AÜ`m` - 1

{ZJ_H$ënVamoJ©{bVo \$b§
ewH$_wImX_¥VÐdg§`wV_² Ÿ&
{ndV ^mJdV§ ga_mb`§
_whþahmo a{gH$m ^w{d ^mdwH$m:Ÿ&& 3Ÿ&&

ewH$XodOr Zo H$hm h¡ {H$ `h lr_ØmJdV ~oXê$n H$ënH¥$j H$m nH$m hþAm \$b h¡Ÿ& lr ewH$Xod ê$n VmoVo Ho$ (`h à{gÕ h¡ {H$ VmoVo H$m H$m`m hþAm \$b A{YH$ _rR>m hmoVm h¡) _wIH$m gå~ÝY hmo OmZo go `h na_mZÝX_`r gwYm go n[anyU© hmo J`m h¡Ÿ& Bg \$b _| {N>bH$m, JwR>br Am{X Ë`mÁ` A§e V{ZH$ ^r Zht h¡Ÿ& `h _y{V©_mZ ag h¡Ÿ& O~ VH$ eara _| MoVZm aho, V~ VH$ Bg {Xì` ^JdÐg H$m {ZaÝVa ~ma~ma nmZ H$aVo ahmoŸ& `h n¥Ïdr na hr gwb^ h¡Ÿ&& 3Ÿ&&

" Sri Sukdevji Said:-O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures, It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice already relishable for all, including liberated souls.[3]

AÜ`m` - 2
gyVOr Zo H$hm :--- Y_©H$m \$b h¡ _mojŸ& CgH$s gmW©H$Vm AW©àm{á _| Zht h¡Ÿ& AW© Ho$db Y_© Ho$ {b`o h¡Ÿ& ^moJ {dbmg CgH$m \$b Zht _mZm J`m h¡Ÿ& ^moJ{dbmg H$m \$b BpÝÐ`m| H$mo V¥á H$aZm Zht h¡, CgH$m à`moOZ h¡ Ho$db OrdZ-{Zdm©hŸ& OrdZ H$m \$b ^r VÎd{Okmgm h¡Ÿ& ~hþV H$_© H$aHo$ ñdJm©{X àmá H$aZm CgH$m \$b Zht h¡Ÿ&& 10Ÿ&&

"Sri Sutaji said:-Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.[10]

VÎddoÎmm bmoJ kmVm Am¡a ko` Ho$ ^oX go a{hV IÊS> A{ÛVr` g{ƒXmZÝX ñdê$n kmZ H$mo hr VÎd H$hVo h¢Ÿ& CgrH$mo H$moB© ~«÷, H$moB© na_mË_m Am¡a H$moB© ^JdmZ² Ho$ Zm_go nwH$maVo h¢Ÿ&& 11Ÿ&&

Learned transecndentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan.[11] 

lÕmbw _w{ZOZ ^mJdV-ldU go àmá kmZ-d¡am½``wº$ ^{º$ go AnZo öX`_| Cg na_ VÎdê$n na_mË_m H$m AZw^d H$aVo h¢Ÿ&& 12Ÿ&&

The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedanta-sruti.[12]

`hr H$maU h¡ {H$ AnZo-AnZo dU© VWm Aml_Ho$ AZwgma _Zwî` Omo Y_©H$m AZwð>mZ H$aVo h¢, CgH$s nyU© {g{Õ Bgr _| h¡ {H$ ^JdmZ² àgÞ hm|Ÿ&& 13Ÿ&&

Vñ_mXoHo$Z _Zgm ^JdmZ² gmËdVm§ n{V:Ÿ&
lmoVì`: H$s{V©Vì`íM Ü`o`: nyÁ`íM {ZË`XmŸ&& 14Ÿ&&
Bg{b`o EH$mJ« _Zgo ^º$dËgb ^JdmZH$m hr {ZË`-{ZaÝVa ldU, H$sV©Z, Ü`mZ Am¡a AmamYZ H$aZm Mm{h`oŸ&& 14Ÿ&&

Therefore, with one-pointed attention , one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.[14]

