Text 8] King Citraketu Meets the Lord 87

human society; yavat—as long as; yasya—of whom; hi—indeed; sam-
bandhah—relationship; mamatvam—ownership; tdvat—that long;
eva—indeed; hi—certainly.

TRANSLATION

A few living entities are born in the human species, and others
are born as animals. Although both are living entities, their rela-
tionships are impermanent. An animal may remain in the custody
of a human being for some time, and then the same animal may be
transferred to the possession of other human beings. As soon as
the animal goes away, the former proprietor no longer has a sense
of ownership. As long as the animal is in his possession he cer-
tainly has an affinity for it, but as soon as the animal is sold, the
affinity is lost.

PURPORT

Aside from the fact that the soul transmigrates from one body to
another, even in this life the relationships between living entities are im-
permanent, as exemplified in this verse. The son of Citraketu was named
Harsagoka. or “jubilation and lamentation.” The living entity is certainly
eternal, but because he is covered by a temporary dress, the body, his
eternity is not observed. Dehino ’smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam
Jara: “‘The embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood
to youth to old age.” Thus the bodily dress is impermanent. The living
entity, however, is permanent. As an animal is transferred from one
owner to another, the living entity who was the son of Citraketu lived as
his son for some time, but as soon as he was transferred to another body.
the affectionate relationship was broken. As stated in the example given
in the previous verse, when one has a commodity in his hands he con-
siders it his, but as soon as it is transferred it becomes someone else’s
commodity. Then one no longer has a relationship with it; he has no
affection for it, nor does he lament for it.

TEXT 8
od atfamrat afta: a fae fartega: |
eae Trae fe Ta aq wel
