Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2
Nārada’s Arrival, the Nine Yogendras, and the Foundations of Bhāgavata-dharma
को नु राजन्निन्द्रियवान् मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् । न भजेत् सर्वतोमृत्युरुपास्यममरोत्तमै: ॥ २ ॥
ko nu rājann indriyavān mukunda-caraṇāmbujam na bhajet sarvato-mṛtyur upāsyam amarottamaiḥ
ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಈ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಮರಣ ಎದುರಾಗುತ್ತದೆ; ಹಾಗಿರುವಾಗ, ದೇವೋತ್ತಮ ಮುಕ್ತಾತ್ಮರೂ ಪೂಜಿಸುವ ಮುಕುಂದನ ಪದಪದ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಯಾರು ಭಜಿಸದೆ ಇರುವರು?
The word indriyavān is significant in this verse. Indriyavān means “possessing senses.” Although we are conditioned within the material world, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord we are awarded a human body, which possesses distinct senses, such as the eyes, ears, tongue, nose and skin. Generally the conditioned souls use these senses in a false attempt to exploit the material nature for sense gratification. But our material senses and their objects are temporary, and it is not possible to become peaceful or happy in the attempt to gratify our temporary senses with the temporary sense objects offered by māyā, the illusory energy of the Lord. In fact, our strenuous endeavor to satisfy the material senses inevitably brings exactly the opposite result, namely material suffering. A man is attracted to a woman. Being sexually aroused he marries her, and soon there is a family that requires ever-increasing support. In this way his innocent and simple life is ended, and he spends the major portion of his life working hard like an ass to support the demands of his family. In the Third Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Lord Kapila describes very clearly that in spite of the exhausting work a man performs throughout his life, his family is ultimately dissatisfied, and when the exhausted father reaches old age, the irritated family members look upon him just as farmers look upon an old and useless ox. Sometimes the sons dream of receiving their father’s money as an inheritance and secretly wish for him to die. Nowadays people strongly resent the trouble of caring for elderly parents and therefore send them to an institution, where they die lonely and neglected after a life of hard work for their so-called loved ones. One doctor in England is seriously proposing euthanasia for elderly persons who are no longer productive.
FAQs
This verse teaches that since death approaches from every direction, a wise person takes shelter of Mukunda’s lotus feet—devotional service is presented as the sure refuge beyond fear.
Parīkṣit was facing imminent death; Śukadeva emphasizes the urgency of bhakti—taking shelter of the Lord’s feet—because worldly protection cannot stop death.
Remember life’s uncertainty and prioritize steady devotion—daily prayer, chanting, and service—so spiritual practice becomes the main shelter rather than temporary securities.