FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.19.23

కల్పాయుషాం స్థానజయాత్పునర్భవాత్ క్షణాయుషాం భారతభూజయో వరమ్ । క్షణేన మర్త్యేన కృతం మనస్విన: సన్న్యస్య సంయాన్త్యభయం పదం హరే: ॥ ౨౩ ॥
kalpāyuṣāṁ sthānajayāt punar-bhavāt
[kalpaayushaam sthaanajayaat punar-bhavaat]
kṣaṇāyuṣāṁ bhārata-bhūjayo varam
[kshanaayushaam bhaarata-bhoojayo varam]
kṣaṇena martyena kṛtaṁ manasvinaḥ
[kshanena martyena kritam manasvinah]
sannyasya saṁyānty abhayaṁ padaṁ hareḥ
[sannyasya samyaanty abhayam padam hareh]
kalpa-āyuṣām — of those who have a life duration of many millions of years, like Lord Brahmā sthāna-jayāt — than achievement of the place or planetary systems punaḥ-bhavāt — which is liable to birth, death and old age kṣaṇa-āyuṣām — of persons who have only one hundred years of life bhārata-bhū-jayaḥ — a birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa varam — more valuable kṣaṇena — for such a short life martyena — by the body kṛtam — the work executed manasvinaḥ — those actually understanding the value of life sannyasya — surrendering unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa saṁyānti — they achieve abhayam — where there is no anxiety padam — the abode hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kalpāyuṣāṁ sthānajayāt punar-bhavāt
kalpa-āyuṣām
of those who have a life duration of many millions of years, like Lord Brahmā
sthāna-jayāt
than achievement of the place or planetary systems
punaḥ-bhavāt
which is liable to birth, death and old age
kṣaṇāyuṣāṁ bhārata-bhūjayo varam
kṣaṇa-āyuṣām
of persons who have only one hundred years of life
bhārata-bhū-jayaḥ
a birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa
varam
more valuable
kṣaṇena martyena kṛtaṁ manasvinaḥ
kṣaṇena
for such a short life
martyena
by the body
kṛtam
the work executed
manasvinaḥ
those actually understanding the value of life
sannyasya saṁyānty abhayaṁ padaṁ hareḥ
sannyasya
surrendering unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa
saṁyānti
they achieve
abhayam
where there is no anxiety
padam
the abode
hareḥ
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
A short life in the land of Bharata-varṣa is preferable to a life achieved in Brahmaloka for millions and billions of years because even if one is elevated to Brahmaloka, he must return to repeated birth and death. Although life in Bhārata-varṣa, in a lower planetary system, is very short, one who lives there can elevate himself to full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and achieve the highest perfection, even in this short life, by fully surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Thus one attains Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where there is neither anxiety nor repeated birth in a material body.

This is further confirmation of the statement given by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra

One who has taken birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa has a full opportunity to study the direct instructions given by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā and thus finally decide what to do in his human form of life. One should certainly give up all other propositions and surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will then immediately take charge and relieve one of the results of past sinful life ( ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ). Therefore one should take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as Kṛṣṇa Himself recommends. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: “Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer Me obeisances.” This is very easy, even for a child. Why not take this path? One should try to follow the instructions of Kṛṣṇa exactly and thus become fully eligible to be promoted to the kingdom of God ( tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna ). One should go directly to Kṛṣṇa and engage in His service. This is the best opportunity offered to the inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa. One who is fit to return home, back to Godhead, is no longer liable to the results of karma, good or bad.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A moment’s stay in Bhārata is better than living for a kalpa on Brahmaloka, since on Brahmaloka one must take birth again. Those who fix their minds on the Lord in Bhārata in a body subject to death, on giving up all pious and impious acts, attain Vaikuṇṭha. Bhārata is more attractive than even Brahmaloka. A moment’s residence in Bhārata is better than a life time of two parārdhas on Brahmaloka, because on Brahmaloka one is again reborn. Living so long in that place makes one take birth again. Those who have fixed their minds on the lotus feet of the Lord (manasvinaḥ) for a moment in a body subject to death (martyena) in Bhārata, placing their feet on the top of Brahmaloka, attain Vaikuṇṭha (abhayam padam), giving up all pious and sinful acts (kṛtam).
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 19