TEXT 10
deva-samjnitam apy ante
krmi-vid-bhasma-samjnitam
bhuta-dhruk tat-krte svartham
kim veda nirayo yatah
SYNONYMS
deva-samjnitamthe body now known as a very exalted person, like president, minister or even demigod; apieven if the body is so exalted; anteafter death; krmiturns into worms; vitor into stool; bhasma-samjnitamor into ashes; bhuta-dhruka person who does not accept the sastric injunctions and is unnecessarily envious of other living entities; tat-krteby acting in that way; sva-arthamself-interest; kimwho is there; vedawho knows; nirayah yatahbecause from such sinful activities one must suffer hellish conditions.
TRANSLATION
While living one may be proud of ones body, thinking oneself a very big man, minister, president or even demigod, but whatever one may be, after death this body will turn either into worms, into stool or into ashes. If one kills poor animals to satisfy the temporary whims of this body, one does not know that he will suffer in his next birth, for such a sinful miscreant must go to hell and suffer the results of his actions.
PURPORT
In this verse the three words krmi-vid-bhasma are significant. After death, the body may become krmi, which means worms, for if the body is disposed of without cremation, it may be eaten by worms; or else it may be eaten by animals like hogs and vultures and be turned into stool. Those who are more civilized burn the dead body, and thus it becomes ashes (bhasma-samjnitam). Yet although the body will be turned into worms, stool or ashes, foolish persons, just to maintain it, commit many sinful activities. This is certainly regrettable. The human form of body is actually meant for jivasya tattva jijnasa, enlightenment in knowledge of spiritual values. Therefore, one must seek shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta: one must approach a guru. Who is a guru? Sabde pare ca nisnatam (Bhag. 11.3.21): a guru is one who has full transcendental knowledge. Unless one approaches a spiritual master, one remains in ignorance. Acaryavan puruso veda (Chandogya Upanisad 6.14.2): one has full knowledge about life when one is acaryavan, controlled by the acarya. But when one is conducted by rajo-guna and tamo-guna, one does not care about anything; instead, one acts like an ordinary foolish animal, risking his life (mrtyu-samsara-vartmani) and therefore continuing to go through suffering after suffering. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum (Bhag. 7.5.31). Such a foolish person does not know how to elevate himself in this body. Instead, he indulges in sinful activities and goes deeper and deeper into hellish life.

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