Shloka 8
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
न कश्चिन्म्रियते तावद् यावदास्त इहान्तक: । एतदर्थं हि भगवानाहूत: परमर्षिभि: । अहो नृलोके पीयेत हरिलीलामृतं वच: ॥ ८ ॥
na kaścin mriyate tāvad yāvad āsta ihāntakaḥ etad-arthaṁ hi bhagavān āhūtaḥ paramarṣibhiḥ aho nṛ-loke pīyeta hari-līlāmṛtaṁ vacaḥ
Selagi Yamarāja, Antaka yang menyebabkan kematian, masih hadir di sini, tiada seorang pun akan menemui maut. Demi tujuan inilah para ṛṣi agung mengundang Yamarāja, wakil Tuhan. Ah! Makhluk di dunia manusia patut meminum kata-kata yang merupakan nektar abadi, yakni kisah līlā Śrī Hari ini.
Every human being dislikes meeting death, but he does not know how to get rid of death. The surest remedy for avoiding death is to accustom oneself to hearing the nectarean pastimes of the Lord as they are systematically narrated in the text of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It is advised herein, therefore, that any human being who desires freedom from death should take to this course of life as recommended by the ṛṣis headed by Śaunaka.
FAQs
This verse states that death does not occur until the appointed time/agent of death arrives—implying destiny under divine order—therefore one should focus on hearing the nectar of Hari’s pastimes.
Sūta Gosvāmī highlights that the greatest sages invoke the Lord for the welfare of the world, and that the resulting Hari-kathā is meant to be “drunk” by humanity as spiritual nectar.
Make daily time to hear or read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam or authentic Hari-kathā; it steadies the mind, reduces anxiety about uncertainty, and nourishes devotion and right conduct.