“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.1.6)

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एतावान् साङ्ख्य-योगाभ्यां
स्व-धर्म-परिनिष्ठया
जन्म-लाभः परः पुंसाम्
अन्ते नारायण-स्मृतिः

etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ

A single shloka from Bhagavata Purana explains so much. Based on recorded history, the documents passed forward to the present day, the thoughts and speculations of the most respected within society, it appears that there has been a steadiness of wonder. In whichever period of time they appeared, man pondered the issue of life itself, with the associated meaning, purpose, and direction.

Bhagavata Purana has an informal date of publication that may be five thousand years in the past, but the information contained within is timeless. It describes a higher being who can be known through properties such as anadi and ananta. There is no beginning and there is no end to this being.

This means that every individual, living in the past, the present, or the future, has the same opportunity for accessing that higher being. This truth is confirmed in the Upanishads, which offer the portrait of two birds sitting close by, together, on a tree. These birds have been together for as long back as anyone can recall. The one bird wants to enjoy, so it goes in this direction and that, while the other bird simply witnesses. The first bird is so engrossed in the reactions to the decisions for enjoyment that it completely forgets the presence of the other bird. The first bird might even speculate that the second bird does not exist.

“The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanishad, as well as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krishna) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend. Krishna is the witnessing bird, and Arjuna is the eating bird.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22 Purport)

Bhagavata Purana, which is also known as Shrimad Bhagavatam, puts forward the concept of “ante narayana-smriti.” This one collection of Sanskrit words explains so much. It delivers so much clarity to the first bird, who otherwise speculates in this direction and that as to the highest objective of living, as to the meaning of birth itself.

1. The reason for our existence

“Ante narayana-smriti” translates to “remembering Narayana at the end.” This is a call to action. It is something that every person can do. There is no stipulation as to caste, gender, or age. Young and old alike can remember Narayana. Depending on the traditions of a particular area, a female may be prohibited from reading shastra, from stepping foot in a certain side of the house of worship, and from taking the role of a formal spiritual guide. But that same female can remember.

We may not be able to recall our many past lives. We may not remember what we did every single day during childhood. We are still alive, at this moment. This means that we can act. If we have the choice to act, we can proceed with justification. “Ante narayana-smriti” provides a reason for our continued existence.

2. The highest objective

This remembering of Narayana is the highest objective. The highest objective is not reaching the pinnacle of achievement in a field with measurable differences. It is not finding the largest building to serve as a place of residence. It is not enjoying with as many others as we possibly can or desperately clinging to intoxication as a way to escape the harsh reality of the fleeting nature of the temporary birth.

ये हि संस्पर्श-जा भोगा
दुःख-योनय एव ते
आद्य्-अन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय
न तेषु रमते बुधः

ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā
duḥkha-yonaya eva te
ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya
na teṣu ramate budhaḥ

“An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad­-gita, 5.22)

3. The object of worship

“Ante narayana-smriti” is the highest objective because of the beneficiary of the contemplation. As there is someone on the other side of this remembering, it means that there is a connection. Like connecting a phone line within the home. Like back in the early days of internet service, using the modem known as “dial-up” since that is how the temporary connection was established.

This connection is known as yoga. In terms of the situation described previously, it is the first bird finally turning in the direction of the second bird. That second bird was the highest interest the entire time, but due to illusion the first bird was unaware. This second bird is an object of worship. He is known as Narayana, among many other names. As Narayana, He is the source of men. The naras can intentionally remember. They can create a way of life such that the remembrance will be steady. In following that remembrance as a formal discipline, the nara establishes themselves in dharma. As that formal discipline is applicable during any period of time, the nara follows what is known as sanatana-dharma.

4. The moment when everything will be tested

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that everything will be tested at the time of death. We may have so much else to our history in this isolated circumstance of a birth. Our rap sheet, so to speak, is quite long. We have made so many mistakes. We cheated. We exploited others. We have so many regrettable actions that remain within the memory.

Never mind, as everything will be tested at the end. At the final moments, ante, our consciousness will carry forward. The nature of that consciousness will determine the nature of living in the future. This is confirmed by the same Narayana in His form of Shri Krishna, when offering vital instruction to the disciple named Arjuna.

यं यं वापि स्मरन् भावं
त्यजत्य् अन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तम् एवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्-भाव-भावितः

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

5. How to pass that test

As everything will be tested at the end, “ante narayana-smriti” gives the cheat code, so to speak, on how to pass that test. Remember Narayana. The fact that this remembrance is the way to pass the test means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be the most forgiving individual ever known. He cannot be old, angry, spiteful, or hankering after punishing the so-called sinners. Those sinners are already suffering through the event known as birth. That birth is the primary source of misery.

Remembering Narayana at the end stops the cycle of birth and death. It elevates the individual to the spiritual realm. They unite with the object of worship in a way that they are subsequently free from the vulnerability to falling into the land of illusion again. Those who remember the Supreme Lord at the end attain a nature similar to His, and so they will no longer suffer.

In Closing:

Towards Vaikuntha to send,
When remembered at the end.

Known as the source of men,
Today, tomorrow, and back then.

Narayana the ultimate goal,
The constant well-wisher sole.

Next to us the entire time sitting,
Our object of worship befitting.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, death, life, narayana, poem, poems, poetry