Death is life's critical juncture; use this human form to prepare for eternity through Krishna consciousness, not mere temporary security.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.1 — June 30, 1970, Los Angeles 700630SB-LOS ANGELES [37:42 Minutes] SB-02.01.01_700630SB-LOS ANGELES Prabhupāda: varīyān eṣa te praśnaḥ kṛto loka-hitam nṛpa ātmavit-sammataḥ puṁsāṁ śrotavyādiṣu yaḥ paraḥ [SB 2.1.1] This is a verse, the first verse, the first chapter of Second Canto Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Śukadeva Gosvāmī came to the scene when Mahārāja Parīkṣit was on the verge of his death. So he was perplexed what to do at the time of death. That is the critical position of our life: we may be very proud of our knowledge of our acquisitions—education, wealth, riches, so many things make your material acquisitions—but the critical time is death, because whatever you have acquired by dint of your bodily labor you have to leave them aside, and you have to open a second chapter of your life. Therefore death is a critical point. People do not understand it, neither is there any educational system what is after death.
That is the deficiency of the modern civilization: they do not know what is after death. Somebody will say that when this body is finished, everything is finished; there is no more life. Somebody will say, "Yes, there is life." Now, taking these two statements as not identified, not verified, suppose if there is no life after death, that is all right. Then why you are so busy in this life for making provision?
Why you are thinking of your family, why you're thinking of your state, of yourself? You are making good bank balance, making will so that "My sons and future generations will live peacefully..." If your this body is temporary and finished after death, then why are you so anxious about your nation, of your society, of your family? Why you are wasting your times? That is the question.
But if you think that there is life after death, then what provision you are making for that? These are the questions. So far Vedic knowledge is concerned, life is not a sport; it is continuation. We learn it, this rudimentary knowledge is given in the beginning of the Bhagavad-gītā, that na jāyate na mriyate vā kadācin [Bg. 2.20]: "My dear Arjuna, the living entity is never born, neither he dies." The death and birth is of this body, and your journey is continuously... Just like you change your dress, similarly you change your body; you get another body.
Therefore if we follow the instruction of ācāryas, or authorities, then there is life after death. And how to make provision for the next life? Because this life is preparation for the next life. There is a Bengali proverb, it is said, bhajan koro sādhan koro murte jānle haya. The purport is that you may be very proud of your advancement of knowledge, material or spiritual, but everything will be tested at the time of your death, because you are going to another stage. So Parīkṣit Mahārāja was cursed by a brāhmaṇa.
He offended the brāhmaṇa somehow or other. That was not an offense; an accident. Anyway, he was cursed by a brāhmaṇa boy that "Within seven days you will meet with death." So he left his kingdom and entrusted the whole state to his sons, and he came out of home. He sat down on the bank of the Ganges, and because he was emperor, so many great sages, saintly persons, all assembled there that the king was going to die within seven days, "So we must meet and give him words of solace." So the question was, "What is now my duty?
So long I was not aware of my death..." Of course, everyone is aware of his death. Death is... "As sure as death." But under the influence of māyā, we think that we shall live. That is another wonderful thing. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was asked by Yamarāja, "What is the most wonderful thing in this world?" So he replied, "The most wonderful thing is this, that every moment millions of living entities are dying, but one who is living, he thinks that 'I will not die.' " I will die.