FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.13.3

निमिश्चलमिदं विद्वान् सत्रमारभतात्मवान् । ऋत्विग्भिरपरैस्तावन्नागमद् यावता गुरु: ॥ ३ ॥
nimiś calam idaṁ vidvān
[nimish chalam idam vidvaan]
satram ārabhatātmavān
[satram aarabhataatmavaan]
ṛtvigbhir aparais tāvan
[ritvigbhir aparais taavan]
nāgamad yāvatā guruḥ
[naagamad yaavataa guruh]
nimiḥ — Mahārāja Nimi calam — flickering, subject to end at any moment idam — this (life) vidvān — being completely aware of this fact satram — the sacrifice ārabhata — inaugurated ātmavān — self-realized person ṛtvigbhiḥ — by priests aparaiḥ — other than Vasiṣṭha tāvat — for the time being na — not āgamat — returned yāvatā — so long guruḥ — his spiritual master (Vasiṣṭha).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nimiś calam idaṁ vidvān
nimiḥ
Mahārāja Nimi
calam
flickering, subject to end at any moment
idam
this (life)
vidvān
being completely aware of this fact
satram ārabhatātmavān
satram
the sacrifice
ārabhata
inaugurated
ātmavān
self-realized person
ṛtvigbhir aparais tāvan
ṛtvigbhiḥ
by priests
aparaiḥ
other than Vasiṣṭha
tāvat
for the time being
nāgamad yāvatā guruḥ
na
not
āgamat
returned
yāvatā
so long
guruḥ
his spiritual master (Vasiṣṭha).
Mahārāja Nimi, being a self-realized soul, considered that this life is flickering. Therefore, instead of waiting long for Vasiṣṭha, he began performing the sacrifice with other priests.

Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says, śarīraṁ kṣaṇa-vidhvāṁsi kalpānta-sthāyino guṇāḥ: “The duration of one’s life in the material world may end at any moment, but if within this life one does something worthy, that qualification is depicted in history eternally.” Here is a great personality, Mahārāja Nimi, who knew this fact. In the human form of life one should perform activities in such a way that at the end he goes back home, back to Godhead. This is self-realization.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Mahārāja Nimi, being intelligent, understood that this life is flickering, and instead of waiting for Vasiṣṭha, began performing the sacrifice with other priests. Knowing that this life is uncertain, since he was very intelligent (ātmavān), he performed the sacrifice with other priests.
Considering life flickering, Nimi performs the sacrifice with other priests rather than waiting. Awareness of mortality drives the wise to act now — but acting without honoring elders has its own karma, even when reasoning is sound.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is urgency a justification I use to bypass relationship and consultation?
  • How can I act with the urgency of mortality while still honoring my elders?
📝 My note

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