FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.4

नोत्तमश्लोकवार्तानां जुषतां तत्कथामृतम् । स्यात्सम्भ्रमोऽन्तकालेऽपि स्मरतां तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥
nottamaśloka-vārtānāṁ
[nottamashloka-vaartaanaam]
juṣatāṁ tat-kathāmṛtam
[jushataam tat-kathaamritam]
syāt sambhramo ’nta-kāle ’pi
[syaat sambhramo ’nta-kaale ’pi]
smaratāṁ tat-padāmbujam
[smarataam tat-padaambujam]
na — never uttama-śloka — the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing vārtānām — of those who live on them juṣatām — of those who are engaged in tat — His kathā-amṛtam — transcendental topics about Him syāt — it so happens sambhramaḥ — misconception anta — at the end kāle — in time api — also smaratām — remembering tat — His pada-ambujam — lotus feet.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nottamaśloka-vārtānāṁ
na
never
uttama-śloka
the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing
vārtānām
of those who live on them
juṣatāṁ tat-kathāmṛtam
juṣatām
of those who are engaged in
tat
His
kathā-amṛtam
transcendental topics about Him
syāt sambhramo ’nta-kāle ’pi
syāt
it so happens
sambhramaḥ
misconception
anta
at the end
kāle
in time
api
also
smaratāṁ tat-padāmbujam
smaratām
remembering
tat
His
pada-ambujam
lotus feet.
This was so because those who have dedicated their lives to the transcendental topics of the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing, and who are constantly engaged in remembering the lotus feet of the Lord, do not run the risk of having misconceptions even at the last moment of their lives.

The highest perfection of life is attained by remembering the transcendental nature of the Lord at the last moment of one’s life. This perfection of life is made possible by one who has learned the actual transcendental nature of the Lord from the Vedic hymns sung by a liberated soul like Śukadeva Gosvāmī or someone in that line of disciplic succession. There is no gain in hearing the Vedic hymns from some mental speculator. When the same is heard from an actual self-realized soul and is properly understood by service and submission, everything becomes transparently clear. Thus a submissive disciple is able to live transcendentally and continue to the end of life. By scientific adaptation, one is able to remember the Lord even at the end of life, when the power of remembrance is slackened due to derangement of bodily membranes. For a common man, it is very difficult to remember things as they are at the time of death, but by the grace of the Lord and His bona fide devotees, the spiritual masters, one can get this opportunity without difficulty. And it was done in the case of Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Those who remember the lotus feet of the Lord; those who relish the nectar of pastimes concerning the Lord; and those whose very lives are the Lord do not have confusion even at the time of death.
Commentary

This is not astonishing. This verse gives the reason. Uttamaśloka-vārtānām means “of those whose cause of living is the Lord.”

Those who dedicate their lives to the transcendental topics of the Lord, constantly engaged in remembering His lotus feet, do not run the risk of losing this birth's value. Constant remembrance is the simple insurance.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'transcendental topic' do I dedicate ongoing attention to?
  • Where could remembrance be my insurance for this lifetime?
📝 My note

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