When Puranjana saw how his queen was lying upon the ground like a mendicant, he became very bewildered in mind (He repented for having neglected his good intelligence so that he could engage in sinful activities). Being very aggrieved, he tried his best to pacify her with pleasing words. Surprisingly, she did not display any symptoms of anger, which is the natural characteristic of a woman in love when she is neglected. Being very expert in flattery, however, King Puranjana remained undaunted, and continued to pacify his wife, step by step.
First of all he touched her feet, and then he embraced her warmly. Finally, after seating her upon his lap, he said, (After genuinely regretting one’s former sinful life, one must raise himself to the platform of Krishna consciousness by touching the feet of the guru and then pleasing him with the execution of devotional service.)
“My dear beautiful wife, when a master accepts a servant, but does not punish him for his offenses, that servant must be considered as most unfortunate. When chastised by his master, the servant should take it as great mercy, and therefore not become angry.” (An effeminate husband, being attracted by the external beauty of his wife, tries to become her most obedient servant.)
“My dear wife, kindly give up your anger and be merciful by smiling upon me with loving attachment. When I see your beautiful, smiling face and hear your sweet talk, I become very attracted and obliged to you. (Puranjana is trying to revive his wife’s original beauty, just as one tries to revive his original Krishna consciousness, which is very beautiful.) If someone has offended you, then I am prepared to punish him, provided that he is not a brahmana or a Vaishnava.”
“My dear wife, I have never seen your face without tilak or cosmetics, nor have I seen you so morose and lusterless. (When one’s consciousness is not decorated with thoughts of Krishna, it becomes morose and without luster.) Due to my sinful desires, I went to the forest without your permission, and thus I have certainly offended you. Now, please consider me to be your most intimate subordinate, and become pleased with me. I am very much bereaved, and due to being pierced by Cupid’s arrows, I feel very lusty. Where is the beautiful woman who would give up her lusty husband and refuse to unite with him?”
After thus bewildering her husband and bringing him under control, the queen bathed, dressed herself very nicely, ate her meal, and then returned to him. Upon seeing her beautifully decorated face, King Puranjana very respectfully welcomed his queen, and in return, she fondly embraced him.
Thereafter, in a secluded place, the queen gave King Puranjana full satisfaction by enjoying sex-life with him to his heart’s content. (When one’s intelligence is properly utilized, the intellect and the intelligent person enjoy each other with great satisfaction.) Being captivated by his beautiful wife, Puranjana lost all good sense, and thus he forgot how the days and nights were passing in such a way that his duration of life was being reduced without profit. (After hunting in the forest, which represents sinful life, King Puranjana returned home to a religious household life, whereby one can advance towards Krishna consciousness. However, if in household life one simply becomes attracted by sex, then he sinks down deeper into material life.)
Becoming increasingly overwhelmed by illusion, Puranjana remained always lying down with his head on the pillow of his wife’s arms. Due to considering a woman to be his very life and soul, he could not understand the meaning of self-realization. (A woman is called pramada, which means “enlivening” as well as “maddening”. In other words, a beautiful wife can be enlivening, as well as the cause of degradation.)
His heart filled with lust, King Puranjana begot 1100 sons and 110 daughters in the womb of his wife, Puranjani, and in this way, his youthful life passed as if it had been just a moment. Then, to increase his dynasty, Puranjana got all of his children married, so that gradually the whole city of Panchala became overcrowded with his grandchildren. (The city represents Puranjana’s body, and his sons and grandsons represent the reactions of his pious and impious actions. In other words, when the living entity is inclined toward sexual activity, he becomes involved in hundreds and thousands of actions and reactions.) As they grew up, the sons and grandsons gradually became plunderers of King Puranjana’s wealth and possessions, to which he had become very attached.
This is a section of the book “A Sidelong Glance”.
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