Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 105: Rāma Consoles Bharata With Spiritual InstructionsText 2.105.23
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 105: Rāma Consoles Bharata With Spiritual Instructions
Text 2.105.23
गात्रेषु वलयः प्राप्ताः श्वेताश्चैव शिरोरुहाः।
जरया पुरुषो जीर्णः किं हि कृत्वा प्रभावयेत्॥
gātreṣu valayaḥ prāptāḥ śvetāś caiva śiro-ruhāḥ
jarayā puruṣo jīrṇaḥ kiṁ hi kṛtvā prabhāvayet
gātreṣu = on the bodies; valayaḥ = wrinkles; prāptāḥ = appear; śvetāḥ ca eva = turns white; śiraḥ-ruhāḥ = the hair on the head; jarayā = because of old age; puruṣaḥ = a man; jīrṇaḥ = decays; kim = what; hi = indeed; kṛtvā = can he then do; prabhāvayet = to become a lord.
Wrinkles appear on the bodies. The hair on the head turns white. A man decays because of old age. Indeed, what can he then do to become a lord?1
“What can he then do to become a lord?” means “What can he do to get rid of these disturbances [due to old age] and make himself into a lord?”
Therefore, it is concluded that one should endeavor for spiritual realization [even] when he is young.1