Chapter 1.22, Verses 26–38

Yoga Vashishtha 1.22.26–38

(The inevitability and universality of aging)

श्रीराम उवाच ।

काचिदस्ति जगत्यस्मिन्नामङ्गलकरी तथा ।

यथा जराक्रोशकरी देहजङ्गलजम्बुकी ॥ २६ ॥

कासश्वासससीत्कारा दुःखधूमतमोमयी।

जराज्वाला ज्वलत्येषा यस्यासौ दग्ध एव हि ॥ २७ ॥

जरसा वक्रतामेति शुक्लावयवपल्लवा ।

तात तन्वी तनुर्नृणां लता पुष्पानता यथा ॥ २८ ॥

जराकर्पूरधवलं देहकर्पूरपादपम् ।

मुने मरणमातङ्गो नूनमुद्धरति क्षणात् ॥ २९ ॥

मरणस्य मुने राज्ञो जराधवलचामरा ।

आगच्छतोऽग्रे निर्याति स्वाधिव्याधिपताकिनी ॥ ३० ॥

न जिताः शत्रुभिः संख्ये प्रविष्टा येऽद्रिकोटरे ।

ते जराजीर्णराक्षस्या पश्याशु विजिता मुने ॥ ३१ ॥

जरातुषारवलिते शरीरसदनान्तरे ।

शक्नुवन्त्यक्षशिशवः स्पन्दितुं न मनागपि ॥ ३२ ॥

दण्डतृतीयपादेन प्रस्खलन्ती मुहुर्मुहुः।

कासाधोवायुमुरजा जरा योषित्प्रनृत्यति ॥ ३३ ॥

संसारसंसृतेरस्या गन्धकुट्यां शिरोगता।

देहयष्ट्यां जरानाम्नी चामरश्रीर्विराजते ॥ ३४ ॥

जराचन्द्रोदयसिते शरीरनगरे स्थिते ।

क्षणाद्विकासमायाति मुने मरणकैरवम् ॥ ३५ ॥

जरासुधालेपसिते शरीरान्तःपुरान्तरे ।

अशक्तिरार्तिरापच्च तिष्ठन्ति सुखमङ्गनाः ॥ ३६ ॥

अभावोऽग्रेसरी यत्र जरा जयति जन्तुषु ।

कस्तत्रेह समाश्वासो मम मन्दमतेर्मुने ॥ ३७ ॥

किं तेन दुर्जीवितदुर्ग्रहेण जरागतेनापि हि जीव्यते यत् ।

जराजगत्यामजिता जनानां सर्वैषणास्तात तिरस्करोति ॥ ३८ ॥

Sriram said:

26. "There exists in this world a certain inauspicious force, O Sage, as ominous as the shrieking of a jackal roaming the wilderness of the body—this force is called old age."

27. "Wheezing, coughing, and labored breathing are her cries, and her very presence is like a cloud of suffering and darkness. Whom she touches is as if already burnt."

28. "Through her, the once supple and youthful body becomes crooked and bent, like a flowering creeper that droops under its own weight."

29. "When old age whitens the body like camphor dust covering a tree, then surely, O Sage, the elephant of death rises swiftly to uproot it."

30. "The white fan of old age precedes the arrival of death, the king, and heralds him with banners of disease and affliction."

31. "Even those warriors who could not be conquered in battle and who had hidden in caves among the mountains—see how quickly they are overcome by the demoness of old age!"

32. "Within the house of the body, covered with the frost of old age, even the fingers of the hand can hardly stir; the life force flickers feebly."

33. "With a third leg of a stick, stumbling again and again, accompanied by the breath of cough and the music of gasping—thus does old age, like a dancing woman, perform her dreadful dance."

34. "In the perfumed chamber of the head, the force of old age rises and shines like a royal fan waving over the form of the body."

35. "When the moon of old age has risen over the city of the body, then at once the death-lotus begins to bloom in full."

36. "In the inner palace of the body, coated with the nectar-paste of age, dwell helplessness, pain, and infirmity like royal courtesans."

37. "Where absence leads the way, and old age rules over beings, O Sage, what hope of peace can exist there for me, dull-minded as I am?"

38. "What is the use of that unfortunate life which, even after old age has arrived, still clings on? Old age, the unconquered enemy of all beings, casts aside all pursuits and desires, O Father."

