Old Age Enters Manu's Palace
Bala Kanda, Doha 142
Doha 142 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ages of righteous household life pass through Manu's palace. Duties are fulfilled, kingdoms sustained, children and descendants established, yet attachment to sensory enjoyment has not fallen away.
Then old age arrives. Its presence changes the weight of familiar rooms and the measure of remaining time. The king sees that a long life can be filled with worthy action while the deepest turning of the heart is still postponed.
Great sorrow grips him. Life has flowed onward without the complete devotion to Hari for which the human birth was given. The pain is not hatred of household life, but awakening to a love left unrealized while years seemed inexhaustible.
In the palace of fulfilled duties, Manu hears old age ask where his devotion has gone.
Read the passage from the Manas
होइ न बिषय बिराग भवन बसत भा चौथपन। हृदयँ बहुत दुख लाग जनम गयउ हरिभगति बिनु।।142।।
Living in the household, old age arrived, yet detachment from sense-pleasures never came. Great sorrow gripped the heart: life has passed without devotion to Hari.