Text 58] Brahma Stealing the Boys and Calves 69
TEXT 58
aatsate afOaTT: reaaghera: |
Sewer 2 ETS ATT |4CII
tato ’rvak pratilabdhaksah
kah paretavad utthitah
krechrad unmilya vai drstir
acastedam sahatmana

tatah—then; arvak—externally; pratilabdha-aksah—having revived
his consciousness; kah—Lord Brahma; pareta-vat—just like a dead
man; utthitah—stood up; krechrat—with great difficulty; unmilya—
opening up; vai—indeed; drstih—his eyes; dcasta—he saw; idam—this
universe; saha-dtmana—along with himself.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma’s external consciousness then revived, and he
stood up, just like a dead man coming back to life. Opening his
eyes with great difficulty, he saw the universe, along with himself.

PURPORT

We actually do not die. At death, we are merely kept inert for some
time, just as during sleep. At night we sleep, and all our activities stop,
but as soon as we arise, our memory immediately returns, and we think,
“Oh, where am I? What do I have to do?” This is called suptotthita-
nyaya. Suppose we die. “Die” means that we become inert for some time
and then again begin our activities. This takes place life after life, ac-
cording to our karma, or activities, and svabhdva, or nature by associa-
tion. Now, in the human life, if we prepare ourselves by beginning the
activity of our spiritual life, we return to our real life and attain perfec-
tion. Otherwise, according to karma, svabhdva, prakrti and so on, our
varieties of life and activity continue, and so also do our birth and death.
As explained by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, m@ydra vase, ydccha bhese,
khaccha habudubu bhai: ‘‘My dear brothers, why are you being washed
