So Kṛṣṇa begins, therefore, His instruction that "Don't think you are this body. This is your covering. You are within this body." That is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa's instruction. And at last He, as a father, advises, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). So when we do that—giving up everything, we surrender to Kṛṣṇa—at that time we revive our relationship with Kṛṣṇa. This is wanted. Therefore the author is instructing us, jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama. Manda means one who cannot go very fast; or bad. Manda means mad; manda means slow. In this age especially, in Kali-yuga we become very, very slow in spiritual progress, although that is our main business. But on account of this Kali-yuga, we are all very, very slow. We think that "Spiritual cultivation is meant for old age. Now let us enjoy our life in this material world."
That is our wrong conception of life. What do you mean by old age? Nearing death. So who can guarantee that he is not nearing death? Everyone is nearing death at any moment. Why should you wait for old age? That is manda-mati, bad intelligence. We should know that death may take place at any moment. Therefore every one of us are already old. Old . . . Generally we understand that old age means nearing death, but who can guarantee that there is no death immediately? At any moment. Therefore śāstra says, tūrṇaṁ yateta anu-mṛtyu pateta yāvad. Before meeting your next death, you should endeavor so dexterously that you complete your Kṛṣṇa consciousness before your death comes. That is intelligence. Not that "I am now young man. Let me enjoy. And in old age, after passing sixty years, when there will be no other engagement, at that time I shall chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra." No. Immediately, tūrṇaṁ yate.
Prahlāda Mahārāja advises,
- kaumāra ācaret prājño
- dharmān bhāgavatān iha
- durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma
- tad apy adhruvam arthadam
- (SB 7.6.1)
He advises from childhood. Just like we are trying to teach even the small boy, a small child, to chant and dance with us, and they are learning. It is not difficult. The small children, they are also taking part. Now somebody may say that "These children do not understand English. What they are hearing? Simply they are wasting their time."