Overall Summary of the Teachings:

These verses from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha present a vivid, poetic, and philosophical reflection on the nature of old age (jarā) and its inescapable impact on human life. The speaker, Sri Rama, meditates on the gradual decay of the human body, portraying old age as a creeping, uninvited guest who brings with her disease, helplessness, and sorrow. Through a series of metaphors and similes, old age is personified as a haunting, almost demonic figure that dances, shrieks, and overwhelms all beings without exception.

The body, once youthful and full of life, is shown to be like a garden losing its blossoms. The onset of aging is marked by signs such as white hair, coughs, trembling limbs, and the use of walking sticks—symbols of the body's decline. These verses highlight the inevitability and universality of aging, making even the strongest warriors succumb to its power. There is an underlying sense of urgency and disillusionment with the body's transitory nature.

In describing old age as the harbinger of death, the verses emphasize the close relationship between jarā (old age) and mṛtyu (death). Old age fans the arrival of death like a royal herald, and where it dwells, comfort and strength abandon the body. These images underscore the futility of worldly pride in youth, strength, or beauty. The progression from strength to helplessness mirrors the impermanence (anityatā) taught in Vedantic and yogic philosophy.

Sri Rama’s lament serves a deeper spiritual purpose: to awaken vairāgya (dispassion) and a turning inward toward Higher Truth. He sees old age as a natural disqualification for sensory and worldly pleasures, encouraging detachment from temporal pursuits. The verses warn that once old age arrives, even the pursuit of desires becomes hollow, and Realization of Truth becomes the only worthy path.

Finally, the teachings suggest that life lived without awareness of its transient nature is deluded and misguided. The wise must recognize old age not as a misfortune, but as a call to seek liberation (mokṣa) before it is too late. By contemplating the unavoidable decay of the body, one is urged to transcend attachment and prepare for Inner Freedom.

Chapter 1.22, Verses 14–25

Yoga Vashishtha 1.22.14–25

(The transience of bodily existence)

श्रीराम उवाच।

तावदागत एवाशु कुतोऽपि परिदृश्यते ।

घनान्ध्यतिमिराकाङ्क्षी मुने मरणकौशिकः ॥ १४ ॥

सायंसंध्यां प्रजातां वै तमः समनुधावति।

जरां वपुषि दृष्ट्वैव मृतिः समनुधावति ॥ १५ ॥

जराकुसुमितं देहद्रुमं दृष्ट्वैव दूरतः ।

अध्यापतति वेगेन मुने मरणमर्कटः ॥ १६॥

शून्यं नगरमाभाति भाति च्छिन्नलतो द्रुमः ।

भात्यनावृष्टिमान्देशो न जराजर्जरं वपुः ॥ १७ ॥

क्षणान्निगरणायैव कासक्वणितकारिणी।

गृध्रीवामिषमादत्ते तरसैव नरं जरा ॥ १८॥

दृष्ट्वैव सोत्सुकेवाशु प्रगृह्य शिरसि क्षणम् ।

प्रलुनाति जरा देहं कुमारी कैरवं यथा ॥ १९ ॥

सीत्कारकारिणी पांसुपरुषा परिजर्जरम्।

शरीरं शातयत्येषा वात्येव तरुपल्लवम् ॥ २० ॥

जरसोपहतो देहो धत्ते जर्जरतां गतः ।

तुषारनिकराकीर्णपरिम्लानाम्बुजश्रियम् ॥ २१ ॥

जरा ज्योत्स्नोदितैवेयं शिरःशिखरिपृष्ठतः ।

विकासयति संरब्धं वातकासकुमुद्वती ॥ २२ ॥

परिपक्वं समालोक्य जराक्षारविधूसरम्।

शिरःकूष्माण्डकं भुङ्क्ते पुंसां कालः किलेश्वरः ॥ २३ ॥

जराजह्नुसुतोद्युक्ता मूलान्यस्य निकृन्तति ।

शरीरतीरवृक्षस्य चलत्यायुषि सत्वरम् ॥ २४ ॥

जरामार्जारिका भुङ्क्ते यौवनाखुं तथोद्धता ।

परमुल्लासमायाति शरीरामिषगर्धिनी ॥ २५ ॥

SriRama said:

14. "O Sage, death seems to arise suddenly from somewhere, appearing swiftly like darkness that eagerly awaits dense clouds to cover the light."

15. "Just as darkness chases the evening twilight, death follows the body the moment old age is seen approaching."

