Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.13.21

rājovāca

aho nri-janmākhila-janma-śobhanam

kim janmabhis tv aparair apy amushmin

na yad dhrishīkeśa-yaśah-kritātmanām

mahātmanām vah pracurah samāgamah

SYNONYMS

rājā uvāca — King Rahūgana said; aho — alas; nri-janma — you who have taken birth as a human being; akhila-janma-śobhanam — the best of all species of life; kim — what need; janmabhih — with births in a higher species like the demigods in the heavenly planets; tu — but; aparaih — not superior; api — indeed; amushmin — in the next birth; na — not; yat — which; hrishīkeśa-yaśah — by the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hrishīkeśa, the master of all senses; krita-ātmanām — of those whose hearts are purified; mahā-ātmanām — who are actually great souls; vah — of us; pracurah — abundant; samāgamah — the association.

TRANSLATION

King Rahūgana said: This birth as a human being is the best of all. Even birth among the demigods in the heavenly planets is not as glorious as birth as a human being on this earth. What is the use of the exalted position of a demigod? In the heavenly planets, due to profuse material comforts, there is no possibility of associating with devotees.

PURPORT

Human birth is a great opportunity for self-realization. One may take birth in a high planetary system among the demigods, but due to the profusion of material comforts, one cannot gain release from material bondage. Even on this earth those who are very opulent do not generally care to take to Krishna consciousness. An intelligent person actually interested in getting freed from the material clutches must associate with pure devotees. By such association, one can gradually become detached from the material attraction of money and women. Money and women are the basic principles of material attachment. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore advised those who are actually serious about returning back to Godhead to give up money and women in order to be fit to enter the kingdom of God. Money and women can be fully utilized in the service of the Lord, and one who can utilize them in this way can become freed from material bondage. Satām prasańgān mama vīrya-samvido bhavanti hrit-karna-rasāyanāh kathāh (Bhāg. 3.25.25). Only in the association of devotees can one relish the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just through a little association with a pure devotee. one can become successful in his journey back to Godhead.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness