The Way of All Flesh
Sukadeva Goswami began his discourse by describing the natural progression of life and the inevitability of death. He explained that just as seasons come and go, and the sun rises and sets, all living beings in the material world must eventually experience death, no matter how much they struggle against it. From the moment of birth, the process of aging and death begins automatically. The most powerful kings and the strongest warriors, despite all their military might and accumulated wealth, cannot escape the hands of death. This fundamental truth must be understood and accepted as the foundation of spiritual wisdom.
Sukadeva elaborated on the different types of deaths experienced by living entities across the universe. Some die from disease, some from accidents, some from violence, and some simply from the exhaustion of their lifespan. The Vedic scriptures describe that there are 8,400,000 species of life, each with different lifespans and modes of existence. An elephant may live for several decades, a human for a century, while smaller creatures live for mere days or months. Yet regardless of the duration, all of them face the same ultimate destination - death. This diversity of lifespans and deaths serves a purpose: it demonstrates that no material possession or achievement can protect anyone from this inevitable event.
Furthermore, Sukadeva explained that death is not merely a physical phenomenon but also a profound spiritual event. The Vedas describe that at the moment of death, the subtle body containing the soul leaves the gross physical body. The consciousness that has been conditioned by material attachments, desires, and actions will be carried to the next life based on one's state of mind at death. This is why the moment of death is so critical - it determines the nature of one's next birth. A person absorbed in Krishna consciousness at death will achieve liberation, while one thinking of material matters will be reborn in the material world to continue his struggle for happiness.
Sukadeva then addressed the root cause of this endless cycle of death and rebirth. He explained that all living beings are under the control of material nature (prakriti) and must accept whatever body they are given in their next life based on their karma (actions) and their consciousness at the moment of death. Just as a man experiencing deep sleep has dreams and identifies with a dream body within the dream, a living being in the material world has become hypnotized by the illusions of maya and identifies with the temporary physical body. This false identification is the source of all fear, attachment, and suffering.
The ultimate message Sukadeva conveyed is that one must use this rare human birth, which offers intelligence and freedom of choice unlike other species, to transcend the cycle of death and rebirth. This transcendence is not achieved through sense gratification, material accumulation, or even yogic practices alone, but through bhakti - pure devotional service to Lord Krishna. By redirecting all one's consciousness, thoughts, and emotions toward the Supreme Lord, one can escape the prison of repeated birth and death and achieve eternal life in Krishna's personal association. This understanding transforms death from being a source of fear into being a doorway to liberation for those who have prepared properly through devotion.