Puranjana is Purusha -- he who illumines the Pura with consciousness.
The unknown friend is Ishvara.
The Pura or Puri or town is the human body.
"The marks were all favourable" -- there were no deformities in the
body.
"The nine gateways" are the nine openings of the body.
The young lady Puranjani is Buddhi.
She is the mistress of the body.
The ten male attendants are the five _jnanendriyas_ or organs of
perception and the five _karmendriyas_ or organs of action.
The wives of the attendants are the functions of the Indriyas.
The five-headed serpent is Prana. The five heads are its five
sub-divisions.
"One hundred years" is the full term of man's life.
"Khadyota," literally glow-worm, is the left eye, for, it has not the
illumining capacity of the right eye.
"Avirmukhi" or the great illuminator is the right eye.
"Vibhrajita" is Rupa or object of sight.
"Dyumat" is the perceiving eye.
"Nalini" and "Nalini" are the left and right nostrils respectively.
"Avadhuta" is Vayu. In the story, it means the perceiving nose.
"Saurabha" is Gandha or smell.
"Mukhya" is mouth.
"Apana" is speech.
"Bahudana" is eating.
"Panchala" is Pancha (five) + ala (capable) that which is capable of
bringing to light such of the five objects of the senses, as cannot be
otherwise cognised; Sastra or spiritual teachings.
The right ear is stronger than the left ear. Therefore it is more
prominent and useful in _hearing_ the Sastras, of which the first to be
heard is Karma Kanda.
A man by the observance of Karma Kanda is called to the Pitris, _i.e._
he reaches, after death, the path called Pitriyana.
"Pitrihu" is therefore the right ear. "Devahu" is the left ear
corresponding to Devayana.
"Uttara Panchala" is Pravritti Sastra or teachings of worldliness.
"Dakshina Panchal" is Nivritti Sastra or teachings of renunciation.
"Nirriti" is death. The anus is called death, because ordinarily the
Linga Sarira goes out through that passage after death.
"Lubdhak" is Payu.
"Vaisasa" is excrement.
"Nirvak" is foot.
"Pesaskrita" is hand.
Of the Indriyas, hand and foot are blind, as there are no openings in
them.
"Vishuchina" is mind.
Moha is the result of Tamas, Prasada of Satva and Harsha of Rajas.
The aforesaid names indicate enjoyment in the Jagrat or waking state.
The hunting represents enjoyment in the Svapna or dream state.
The "Chariot" is the body in dream consciousness.
The five horses are the five organs of perception.