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Tom Chavez
There was a great King in India, about 5,000 years ago, who was cursed to die within seven days. He immediately handed over his kingdom to his son, divested himself of all royal ornaments and dress, and sat down on the bank of the Ganges to fast to death.
The young sage Sukadeva appeared just then before the King, and many other sages and saints assembled, after learning about the situation.
In that assembly, the King asked Sukadeva, “What is my duty now? What is the duty of a man who is about to die? What should he do, what should he hear, and what should he speak?”
Sukadeva replied, “Materialists, who are blind to ultimate truth, speak and hear about many topics. Such people live for the benefit of their family members and their own group or society. They are envious of others, and spend their lives in daytime to earn money and maintain family, and at night in sleep or sex indulgence.”
“Devoid of self-realization, they ignore the real problems of life, being too attached to body, spouse and children. They spoil their valuable human life in a vain search for permanent comfort which is impossible in the great ocean of material nature, which tosses with the waves of time.”
“Our friends, relatives, spouses and children are fallible, and bewildered by the illusions of material existence. They cannot save us. Still, we think ourselves safe within the orbit of family, society or country. Our whole civilization will pass away like so many civilizations before us. Materialistic advancement of civilization is like decoration of a dead body.”
“One who desires to be free of all miseries must hear about, glorify and remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries. The highest perfection of human life is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.”
Sukadeva then spoke Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the King and others heard with rapt attention. By speaking and hearing transcendental topics, they all achieved perfection.
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