the yoke-pole
• द्वन्द्वकूबरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व + कूबर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (द्वन्द्वं कूबरः)

• पञ्चेन्द्रियार्थप्रक्षेपः: projection toward the objects of the five senses
• पञ्चेन्द्रियार्थप्रक्षेपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + इन्द्रिय + अर्थ + प्रक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः (पञ्चेन्द्रियाणाम् अर्थानां प्रक्षेपः)

• सप्तधातुवरूथकः: having the seven bodily constituents as armor
• सप्तधातुवरूथकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + धातु + वरूथक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त धातवः वरूथकं यस्य)

Purport

The entanglement of the living entity in sense enjoyment is very nicely explained in these verses. The word saṁvatsara, meaning “the progress of time,” is significant. Day after day, week after week, fortnight after fortnight, month after month, year after year, the living entity becomes entangled in the chariot’s progress. The chariot rests on two wheels, which are pious and impious activities. The living entity attains a certain position in life in a particular type of body according to his pious and impious activities, but his transmigration into different bodies should not be taken as progress. Real progress is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) . Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti: one makes real progress when he does not have to take on another material body. As stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 19.138) :

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Sanat-kumāra (one of the Four Kumāras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by the body being a chariot?

This verse uses an allegory: the body is a chariot driven through life, with senses as horses and time (years) as the force that carries it forward, showing how embodied life is propelled by time and karma.

Why is karma described as two wheels in Bhagavatam Canto 4?

The ‘two wheels’ indicate puṇya and pāpa—virtuous and sinful actions—by which the embodied being moves through repeated experiences and consequences in saṁsāra.

Practical application of this chariot teaching in modern life?

Recognize how time pushes life forward and how choices create consequences; discipline the senses and orient actions toward devotion so the journey leads to liberation rather than further bondage.