An intelligent person should try to avoid death.
But if, after a great trial, death cannot be avoided then
that is not the fault of the person who is trying to avoid it.
मृत्युर्बुद्धिमतापोह्यो यावद्बुद्धिबलोदयम् ।
यद्यसौ न निवर्तेत नापराधोऽस्ति देहिन: ॥ ४८ ॥
mṛtyur buddhimatāpohyo
yāvad buddhi-balodayam
yady asau na nivarteta
nāparādho ’sti dehinaḥ
SYNONYMS
mṛtyuḥ—death; buddhi-matā—by an intelligent person; apohyaḥ—should be avoided; yāvat—as long as; buddhi-bala-udayam—intelligence and bodily strength are present; yadi—if; asau—that (death); na nivarteta—cannot be checked; na—not; aparādhaḥ—offense; asti—there is; dehinaḥ—of the person in danger of death.
TRANSLATION
As long as he has intelligence and bodily strength, an intelligent person must try to avoid death. This is the duty of every embodied person. But if death cannot be avoided in spite of one’s endeavors, a person facing death commits no offense.
PURPORT
It is natural for a person facing untimely death to try his best to save himself. This is one’s duty. Although death is sure, everyone should try to avoid it and not meet death without opposition because every living soul is by nature eternal. Because death is a punishment imposed in the condemned life of material existence, the Vedic culture is based on avoiding death (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]). Everyone should try to avoid death and rebirth by cultivating spiritual life and should not submit to death without struggling to survive. One who is not trying to stop death is not an intelligent human being. Because Devakī was face to face with imminent death, it was Vasudeva’s duty to save her, as he was trying his best to do. He therefore considered another way to approach Kaṁsa so that Devakī would be saved. (SB/10/1/48)
Pamho agtacbsp, to stop death one have to invest all his energies in the holy name as did Sri Chaitanya mahaprabhu Nam Nam akari bahuda nija Sakti,I agreed death is a punishment throughout vasamsi jirnarni the change of bodies until one given up by understanding that any material body is asat acit and nirananda , it’s a huge recycled of guna and karma by using the same fake designation,reflection etc…of course it’s a bad dream to not become immortal by wasting the own free will on dead things,here is the way out to this bad dream free from envy,anger,lust etc.. agtacbsp ys haribol
Another fine posting.
Regarding this excerpt from Srila Prabhupada’s purport to (SB/10/1/48)
Because death is a punishment imposed in the condemned life of material existence, the Vedic culture is based on avoiding death (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]). Everyone should try to avoid death and rebirth by cultivating spiritual life and should not submit to death without struggling to survive. One who is not trying to stop death is not an intelligent human being.
There are only a fortunate few around the US and Canada that have been fortunate enough to cultivate spiritual life. So how can someone follow Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that “An intelligent person should try to avoid death. But if, after a great trial, death cannot be avoided then that is not the fault of the person who is trying to avoid it.” ,,,if they are kept away from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and association of his devotees and followers due to sectarian and selective preaching.that does not allow for free expression, constructive discussions and answers to questions? There is NO open online teachings let alone in person teachings. In time that will change but only after the next war and all the old guard has moved on.
WAKE UP Charles Dowson, do by yourself whatever that suits and pleases you.
INDEED, you are writing intelligently in your comments here on this web site which are appreciated but not lamentation such as this ;
.” …..,,,if they are kept away from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and association of his devotees and followers due to sectarian and selective preaching.that does not allow for free expression, constructive discussions and answers to questions? There is NO open online teachings let alone in person teachings. In time that will change but only after the next war and all the old guard has moved on.”
I wish you show some respect to yourself which you deserve for the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness you cultivate over the years while sharing to show that knowledge in your comments which deserves appreciation, no doubt, but when you lament as pointed out many times by me, you lose your grace altogether. A Melaacha person like myself has to bring it to your attention all the time for which you do not deserve it.
So, please I beg humbly from you to STOP writing your lamenting comments as pointed out above , and many other times by me which are very destructive to the spirt of your writing as if Srila Prabhupada’s followers / devoees do not preach the Srila Prabhupada’s VANI.
Please forgive me if you or any one finds my above comments offensive.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.