16. "As soon as old age blooms like a flower on the tree of the body, death — like a monkey — leaps upon it forcefully from a distance."

17. "A body afflicted by old age is like a deserted city, a tree with severed branches, or a parched land without rainfall — it loses its charm and vitality."

18. "Old age seizes a person in moments, like a vulture snatching flesh with the rattle of a cough, eager to devour."

19. "As soon as she sees the body, she clutches the head swiftly and tears it down like a maiden plucking a lily."

20. "Harsh and dry with sand-like breath, she shreds the fragile body like a storm breaking tender tree leaves."

21. "The body struck by old age becomes decrepit and frail, like the faded beauty of a lotus covered with clusters of frost."

22. "Old age rises behind the head like moonlight, vigorously unfolding like a cluster of white lotuses stirred by winds and coughs."

23. "Seeing the ripened and aged body turned grey with time’s ashes, Time — the Lord of Death — consumes the head like a pumpkin."

24. "Assisted by old age, the daughter of the river Jahnavi (symbolizing decay), death cuts the roots of the body-tree and swiftly steals away the breath of life."

25. "Old age, like a wild she-cat, devours the youthful rat with relish and then revels in delight, craving the flesh of the body."

Summary of the Teachings:

These verses present a deeply poetic and symbolic meditation on the inevitability and nature of aging and death. The body is depicted as a transient structure, a tree that blossoms temporarily with youth and vitality but is ultimately destined for decay. 

The dramatic metaphors used — such as death as a monkey, old age as a storm, or Time as a devourer — create a vivid image of the impermanence and fragility of embodied existence.

Old age is portrayed not just as a gradual weakening but as an aggressive and transformative force. It is likened to a destructive natural element: storms, frost, and vultures all become symbols of how the vitality of youth is torn down. This force acts without warning, and its work is swift and merciless, turning the once-beautiful body into something worn, grey, and lifeless.

The role of Time (Kāla) is especially emphasized. Time is not merely a passive background but an active agent that consumes, judges, and ultimately destroys the body, particularly when it has matured and withered. The metaphor of Time eating the “pumpkin” of the head underscores how identity and ego—symbolically situated in the head—are not exempt from nature’s eroding power.

The verses also point out that old age does not come alone. It brings with it signs like cough, weakness, and tremors, all of which are likened to death's scouts. These are not simply physical symptoms but spiritual reminders of life's impermanence, urging the seeker toward dispassion and wisdom.

Overall, this passage from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha serves as a powerful reflection on the transience of bodily existence. Through its poetic imagery, it encourages the aspirant to recognize the illusory charm of the physical form and to turn inward, seeking liberation from the cycle of birth, aging, and death through Self-Knowledge and detachment.

Chapter 1.22, Verses 1–13

Yoga Vashishtha 1.22.1–13

(Inevitability of old age)

