Shloka 14
Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā
जन्म ह्येतद्दुर्लभं नश्वरं तु यथा जलस्थं तत्तथैव / नो विस्वासं कुरु गात्रे त्वदीये जीवेष्वपि स्वः परश्चेति तात
janma hyetaddurlabhaṃ naśvaraṃ tu yathā jalasthaṃ tattathaiva / no visvāsaṃ kuru gātre tvadīye jīveṣvapi svaḥ paraśceti tāta
การเกิดเป็นมนุษย์นี้หาได้ยากยิ่ง แต่ก็ไม่เที่ยง—เปราะบางดุจสิ่งที่ตั้งอยู่บนน้ำ เพราะฉะนั้น ผู้เป็นที่รัก อย่าไว้วางใจในกายของตน และอย่าไว้วางใจแม้ในชีวิตของสัตว์ทั้งหลาย ด้วยความคิดว่า “สวรรค์มีอยู่ และโลกหน้าไว้ทีหลัง”
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Human life is rare yet momentary; do not postpone dharma/bhakti thinking heaven or the beyond can be attended to later.
Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and vairāgya as prerequisites for liberation-oriented living; saṃsāra’s instability likened to an object resting on water.
Application: Adopt ‘now’ orientation: begin sādhana immediately; reduce attachment to body-based security; prioritize remembrance, ethical living, and preparation for death.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): repeated anityatā teachings urging immediate sādhana and remembrance of Viṣṇu
FAQs
This verse states that human birth is difficult to obtain yet quickly perishes, so one should not waste it in complacency but use it for dharma and spiritual readiness.
By stressing bodily and life’s instability, it implies death can come unexpectedly; therefore, one should not delay preparation for the ‘para’ (the beyond), a key theme in Preta Kanda discussions of post-death journey.
Live with urgency and clarity: do dharma now, reduce attachment to the body and possessions, and maintain daily ethical conduct and remembrance of life’s impermanence.