जराकाले जरामेति मृत्युकाले तथा मृतिम् । सम एवाऽविशेषज्ञः कायो भोगिदरिद्रयोः ॥ ४५ ॥
jarākālē jarāmēti mṛtyukālē tathā mṛtim | sama ēvā’viśēṣajñaḥ kāyō bhōgidaridrayōḥ || 45 ||
Translation
In the time of old age it reaches old age, in the time of death it reaches death: the body knows no difference and is the same for the rich enjoyer and the poor man.
Word by word
- jarā
- of old age
- kālē
- in the time
- jarām
- old age
- ēti
- it reaches
- mṛtyu
- of death
- tathā
- and
- mṛtim
- death
- sama
- (samaḥ) the same
- ēva
- indeed
- aviśēṣajñaḥ
- knows no difference
- kāyō
- (kāyaḥ) the body
- bhōgi
- for the rich enjoyer
- daridrayōḥ
- and the poor man
Meaning
Here is the body's strange fairness. Old age comes when it comes, and death when it comes, to the rich man who has enjoyed every pleasure and to the poor man alike. The body is aviśeṣajña, it "knows no distinctions". Wealth buys many things, but not a different end. The reader, whatever their station, may take this as both humbling and consoling.