श्रीराम उवाच ।

अपर्याप्तं हि बालत्वं बलात्पिबति यौवनम् ।

यौवनं च जरा पश्चात्पश्य कर्कशतां मिथः ॥ १ ॥

हिमाशनिरिवाम्भोजं वात्येव शरदम्बुकम् ।

देहं जरा नाशयति नदी तीरतरुं यथा ॥ २ ॥

जर्जरीकृतसर्वाङ्गी जरा जरठरूपिणी ।

विरूपतां नयत्याशु देहं विषलवो यथा ॥ ३ ॥

शिथिलादीर्णसर्वाङ्गं जराजीर्णकलेवरम्।

समं पश्यन्ति कामिन्यः पुरुषं करभं यथा ॥ ४ ॥

अनायासकदर्थिन्या गृहीते जरसा जने ।

पलाय्य गच्छति प्रज्ञा सपत्न्येवाहताङ्गना ॥ ५ ॥

दासाः पुत्राः स्त्रियश्चैव बान्धवाः सुहृदस्तथा ।

हसन्त्युन्मत्तकमिव नरं वार्धककम्पितम् ॥ ६ ॥

दुष्प्रेक्ष्यं जरठं दीनं हीनं गुणपराक्रमैः ।

गृध्रो वृक्षमिवादीर्घं गर्धो ह्यभ्येति वृद्धकम् ॥ ७ ॥

दैन्यदोषमयी दीर्घा हृदि दाहप्रदायिनी ।

सर्वापदामेकसखी वार्धके वर्धते स्पृहा ॥ ८ ॥

कर्तव्यं किं मया कष्टं परत्रेत्यतिदारुणम्।

अप्रतीकारयोग्यं हि वर्धते वार्धके भयम् ॥ ९ ॥

कोऽहं वराकः किमिव करोमि कथमेव च।

तिष्ठामि मौनमेवेति दीनतोदेति वार्धके ॥ १० ॥

कथं कदा मे किमिव स्वादु स्याद्भोजनं जनात् ।

इत्यजस्रं जरा चैषा चेतो दहति वार्धके ॥ ११ ॥

गर्धोऽभ्युदेति सोल्लासमुपभोक्तुं न शक्यते ।

हृदयं दह्यते नूनं शक्तिदौस्थ्येन वार्धके ॥ १२ ॥

जराजीर्णबकी यावत्कायक्लेशापकारिणी ।

रौति रोगोरगाकीर्णा कायद्रुमशिरःस्थिता ॥ १३ ॥

Sriram said:

1. "O Sage, childhood is insufficient and weak; youth comes and devours it with force. Then youth is in turn consumed by old age. Observe how harshly these phases succeed each other."

2. "Old age destroys the body like snow and hail withering a lotus, or like a strong wind dispersing the autumn clouds—just as a river erodes a tree standing on its banks."

3. "Old age, appearing in the terrifying form of degeneration, withers all limbs and quickly makes the body disfigured—like poison turning even something wholesome into a destructive agent."

4. "With limbs slack and broken, the body worn out by age is looked upon by lustful women just as they would regard a withered elephant—useless and unappealing."

5. "When old age seizes a person without effort, it drives away wisdom, just as a co-wife expels the favored consort from the heart of her husband."

6. "Slaves, sons, wives, relatives, and even friends mock the man trembling with the palsy of age, as if he were a madman."

7. "The old man, poor in virtue and valor, miserable and hard to look at, is approached only by death, just as a vulture hovers over a dying tree."

8. "Desire—which is full of misery and distress, long-lasting and burning in the heart—becomes the only companion that grows stronger in old age."

9. In advanced years, fear arises—terrible and unavoidable—about the unknown afterlife. One suffers, thinking, “What painful deeds have I done that I must now reap?”

10. In the despair of old age, one thinks: “Who am I, this wretched soul? What shall I do, and how? Better I remain silent”—and thus, he becomes dejected and withdrawn.

11. “When will I ever again taste something delicious? How will I ever get it?”—thus, old age continually burns the mind with such ceaseless worries.

12. "Though desire (lust) arises joyfully, the body lacks the strength to enjoy. The heart is scorched with pain because of the impotence that age brings."

13. "Old age is like a vulture perched atop the tree of the body, shrieking in pain as it is overwhelmed by diseases—just as serpents coil around its limbs, bringing constant suffering."

Summary of the Teachings:

These verses from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha offer a deeply contemplative meditation on the nature and consequences of aging. Through vivid imagery and comparisons, the scripture portrays the inevitability and severity of old age, revealing how it overtakes youth and bodily strength with silent but relentless force. Each stage of life is shown as being devoured by the next, culminating in a state of helplessness and deterioration that none can avoid.

The text does not romanticize aging. Instead, it presents it as a ruthless force that strips a person of beauty, strength, dignity, and even wisdom. The aged body becomes an object of pity or ridicule, abandoned by those once dear. Companions, relatives, and even the intellect itself leave the old man behind, 

portraying the isolating and humbling effects of bodily decline.

At the psychological level, the verses capture how desires—especially those unfulfilled—do not lessen with age but rather intensify, tormenting the mind that no longer has the means to satisfy them. The heart burns with longing, frustration, and fears about the future, especially the afterlife. This spiritual anguish becomes more unbearable than physical pain.

Socially, the old man loses status and is mocked, marginalized, or ignored. Dependence replaces independence, and the once-proud individual is reduced to a silent, brooding figure filled with self-doubt, remorse, and fear. 

This points to the illusion of worldly attainments, which fade as the body decays, revealing the transient nature of all external achievements.

Finally, the metaphor of the body as a dying tree haunted by vultures and snakes powerfully conveys the message that the body is not a lasting refuge. Disease, debility, and desire converge upon it like predators. These verses serve as a profound warning and invitation to dispassion (vairāgya), urging the aspirant to seek what is eternal rather than what inevitably perishes.