Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 29
Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya
लब्ध्वा सुदुर्लभमिदं बहुसम्भवान्ते मानुष्यमर्थदमनित्यमपीह धीर: । तूर्णं यतेत न पतेदनुमृत्यु याव- न्नि:श्रेयसाय विषय: खलु सर्वत: स्यात् ॥ २९ ॥
labdhvā su-durlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavānte mānuṣyam artha-dam anityam apīha dhīraḥ tūrṇaṁ yateta na pated anu-mṛtyu yāvan niḥśreyasāya viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt
After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible only for a human being.
Material life essentially means repeated birth and death. Even the lowest forms of life, such as reptiles, insects, pigs and dogs, have ample opportunity for sense gratification. Even ordinary houseflies have a busy sex life and thus multiply rapidly. Human life, however, enables one to understand the Absolute Truth and is therefore full of grave responsibility. Since the valuable human life is not eternal, we should do the needful to achieve the highest perfection, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Before death appears, we should seriously cultivate our real self-interest.
FAQs
Bhagavatam 11.9.29 teaches that human life is extremely rare, attained after many births, and though temporary it uniquely enables the highest spiritual success—so one should not waste it.
King Yadu approached the Avadhūta to learn the secret of his inner peace; the Avadhūta stresses urgent spiritual endeavor because death is uncertain and worldly temptations surround everyone.
Treat time as precious: prioritize daily sādhana (hearing, chanting, prayer, study), reduce distractions, and make choices that support lasting spiritual benefit over short-lived sense pleasure.