The real knowledge is knowing how to die remembering Narayana, not accumulating endless material and intellectual achievements.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.6 — June 14, 1974, Paris 740614SB-PARIS [26:08 Minutes] SB-02.01.06_740614SB-PARIS Nitāi: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.] etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ [SB 2.1.6] [break] [02:50] "The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life." Prabhupāda: Ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ [SB 2.1.6].
At the time of death, if you can remember Nārāyaṇa—Nārāyaṇa or Kṛṣṇa, the same thing—then your life is successful, whatever you do. In Bengal there is a proverb, it is called bhajana kara sādhana kara mūrti jānle haya. Means you may be very big, stalwart spiritualist or yogīs, or there are so many big, big things, so whatever you do, that is all right, because they say that "Everything is leading to the Supreme, this way or that way." That has been described here, sāṅkhya-yoga, karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga or dhyāna-yoga. So many things they have manufactured, that's all right.
And you say that "Whatever path we may follow, ultimately we go to the same goal." That is very nice, provided if you actually go to the same goal. Otherwise, it is misleading. That is described here, that "Never mind, You say that whatever path one may take, it leads to the same goal. We accept it." That is described here.
Ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ [SB 2.1.6]. Whatever you have done may be very good, but at the time of death, if you forget Nārāyaṇa, then it's all useless. All useless. Because that is the point: at the time of death what is your mentality. At that time, if your mentality is Nārāyaṇa, then it is successful; you will be transferred to the spiritual world and be associates with the Nārāyaṇa.
You get the complete perfection. But at the time of death if you think of your dog, then you go to become a dog. Finished. All your sāṅkhya-yoga and philosophy and yoga practice—all go to hell.
You become a dog. That is wanted. So unless you practice... If that is the point, that one has to remember Nārāyaṇa at the time of death, then why not directly practice?
This is practice. The Deity is there, the form of Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa, is there. If you always be engaged in Lord Kṛṣṇa's service, you have got the impression of Kṛṣṇa always within your heart. And if you continue it some way or other, then your life is successful.