The Earthy Body Cannot Ascend

Verse 1 (padma.2.65.1)

ययातिरुवाच- धर्मस्य रक्षकः कायो मातले चात्मना सह । नाकमेष न प्रयाति तन्मे त्वं कारणं वद

yayātiruvāca- dharmasya rakṣakaḥ kāyo mātale cātmanā saha nākameṣa na prayāti tanme tvaṁ kāraṇaṁ vada

Yayati said: 'The body, O Matali, is the protector of dharma, together with the self — why does it not go to heaven? Tell me the reason for this.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.65.2)

मातलिरुवाच- पंचानामपि भूतानां संगतिर्नास्ति भूपते । आत्मना सह वर्तंते संगत्या नैव पंच ते

mātaliruvāca- paṁcānāmapi bhūtānāṁ saṁgatirnāsti bhūpate ātmanā saha vartaṁte saṁgatyā naiva paṁca te

Matali said: 'O king, there is truly no real union among the five elements themselves; those five exist together with the self, but not by any true bond of union.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.65.3)

सर्वेषां तत्र संघातः कायग्रामे प्रवर्तते । जरया पीडिताः सर्वेः स्वंस्वं स्थानं प्रयांति ते

sarveṣāṁ tatra saṁghātaḥ kāyagrāme pravartate jarayā pīḍitāḥ sarveḥ svaṁsvaṁ sthānaṁ prayāṁti te

There, in the village of the body, a mere aggregation of all of them occurs; and, afflicted by old age, all of them go each to its own place.

Verse 4 (padma.2.65.4)

यथा रसाधिका पृथ्वी महाराज प्रकल्पिता । रसैः क्लिन्ना ततः पृथ्वी मृदुत्वं याति भूपते

yathā rasādhikā pṛthvī mahārāja prakalpitā rasaiḥ klinnā tataḥ pṛthvī mṛdutvaṁ yāti bhūpate

Just as the earth, O great king, is fashioned with an excess of moisture, and, made damp by these essences, that earth grows soft, O king —

Verse 5 (padma.2.65.5)

भिद्यते पिपीलिकाभिर्मूषिकाभिस्तथैव च । छिद्राण्येव प्रजायंते वल्मीकाश्च महोदराः

bhidyate pipīlikābhirmūṣikābhistathaiva ca chidrāṇyeva prajāyaṁte valmīkāśca mahodarāḥ

—it is broken through by ants, and likewise by mice as well; holes then arise in it, and great-bellied anthills form.

Verse 6 (padma.2.65.6)

तद्वत्काये प्रजायंते गंडमाला विचार्चिकाः । कृमिभिर्भिद्यमानश्च काय एष नरोत्तम

tadvatkāye prajāyaṁte gaṁḍamālā vicārcikāḥ kṛmibhirbhidyamānaśca kāya eṣa narottama

Just so, in the body arise scrofulous swellings and skin eruptions; and this very body, O foremost of men, is pierced through by worms.

Verse 7 (padma.2.65.7)

गुल्मास्तत्र प्रजायंते सद्यः पीडाकरास्तदा । एभिर्दोषैः समायुक्तः कायोयं नहुषात्मज । कथं प्राणसमायोगाद्दिवं याति नरेश्वर

gulmāstatra prajāyaṁte sadyaḥ pīḍākarāstadā ebhirdoṣaiḥ samāyuktaḥ kāyoyaṁ nahuṣātmaja kathaṁ prāṇasamāyogāddivaṁ yāti nareśvara

Tumors then arise there, at once causing pain; and this body, O son of Nahusha, joined with these very faults, how, O lord of men, could it go to heaven through mere union with the life-breath?

Verse 8 (padma.2.65.8)

काये पार्थिवभागोऽयं समानार्थं प्रतिष्ठितः । न कायः स्वर्गमायाति यथा पृथ्वी तथास्थितः

kāye pārthivabhāgo'yaṁ samānārthaṁ pratiṣṭhitaḥ na kāyaḥ svargamāyāti yathā pṛthvī tathāsthitaḥ

This earthy portion within the body is established for a common purpose; the body does not go to heaven, remaining fixed just as the earth itself.

Verse 9 (padma.2.65.9)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं दोषौघैः पार्थिवस्य यः

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ doṣaughaiḥ pārthivasya yaḥ

All this has been related to you — of one afflicted by the very floods of the earthy element's faults.