seeking an ideal husband and you are most welcome to be my husband. I can please you with whatever you want, my friends will support too”.

Note – it is interesting to note that initially the story mentioned about ten servants, but now the king says there are eleven of them. As we said earlier ten denotes the five Karmendriyas and five Jnanendriyas.

Then who is the eleventh? It is none other than the mind! Without mind no sensory organ can help us in experiencing any thing.  The women represent the ‘Indriyavrithis’ or the indulgence of senses.

The Serpent is ‘Prana’ who protects the Puri or body through the process of respiration even during sleep.

We can see this story in two angles. First is the way Puranjana persuades the young lady – a worldly conversation. Here he is praising the young woman by highly appreciating her. Then he brings her to his level giving suitable arguments to fullfill his wishes. This is so typical of human mind to get things done  as he wishes. We can call it a marketing or selling technique.

We must be beware of such ‘sweet tongues’.