TEXT 7
ksudrayusam nrnam anga
martyanam rtam icchatam
ihopahuto bhagavan
mrtyuh samitra-karmani
SYNONYMS
ksudravery small; ayusamof the duration of life; nrnamof the human beings; angaO Suta Gosvami; martyanamof those who are sure to meet death; rtameternal life; icchatamof those who desire it; ihaherein; upahutahcalled for being present; bhagavanrepresenting the Lord; mrtyuhthe controller of death, Yamaraja; samitrasuppressing; karmaniperformances.
TRANSLATION
O Suta Gosvami, 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, Yamaraja.
PURPORT
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, Yamaraja, 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 Yamaraja. 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 Yamaraja is to call him to hear and chant the holy name of the Lord. Yamaraja is a great devotee of the Lord, and he likes to be invited to kirtanas and sacrifices by the pure devotees, who are constantly engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus the great sages, headed by Saunaka and others, invited Yamaraja to attend the sacrifice performed at Naimisaranya. This was good for those who did not want to die.

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