Shloka 7
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् । इहोपहूतो भगवान्मृत्यु: शामित्रकर्मणि ॥ ७ ॥
kṣudrāyuṣāṁ nṛṇām aṅga martyānām ṛtam icchatām ihopahūto bhagavān mṛtyuḥ śāmitra-karmaṇi
โอ สุทา โคสวามี! ในหมู่มนุษย์ผู้มีอายุสั้น มีบางคนปรารถนาอมฤตภาพคือพ้นจากความตาย. เขาเหมือนหลีกหนีกระบวนการฆ่า ด้วยการเรียกผู้ควบคุมความตาย คือพระยมราช มาสู่กิจแห่งการเชือดฆ่า.
The living entity, as he develops from lower animal life to a higher human being and gradually to higher intelligence, becomes anxious to get free from the clutches of death. Modern scientists try to avoid death by physiochemical advancement of knowledge, but alas, the controller of death, Yamarāja, is so cruel that he does not spare even the very life of the scientist himself. The scientist, who puts forward the theory of stopping death by advancement of scientific knowledge, becomes himself a victim of death when he is called by Yamarāja. What to speak of stopping death, no one can enhance the short period of life even by a fraction of a moment. The only hope of suspending the cruel slaughtering process of Yamarāja is to call him to hear and chant the holy name of the Lord. Yamarāja is a great devotee of the Lord, and he likes to be invited to kīrtanas and sacrifices by the pure devotees, who are constantly engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus the great sages, headed by Śaunaka and others, invited Yamarāja to attend the sacrifice performed at Naimiṣāraṇya. This was good for those who did not want to die.
FAQs
This verse points out that people in this age are kṣudrāyuṣaḥ—short-lived—yet still long for lasting happiness; therefore the Bhagavatam urges turning to Bhagavān for true deathlessness through spiritual realization.
Because the Lord is supreme over all forces; even death and punishment operate under His control, and for the conditioned soul death becomes His manifest power that ends material attachment.
Remembering life’s brevity helps prioritize sādhana—hearing, chanting, and living dharmically—so one seeks lasting spiritual gain rather than temporary achievements.