Text 27] The Birth of Lord Krsna 241
PURPORT

There are different categories of living entities, but everyone is afraid
of death. The highest aim of the karmis is to be promoted to the higher,
heavenly planets, where the duration of life is very long. As stated in
Bhagavad-gita (8.17), sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano
viduh: one day of Brahma equals 1,000 yugas, and each yuga consists of
4,300,000 years. Similarly, Brahma has a night of 1,000 times 4,300,000
years. In this way, we may calculate Brahma’s month and year, but even
Brahma, who lives for millions and millions of years (dvi-parardha-
kala), also must die. According to Vedic sdstra, the inhabitants of the
higher planetary systems live for 10,000 years, and just as Brahma’s day
is calculated to equal 4,300,000,000 of our years, one day in the higher
planetary systems equals six of our months. Karmis, therefore, try for
promotion to the higher planetary systems, but this cannot free them
from death. In this material world, everyone from Brahmi to the insig-
nificant ant must die. Therefore this world is called martya-loka. As
Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (8.16), dbrahma-bhuvandal lokah punar
Gvartino ’rjuna: as long as one is within this material world, either on
Brahmaloka or on any other Joka within this universe, one must undergo
the kala-cakra of one life after another (bhitva bhitva praliyate). But if
one returns to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (yad gatva na
nivartante), one need not reenter the limits of time. Therefore, devotees
who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord can sleep
very peacefully with this assurance from the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (4.9), tyaktva deham punar
Janma naiti: after giving up the present body, a devotee who has under-
stood Krsna as He is need not return to this material world.

The constitutional position for the living entity is eternity (na hanyate
hanyam4ne Sarire, nityah sasvato ’yam). Every living entity is eternal.
But because of having fallen into this material world, one wanders
within the universe, continually changing from one body to another.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu says:

brahmanda bhramite kona bhaégyavan jiva
guru-krsna prasdde paya bhakti-lata-bija
(Cc. Madhya 19.151)
