मरणस्य मुने राज्ञो जरा धवलचामरा । आगच्छतोऽग्रे निर्याति स्वाधिव्याधिपताकिनी ॥ ३० ॥
maraṇasya munē rājñō jarā dhavalacāmarā | āgacchatō’grē niryāti svādhivyādhipatākinī || 30 ||
Translation
O sage, old age, the white yak-tail fan of King Death, goes out in front of him as he comes, with her own banners, the pains of mind and body.
Word by word
- maraṇasya
- of Death
- munē
- O sage
- rājñō
- (rājñaḥ) the king
- jarā
- old age
- dhavala
- white
- cāmarā
- the yak-tail fan
- āgacchatō
- (āgacchataḥ) as he comes
- agrē
- in front of him
- niryāti
- goes out
- sva
- her own
- ādhi
- mind
- vyādhi
- and body pains
- patākinī
- with banners
Meaning
Before a king on procession goes his retinue: fan-bearers with white chowries, and standards. Before King Death goes old age, the white chowrie of grey hair, with the banners of mental and bodily pain. The commentary describes the procession. Death is royal; age is his herald. The reader may take the herald seriously.