Purpose of Life (Transliteration and English Translation)

By nature’s own way the complete system of material activities is a source of perplexity for everyone. In every step there is perplexity, and therefore it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one proper guidance for executing the purpose of life.

Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami was born in Delhi on Aug 14, 1944. He became an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1969 and accepted the renounced order of life, Sannyas in 1982.

Currently he is GBC of ISKCON around the world. he successfully opened the Sri Sri Radha-Parthsarathi temple in New Delhi, amongst many throughout the world.

Following in the footsteps of his spiritual master, He is spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world by giving people, transcendental knowledge, and guidance resulting in solace, happiness and love of God.

Thousands of years ago during its glorious days, India was known as Bharatavarsa. This pious land was named after the powerful and generous King Bharata who was also a saintly devotee of Lord Sri Krsna. King Bharata was not merely the ruler of one country, but he was the emperor of the entire world!

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, once, King Rsabhadeva, the illustrious father of the famous Bharata Maharaja, sat down with His one hundred sons to teach them the ultimate purpose of human life. He told them not to waste their vital energy enjoying their bodies. He explained that among the millions of varieties of living entities, only the human being can perform penances and austerities to attain permanent divine pleasure in the unlimited dimension of the soul.

Living a life in pursuit of sense gratification, said the King, means wasting the human potential by simply imitating the dogs and hogs who eat stool in the street. Attachment to sex life, which is the main illusion of this world, binds one to the misconception of “I” and “mine”. One thus becomes trapped in the prison house of the material world to suffer the miseries of repeated birth and death.

King Rsabhadeva stressed that human life is especially meant for the revival of our relationship with the Supreme Lord Krsna, and to achieve this, all kinds of austerities and penances should be accepted. In twenty seven beautifully composed Sanskrit verses, King Rsabhadeva taught his sons precisely how to attain peace, happiness, and the perfection of life. He was both a master of brevity and profundity. Indeed, true eloquence is essential truth spoken concisely.

“Purpose of Life” is a series of compiled lectures of Srila Gopala Krsna Goswami on teachings of Lord Rsabhadeva. In this book Srila Gopala Krsna Goswami expand these verses in the context of the modern paradigm. He expertly shows how the “so-called” modern man is actually nothing more than a polished animal. The timeless teachings of King Rsabhadeva are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago in the land of Bharata. In the words of the author, “Here we are living in twentieth century Uzbekistan, yet on all sides we see everyone engaged in sense gratification.” In this regard, Srila Prabhupada said, “The instructions of Rsabhadeva are very essential at the present moment” (Srimad-Bhagavatam purport). King Rsabhadeva set the ideal example of what He Himself defined as a true guru, father, or teacher. Parents must not only train their children to be educated and cultured, but also teach them how to realize God, and go back home, back to Godhead. Reading and following these beneficial instructions one can discover the real purpose of life and advance on the path of devotion.

We sincerely thank Vidura Priya Dasa, Gopeswara Dasa, Ananda Dasa, and Rishikumara Dasa for editing and proofreading. We also thank Sanatana Chaitanya Dasa and Anuttama Hari dasa who helped in various ways in printing of this book.

I also thank Bhakta Sushant Pati for arranging the design and layout, and Shyamkripa Devi Dasi for typing this book.

We pray to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Nitai Gaur Sunder, and our worshipable deities Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi to bless them all with pure devotion.