108 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 3

because of the influence of time; na—there is not; yasya—of which;
viplavah—annihilation; tasya—that; atma-loka-dvaranasya—froin the
covering of self-realization; moksam—liberation.

TRANSLATION

I do not wish to live anymore after I am released from the attack
of the crocodile. What is the use of an elephant’s body covered ex-
ternally and internally by ignorance? I simply desire eternal
liberation from the covering of ignorance. That covering is not
destroyed by the influence of time.

PURPORT

In this material world, every living entity is covered by the darkness
of ignorance. Therefore the Vedas enjoin that one should approach the
Supreme Lord through the spiritual master, who is described and offered
prayers in the Gautamiya-tantra as follows:

om ajfidna-timirandhasya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai Sri-gurave namah

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the
torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the
darkness of ignorance.” Although one may struggle for existence in this
material world, to live forever is impossible. One must understand,
however, that this struggle for existence is due to ignorance, for other-
wise every living being is an eternal part of the Supreme Lord. There is
no need to live as an elephant or man, American or Indian; one should
desire only to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Be-
cause of ignorance, we consider every life offered by nature to be happy
and pleasing, but in the degraded life within this material world, from
the life of Lord Brahma down to that of an ant, no one can actually be
happy. We are making so many plans to live happily, but there cannot be
any happiness in this material world, however we may try to make a per-
manent settlement in this life or that.
