Shloka 21
The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
राजोवाच अहो नृजन्माखिलजन्मशोभनं किं जन्मभिस्त्वपरैरप्यमुष्मिन् । न यद्धृषीकेशयश:कृतात्मनां महात्मनां व: प्रचुर: समागम: ॥ २१ ॥
rājovāca aho nṛ-janmākhila-janma-śobhanaṁ kiṁ janmabhis tv aparair apy amuṣmin na yad dhṛṣīkeśa-yaśaḥ-kṛtātmanāṁ mahātmanāṁ vaḥ pracuraḥ samāgamaḥ
Raja Rahūgaṇa berkata: Ah! Kelahiran sebagai manusia adalah perhiasan bagi segala kelahiran. Di bumi ini, apa gunanya kelahiran lain, bahkan sebagai dewa? Di syurga, kerana keselesaan material yang melimpah, tiada peluang untuk bergaul dengan para mahātmā bhakta yang jiwanya dipenuhi kemuliaan Hṛṣīkeśa.
Human birth is a great opportunity for self-realization. One may take birth in a high planetary system among the demigods, but due to the profusion of material comforts, one cannot gain release from material bondage. Even on this earth those who are very opulent do not generally care to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. An intelligent person actually interested in getting freed from the material clutches must associate with pure devotees. By such association, one can gradually become detached from the material attraction of money and women. Money and women are the basic principles of material attachment. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore advised those who are actually serious about returning back to Godhead to give up money and women in order to be fit to enter the kingdom of God. Money and women can be fully utilized in the service of the Lord, and one who can utilize them in this way can become freed from material bondage. Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ ( Bhāg. 3.25.25 ). Only in the association of devotees can one relish the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just through a little association with a pure devotee, one can become successful in his journey back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse says human birth is the most glorious because it can grant abundant association with great devotees devoted to the glories of Hṛṣīkeśa; without that, other births have little spiritual value.
After being instructed and humbled by Jaḍa Bharata, Rahūgaṇa recognizes that real success in life comes from meeting great souls whose hearts are fixed in Kṛṣṇa’s glories.
Prioritize regular contact with sincere devotees—through satsanga, hearing Bhagavatam, and kīrtana—so the mind becomes shaped by Kṛṣṇa’s glories rather than by temporary worldly aims.