Religion means escaping material bondage through devotion, not pursuing material benefits and sense gratification.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.9–10 — November 14, 1973, Delhi 731114SB-DELHI [47:07 Minutes] SB-01.02.09–10_731114SB-DELHI Prabhupāda: dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ [SB 1.2.9] kāmasya nendriya-prītir lābho jīveta yāvatā jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ [SB 1.2.10] What is the aim of life? This is described here, dharmasya hi āpavargyasya. The human life begins when he accepts religion. That is the beginning of human life, and that is the difference between human life and dog's life.
The dog is engaged always for eating, sleeping, sex life and defending. The hog also engaged always searching after where is food. Although the food is stool, he is busy. And as soon as the body is little strong by eating stool, immediately sex life, without any distinction whether it is mother or sister or daughter, it doesn't matter.
This is hog's life, by nature's example. Therefore śāstra says that ayaṁ deha. nāyaṁ deho deha-bhājāṁ nṛloke kaṣṭān kāmān arhate viḍ-bhujāṁ ye [SB 5.5.1] This human form of life, deha-bhājām... The cats and dogs and hogs, they have also accepted a body. And the trees, the plants, the insects, the birds, beasts—everyone has got body, material body. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya [Bg. 13.22].
I have explained it. According to the infection of the modes of material nature, one is getting a type of body, nature's way. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi. The same example: if you contaminate some disease, you'll have to suffer or you'll have to accept that disease.
So similarly, this is the nature's way. If you are associating with a certain type of quality of the material nature, you are preparing your body for that purpose. prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate [Bg. 3.27] We are very much proud of our body: "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am prime minister," "I am this," "I am that." The dog is also very much proud: "I am greyhound," "I am this bulldog," "I am this." Yes. Everyone is proud, however nasty body he may live. The hog is also very proud.
Although he is eating stool and living in a very filthy place, but if you want to drag him from that place, he will, "Che-che-che. No, no, I don't want... I am very happy here." There is a story in the Bhāgavata that once Brahmā was cursed and he become a hog in this world. No, Indra; I am sorry.
Because Indra was very offending, so he was cursed. He became a hog. So Brahmā thought that "In the absence of Indra the kingdom of heaven is not managed very nicely, so let me go and bring him again, excuse." So when he came, he asked the hog that "Come with me." "Where?" "To the heaven." "Oh, I cannot go. I have got my responsibility.