mānuṣyam artha-dam anityam apīha dhīraḥ
tūrṇaḿ yateta na pated anu-mṛtyu yāvan
niḥśreyasāya viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt
TRANSLATION
After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of
life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain
the highest perfection. Thus a sober human being should quickly
endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body,
which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After
all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable
species of life, whereas Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible only for a
human being.
PURPORT
Material life essentially means repeated birth and death. Even the
lowest forms of life, such as reptiles, insects, dogs have ample
opportunity for sense gratification. Human life, however, enables one
to understand the Absolute Truth and is therefore full of grave
responsibility. Since the valuable human life is not eternal, we
should do the needful to achieve the highest perfection, Kṛṣṇa
consciousness. Before death appears, we should seriously cultivate our
real self-interest.
One can experience Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the association of
devotees of the Lord. Without their association, one is in danger of
being attracted to an impersonal conception of life, which causes one
to fall away from devotional service to the Absolute Truth. Or, being
discouraged by one's failure to understand the Absolute Truth, one may
return to the false platform of sense gratification. In conclusion,
human life is meant for cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness under the
guidance of the experienced, self-realized devotees of the Lord.
God has specifically created the human form of life to facilitate the
liberation of the conditioned soul. The lower forms of life, such as
the cow and horse, are not actually suitable to fulfill the purpose of
creation. But human life awards the opportunity to understand one's
eternal relationship with God. Thus, one must control the material
senses and fulfill the real purpose of human life. If one takes to
Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the Supreme Lord personally feels happiness
and gradually reveals Himself to His devotee.
The Lord's material creation consists of the living entities and dead
matter, which the less intelligent try to enjoy. The Lord, however, is
not satisfied by those species that blindly strive for sense
gratification without understanding spiritual nature. We are suffering
due to our forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa and the blissful situation of His
abode. If we accept the Lord as protector and shelter and execute His
order, we can easily revive our eternal, blissful nature as parts and
parcels of the Personality of Godhead.
It is for this purpose that the Lord has created human life.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 11.9.28-29 Purport)
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