Deeds in youth seal Fate's end - mantrA 184

srigurubhyO namahA |
In the 184th verse, the sage mentions that if one does not begin the practise of stilling the agitated prAnA or life current that moves within the body before one turns thirty, it becomes impossible to rise above the fetters of misapprehension and eventually death.

கண்ணதும் காய்கதி ரோனும் உலகினை
உண்ணின்று அளக்கின்றது ஒன்றும் அறிகிலார்
விண்ணுறு வாரையும் வினையுறு வாரையும்
எண்ணுறும் முப்பதில் ஈர்ந்தொழிந் தாரே. I.4.8. 184

They know not that the radiant Sun we daily see
Measures the arch of life and its span doth appraise;
Heaven we reach or fall into Karma's grip;
Thus our fate is sealed by what we do in spring of youth. I.4.8.184

Com - that the radiant Sun we daily see The cool moon and the radiant sun Measures the arch of life and its span doth appraise; which reside within the bodies of all those who populate this world and act as the measure's of everyone’s life span They know not are not recognised by the ignorant who live without awareness of this truth. Heaven we reach or fall into Karma's grip; those that are fortunate enough to attain to perfection and be saved and those that fall into lesser births and are destroyed Thus our fate is sealed by what we do in spring of youth. Are effectively separated by the sun and the moon before one reaches the age of thirty.

*There are a few changes in the English verse for this mantrA that occur differently in the Tamil original. The word ‘கண்ணதும் ‘means the eye, which is a symbol for bIja (seed/vitality). The ruler for that is the moon. Thus the word is a code to indicate the moon – i.e the lunar channel (idA nAdi) which is cooling. The radiant sun refers to the solar channel – pingalA nAdi. The second line of the verse speaks of how most of us are not aware of the fact that as the prAnA or vital air engages in its journey via the solar and lunar channels, one’s life span is constantly being diminished. To still the prAnA means to prolong life. The word ‘முப்பதில் ‘though translated as spring of youth in the English verse, actually means thirty. Here it refers to thirty years. The sage indicates here that those who are fortunate enough to understand or at least get a glimpse of self knowledge (Atma vidyA) before they turn thirty will have a chance to attain perfection and the higher realms and those who have gone beyond their thirtieth year without such understanding will be dragged down to more births due to the taint of karma.

thirucchitrambalam ||