8 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 6
Sariram paurusam yavan
na vipadyeta puskalam

tatah—therefore; yateta—should endeavor; kusalah—an intelligent
man interested in the ultimate goal of life; ksemaya—for the real benefit
of life, or for liberation from material bondage; bhavam dsritah—who is
in material existence; Sariram—the body; paurusam—human; ydvat—
as long as; na—not; vipadyeta—fails; puskalam—stout and strong.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, while in material existence [bhavam aéritah], a per-
son fully competent to distinguish wrong from right must en-
deavor to achieve the highest goal of life as long as the body is
stout and strong and is not embarrassed by dwindling.

PURPORT

As stated by Prahlada Maharaja at the beginning of this chapter,
kaumara dcaret prajfiah. The word prajra refers to one who is ex-
perienced and who can distinguish right from wrong. Such a person
should not waste his energy and valuable human lifetime simply working
like a cat or dog to develop his economic condition.

For one word in this verse there are two readings— bhavam Gsritah
and bhayam asritah—but accepting the meaning of either of them will
bring one to the same conclusion. Bhayam Gsritah indicates that the ma-
terialistic way of life is always fearful because at every step there is
danger. Materialistic life is full of anxieties and fear (bhayam).
Similarly, accepting the reading bhavam 4Gsritah, the word bhavam
refers to unnecessary trouble and problems. For want of Krsna con-
sciousness, one is put into bhavam, being perpetually embarrassed by
birth, death, old age and disease. Thus one is surely full of anxieties.

Human society should be divided into a social system of brahmanas,
ksatriyas, vaisyas and sidras, but everyone can engage in devotional ser-
vice. If one wants to live without devotional service, his status as a
brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or Sidra certainly has no meaning. It is said,
sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah: whether one is in a higher or lower
division, one certainly falls down for want of Krsna consciousness. A
