VMA 1.50 :: “Do you know the secret of defeating death?”
O Brother, Do you know for certain when you will die? Do you know some great magic spell that will check almighty death? Do you think that death will patiently wait and allow you to die at the time you prescribe? Is it for these reasons that again and again you fearlessly leave Vrindavan to go elsewhere? (1.50) bhrātas te kim u niścayena viditaḥ svasyānta-kālaḥ kim u tvaṁ jānāsi mahā-manuṁ balavato mṛtyor gati-stambhane | mṛtyus tat-karaṇaṁ pratīkṣata iti tvaṁ vetsi kiṁ vā yato vāraṁ vāram aśaṅka eva calase vṛndāvanād anyataḥ || Commentary Here Prabodhananda brings us back to basics. He speaks to his mind, and his mind represents all aspirants for pure devotion and residence in the Dham. When he says, "You fearlessly leave Vrindavan to go elsewhere," he means not only leaving physically, but leaving mentally also. This verse thus continues the theme of the previous one ( 1.49 ) Saraswatipada begins by reminding us of the fleeting nature of human lif...