Text 15]
The First Step in God Realization
25
PURPORT
Śukadeva Gosvāmī, after citing the example of Mahārāja Khaṭvāṅga, who prepared himself for the next life within a very short time, encouraged Mahārāja Parīkṣit that he had still seven days at his disposal and that he could easily take advantage of the time to prepare himself for the next life. Indirectly, the Gosvāmī told Mahārāja Parīkṣit that he should take shelter of the sound representation of the Lord for the seven days still remaining in the duration of his life and thus get himself liberated. In other words, everyone can best prepare himself for the next life simply by hearing Śrīmad- Bhāgavatam , as it was recited by Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The rituals are not formal, but there are also some favorable conditions, which are required to be carried out, as instructed hereafter.
TEXT 15
अन्तकालं तु पुरुष अगतं गतसाध्वम्: । छिन्द्यादसङ्गशस्त्रेण स्पृहां देहेऽनु ये च तम् ॥१५॥
anta-kāle tu puruṣa āgate gata-sādhvasaḥ chindyād asaṅga-śastreṇa spṛhāṁ dehe'nu ye ca tam
anta-kāle —at the last stage of life;  tu —but;  puruṣaḥ —a person;  āgate —having arrived;  gata-sādhvasaḥ —without any fear of death;  chindyāt —must cut off;  asaṅga —nonattachment;  śastreṇa —by the weapon of;  spṛhām —all desires;  dehe —in the matter of the material tabernacle;  anu —pertaining;  ye —all that;  ca —also;  tam —them.
TRANSLATION
At the last stage of one's life, one should be bold enough not to become afraid of death. But he must cut off all attachment to the material body and everything pertaining to it and all desires thereof.