Shloka 24
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
येऽभ्यर्थितामपि च तो नृगतिं प्रपन्ना ज्ञानं च तत्त्वविषयं सहधर्मं यत्र । नाराधनं भगवतो वितरन्त्यमुष्य सम्मोहिता विततया बत मायया ते ॥ २४ ॥
ye ’bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā jñānaṁ ca tattva-viṣayaṁ saha-dharmaṁ yatra nārādhanaṁ bhagavato vitaranty amuṣya sammohitā vitatayā bata māyayā te
Lord Brahmā said: O demigods, the human form is supremely valuable; we too long for such a birth, for in human life one may attain perfect dharma and knowledge of the truth. But one who, even as a human being, does not understand the Bhagavān and His abode should be known as greatly deluded by the far-reaching power of external māyā.
Brahmājī condemns very vehemently the condition of the human being who does not take interest in the Personality of Godhead and His transcendental abode, Vaikuṇṭha. The human form of life is desired even by Brahmājī. Brahmā and other demigods have much better material bodies than human beings, yet the demigods, including Brahmā, nevertheless desire to attain the human form of life because it is specifically meant for the living entity who can attain transcendental knowledge and religious perfection. It is not possible to go back to Godhead in one life, but in the human form one should at least understand the goal of life and begin Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is said that the human form is a great boon because it is the most suitable boat for crossing over the nescience ocean. The spiritual master is considered to be the most able captain in that boat, and the information from the scriptures is the favorable wind for floating over the ocean of nescience. The human being who does not take advantage of all these facilities in this life is committing suicide. Therefore one who does not begin Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the human form of life loses his life to the influence of the illusory energy. Brahmā regrets the situation of such a human being.
FAQs
This verse laments that even after attaining human life—meant for tattva-jñāna and dharma—people still neglect worship of the Supreme Lord due to the bewildering power of māyā.
Shukadeva Gosvami speaks this verse while narrating to King Parikshit, describing how souls, though capable of spiritual inquiry in human life, remain deluded and fail to worship Bhagavan.
Treat human life as an opportunity for spiritual practice: prioritize devotion and remembrance of God, align daily duties with dharma, and reduce distractions that strengthen māyā’s influence.