Shloka 6
Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint
नाभिनन्देद् ध्रुवं मृत्युमध्रुवं वास्य जीवितम् । कालं परं प्रतीक्षेत भूतानां प्रभवाप्ययम् ॥ ६ ॥
nābhinanded dhruvaṁ mṛtyum adhruvaṁ vāsya jīvitam kālaṁ paraṁ pratīkṣeta bhūtānāṁ prabhavāpyayam
ເນື່ອງຈາກຄວາມຕາຍແນ່ນອນ ແຕ່ອາຍຸຊີວິດບໍ່ແນ່ນອນ ຈຶ່ງບໍ່ຄວນສັນລະເສີນທັງຄວາມຕາຍຫຼືຊີວິດ. ແຕ່ຄວນພິຈາລະນາການເວລາອັນສູງສຸດ ທີ່ໃນນັ້ນສັດທັງປວງປາກົດແລະດັບໄປ.
The living entities in the material world, not only at the present but also in the past, have been involved in trying to solve the problem of birth and death. Some stress death and point to the illusory existence of everything material, whereas others stress life, trying to preserve it perpetually and enjoy it to the best of their ability. Both of them are fools and rascals. It is advised that one observe the eternal time factor, which is the cause of the material body’s appearance and disappearance, and that one observe the living entity’s entanglement in this time factor. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura therefore sings in his Gītāvalī:
FAQs
This verse teaches that death is inevitable while lifespan is uncertain, so one should neither celebrate death nor cling anxiously to life, but live with steady awareness of supreme Time (kāla).
Prahlāda instructs householders and seekers in practical detachment, emphasizing that kāla governs creation and destruction, so one should cultivate steadiness and spiritual focus rather than fear-driven living.
Accept uncertainty, stop postponing devotion and dharma, and use time purposefully—daily sādhana, right conduct, and service—without anxiety over outcomes.