FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.7

क्षुद्रायुषां नृणामङ्ग मर्त्यानामृतमिच्छताम् । इहोपहूतो भगवान्मृत्यु: शामित्रकर्मणि ॥ ७ ॥
kṣudrāyuṣāṁ nṛṇām aṅga
[kshudraayushaam nrinaam anga]
martyānām ṛtam icchatām
[martyaanaam ritam ichchataam]
ihopahūto bhagavān
[ihopahooto bhagavaan]
mṛtyuḥ śāmitra-karmaṇi
[mrityuh shaamitra-karmani]
kṣudra — very small āyuṣām — of the duration of life nṛṇām — of the human beings aṅga — O Sūta Gosvāmī martyānām — of those who are sure to meet death ṛtam — eternal life icchatām — of those who desire it iha — herein upahūtaḥ — called for being present bhagavān — representing the Lord mṛtyuḥ — the controller of death, Yamarāja śāmitra — suppressing karmaṇi — performances.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kṣudrāyuṣāṁ nṛṇām aṅga
kṣudra
very small
āyuṣām
of the duration of life
nṛṇām
of the human beings
aṅga
O Sūta Gosvāmī
martyānām ṛtam icchatām
martyānām
of those who are sure to meet death
ṛtam
eternal life
icchatām
of those who desire it
ihopahūto bhagavān
iha
herein
upahūtaḥ
called for being present
bhagavān
representing the Lord
mṛtyuḥ śāmitra-karmaṇi
mṛtyuḥ
the controller of death, Yamarāja
śāmitra
suppressing
karmaṇi
performances.
O Sūta Gosvāmī, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamarāja.

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Sūta! For those men who desire Kṛṣṇa, what is use of material talks which are a waste of life for short-lived humanity?
Commentary

Ṛtam means the true object, Kṛṣṇa.

Some men desire freedom from death and seek eternal life. They escape slaughter by calling on Yamarāja. Real desire for liberation requires real address to the controller of death.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I content with longer life when liberation is the real goal?
  • What would change if I aimed for the eternal rather than the extended?
📝 My note

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