Shloka 24
Parīkṣit’s Vow on the Gaṅgā and the Advent of Śukadeva Gosvāmī
ततश्च व: पृच्छ्यमिमं विपृच्छे विश्रभ्य विप्रा इति कृत्यतायाम् । सर्वात्मना म्रियमाणैश्च कृत्यं शुद्धं च तत्रामृशताभियुक्ता: ॥ २४ ॥
tataś ca vaḥ pṛcchyam imaṁ vipṛcche viśrabhya viprā iti kṛtyatāyām sarvātmanā mriyamāṇaiś ca kṛtyaṁ śuddhaṁ ca tatrāmṛśatābhiyuktāḥ
অতএব, হে বিশ্বাসযোগ্য ব্রাহ্মণগণ! আমি নির্ভয়ে জিজ্ঞাসা করছি—এই মুহূর্তে আমার তৎক্ষণাৎ কর্তব্য কী? দয়া করে যথাযথ বিচার করে বলুন, সকল অবস্থায় সকলের নির্মল কর্তব্য কী, এবং বিশেষত যারা মৃত্যুর দ্বারপ্রান্তে তাদের কর্তব্য কী।
In this verse the King has placed two questions before the learned sages. The first question is what is the duty of everyone in all circumstances, and the second question is what is the specific duty of one who is to die very shortly. Out of the two, the question relating to the dying man is most important because everyone is a dying man, either very shortly or after one hundred years. The duration of life is immaterial, but the duty of a dying man is very important. Mahārāja Parīkṣit placed these two questions before Śukadeva Gosvāmī also on his arrival, and practically the whole of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, beginning from the Second Canto up to the last, the Twelfth Canto, deals with these two questions. The conclusion arrived at thereof is that devotional service of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as it is confirmed by the Lord Himself in the last phases of the Bhagavad-gītā, is the last word in relation to everyone’s permanent duty in life. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was already aware of this fact, but he wanted the great sages assembled there to unanimously give their verdict on his conviction so that he might be able to go on with his confirmed duty without controversy. He has especially mentioned the word śuddha, or perfectly correct. For transcendental realization or self-realization, many processes are recommended by various classes of philosophers. Some of them are first-class methods, and some of them are second- or third-class methods. The first-class method demands that one give up all other methods and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord and thus be saved from all sins and their reactions.
FAQs
This verse shows Parīkṣit Mahārāja asking the learned brāhmaṇas for the pure duty of one who is about to die—implying that one should seek the highest, spiritually cleansing practice at life’s end.
Cursed to die within seven days, Parīkṣit renounced his kingdom and sat on the Gaṅgā’s bank, requesting authoritative guidance from realized sages about the best, purest duty for a dying person.
Live in a way that prepares you for death: regularly hear and chant about Bhagavān, simplify priorities, and seek trustworthy spiritual guidance so the mind naturally turns to the highest goal when time is short.