It is stated in the Vedic literature that; labdhvā su-durlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavānte (SB 11.9.29): "This body is achieved after many, many, many, many births, after millions and trillions of years." Because . . . you don't think that all of a sudden, by accident, we have got this body. There are other bodies—cats, dogs and so many bodies. Why in this civilized form of? There must have been some process. So this is said in the Vedic literature, labdhvā su-durlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavānte, mānuṣyam artha-dam: "This human form of life is achieved after many, many millions of other forms of birth."
And what is this form? Mānuṣyam: human form, man. This mānuṣya is Sanskrit word, and English word, "man," there is similarity, Latin. Originally, this mānuṣyam, or "man" comes from the word Manu. Manu is the father of humankind. Mānuṣyam. So, why it is so rare? Artha-dam. You can attain the highest perfection, artha-dam. Artha means money, or artha means substance. Artha-dam.
So we are utilizing it for money-making. Artha means money also, but there is another meaning of artha. Artha means substance. We are missing the substance. We are attracted by material money only. So mānuṣyam artha-dam anityam apīha dhīraḥ. And anityam. Although artha-dam—it can deliver you the substance—but it is not permanent, anitya. Anitya means . . . nitya means eternal, permanent; anitya means just the opposite. So the scriptures, Vedic scripture, advises you mānuṣyam artha-dam apīha dhīraḥ.
But if you are dhīra—dhīra means sober, intelligent—then how you shall utilize it? Tūrṇaṁ yateta anu-mṛtyu na pated yāvat (SB 11.9.29). You should try to utilize your this human form of life to achieve the highest substance very soon. Tūrṇam means very soon. Why very soon? Now, anu-mṛtyu na pated yāvat. You do not know when your death will come. You do not know. So before death comes, just utilize yourself. Don't think that, "I am young man. Let me enjoy now. Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy." No. You should not neglect.
Prahlāda Mahārāja, a five-years-old boy, he was instructed by Nārada Muni. He became a very great devotee. And he was instructing his class fellows when he was a five-years-old boy. Because it doesn't matter whether he's a five-years-old boy or five-hundred-years-old tree.
There is no utilization of becoming five-hundred-years-old tree or five-millions-years' stone. There is no utilization. If you become a five-years-old boy and if you understand this knowledge, your life is perfect. These things are all very nicely discussed. They say: "Oh . . ." Taravaḥ kiṁ na jīvanti (SB 2.3.18). "Oh, you are very much proud of your long duration of life? Because you see that cats and dogs die within ten years or twenty years, and you live seventy years or eighty years, therefore you are very much proud?" Oh. The answer is taravaḥ kiṁ na jīvanti: "Don't you see the tree? It lives five hundred years, thousand years." "Oh, a tree lives, but it cannot breathe." Oh. Bhastrā kiṁ na śvasanti: "Don't you see the bellow, a bag of skin? 'Bhass, bhass, bhass'—it is breathing.
So do you think your breathing is very expertness?" "Well, they breathe, but they cannot enjoy sex life." "Oh . . . what is that? The dogs and hogs, they do not enjoy sex life? Do they not eat?" In this way there is analysis. There is analysis, regular analysis: "What for you are so much proud?" The proudness should be proved when you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the perfection of life. Otherwise, you are cats and dogs. Don't take it that I am criticizing you. Just I am analyzing the fact.
So, this should be utilized. This is called intelligence. This is called jñāna. This is called free from bewilderment. This is . . . these are the process. Even if we study Bhagavad-gītā nicely, analytically, synthetically . . . in any way, with our intelligence—we have got intelligence; we have got reason—then we become perfect man. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Take advantage of it. Don't spoil your life. That is our request. The Society is for that purpose. We are not bluffing anybody, that "Make exercise and go home." No. (laughter) Here is something substantial, try to understand it.
Thank you very much.