FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27.19

कालस्य दुहिता काचित्‍त्रिलोकीं वरमिच्छती । पर्यटन्ती न बर्हिष्मन् प्रत्यनन्दत कश्चन ॥ १९ ॥
kālasya duhitā kācit
[kaalasya duhitaa kaachit]
tri-lokīṁ varam icchatī
[tri-lokeem varam ichchatee]
paryaṭantī na barhiṣman
[paryatantee na barhishman]
pratyanandata kaścana
[pratyanandata kashchana]
kālasya — of formidable Time duhitā — the daughter kācit — someone tri-lokīm — within the three worlds varam — husband icchatī — desiring paryaṭantī — traveling all over the universe na — never barhiṣman — O King Prācīnabarhiṣat pratyanandata — accepted her proposal kaścana — anyone.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kālasya duhitā kācit
kālasya
of formidable Time
duhitā
the daughter
kācit
someone
tri-lokīṁ varam icchatī
tri-lokīm
within the three worlds
varam
husband
icchatī
desiring
paryaṭantī na barhiṣman
paryaṭantī
traveling all over the universe
na
never
barhiṣman
O King Prācīnabarhiṣat
pratyanandata kaścana
pratyanandata
accepted her proposal
kaścana
anyone.
My dear King Prācīnabarhiṣat, at this time the daughter of formidable Time was seeking her husband throughout the three worlds. Although no one agreed to accept her, she came.

In due course of time, when the body becomes old and practically invalid, it is subject to jarā, the sufferings of old age. There are four basic kinds of suffering — birth, old age, disease and death. No scientist or philosopher has ever been able to make a solution to these four miserable conditions. The invalidity of old age known as jarā is figuratively explained here as the daughter of Time. No one likes her, but she is very much anxious to accept anyone as her husband. No one likes to become old and invalid, but this is inevitable for everyone.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! Wandering through the three worlds, the daughter of Time desired a husband, but no one wanted her. The entrance of old age is described through a story. O Barhiṣman! No one wanted (pratyanandata) her.
The daughter of formidable Time (Jarā, old age) sought a husband through the three worlds; no one accepted her, then she came. Old age is shopping for a husband; she'll find someone, no matter how unwelcome.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I refuse to acknowledge that Jarā is on her way to me, husband-shopping?
  • Whose old age have I treated as their failure rather than as universal weather?
📝 My note

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