H$_m] H$s Jm§R> ~‹S>r H$‹S>r h¡Ÿ& {dMmadmZ² nwéf ^JdmZ² Ho$ {MÝVZ H$s Vbdma go Cg Jm±R> H$mo H$mQ> S>mbVo h¢Ÿ& V~ ^bm, Eogm H$m¡Z _Zwî` hmoJm, Omo ^JdmZ² H$s brbmH$Wm _| ào_ Z H$aoŸ&& 15Ÿ&&

gyVOr Zo H$hm --- àH¥${V Ho$ VrZ JwU h¢ --- gÎd, aO Am¡a V_Ÿ& BZH$mo ñdrH$ma H$aHo$ Bg g§gma H$s pñW{V, CËn{Îm Am¡a àb` Ho$ {b`o EH$ A{ÛVr` na_mË_m hr {dîUw, ~«÷m Am¡a ê$Ð --- `o VrZ Zm_ J«hU H$aVo h¢Ÿ& {\$a ^r _Zwî`m| H$m na_ H$ë`mU Vmo gÎdJwU ñdrH$ma H$aZodmbo lrh[a go hr hmoVm h¡Ÿ&& 23Ÿ&&
The transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance and just for the material world’s creation, maintenance and destruction. He accepts the three Qualitative forms of Brahma, Visnu and Siva. Of these three, all human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Visnu, the from of the quality of goodness.[23]

gyVOr Zo H$hm --- Omo bJ Bg g§gma gmJa go nma OmZm MmhVo h¢, do `Ú{n {H$gr H$s {ZÝXm Vmo Zht H$aVo, Z {H$gr _| Xmof hr XoIVo h¢, {\$a^r Kmoaê$ndmbo - V_m|JwUr - aOmoJwUr ^¡adm{X ^yVn{V`m|H$s CnmgZm Z H$aHo$ gÎdJwUr {dîUw ^JdmZ² Am¡a CZHo$ A§e --- H$bm ñdê$nm| H$m hr ^OZ H$aVo h¢Ÿ&& 26Ÿ&&

naÝVw {OgH$m ñd^md aOmoJwUr AWdm V_moJwUr h¡, do YZ Eoœ`© Am¡a g§VmZ H$s H$m_Zm go ^yV{nVa Am¡a àOmn{V`m| H$s CngZm H$aVo h¢; Š`m|{H$ BZ bmoJm| H$ ñd^md CZ (^yVm{X) go {_bVm-OwbVm hmoVm h¡Ÿ&& 27Ÿ&&

The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second.[32]

do hr gånyU© bmoH$m| H$s aMZm H$aVo h¢ Am¡a XodVm, new-njr, _Zwî` Am{X `mo{Z`m| _| brbmdVa J«hU H$aHo$ gÎdJwU Ho$ Ûmam Ordm| H$m nmbZ-nmofU H$aVo h¢Ÿ&& 34Ÿ&&

Thus the Lord of the universes maintains all Planets inhabited by demigods, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.[34]

AÜ`m` - 3
gyVOr H$hVo h¢ --- g¥{ï> Ho$ Am{X _| ^JdmZ² Zo bmoH$m| Ho$ {Z_m©U H$s BÀN>m H$sŸ& BÀN>m hmoVo hr CÝhm|Zo hÎmËd Am{X go {ZînÞ nwéfê$n J«hU {H$`mŸ& Cg_| Xg BpÝÐ`m§, EH$ _Z Am¡a nm§M ^yV --- `o gmobh H$bm`| WtŸ&& 1Ÿ&&

"Shri Sutaji Said:-In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the purusa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the materials creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the material universe.[1]

CÝhm|Zo H$maU-Ob _| e`Z H$aVo hþE O~ `moJ-{ZÐm H$m {dñVma {H$`m, V~ CZHo$ Zm{^gamoda _| go EH$ H$_b àJQ> hþAm Am¡a Cg H$_b go àOmn{V`m| Ho$ Am{X n{V ~«÷mOr CËnÞ hþEŸ&& 2Ÿ&&

A part of the purusa lies down within the water of the universe, from the navel lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this stem, Braham , the master of all engineers in the universe, become manifest.[2]

^JdmZ² Ho$ Cg {damQ¯>nHo$ A§J-àË`§J _| hr g_ñV bmoH$m| H$s H$ënZm H$s J`r h¡, dh ^JdmZ² H$m {dewÕ gÎd_` loð> ê$n h¡Ÿ&& 3Ÿ&&

It is believed that all universal planetary systems are situated on the extensive body of the purusa. His body is eternally in spiritual existence par excellence.[3]

Chapter:5

AÜ`m` - 5
ZmaXOr Zo ì`mgOr go H$hm --- AmnZo ^JdmZ² Ho$ {Z_©b `e H$m JmZ àm`: Zht {H$`mŸ& _oar Eogr _mÝ`Vm h¡ {H$ --- {Oggo ^JdmZ² g§Vwï> Zht hmoVo, dh emó `m kmZ AYyam h¡Ÿ&& 8Ÿ&&

" Shri Naradaji Said to Vyasjee:-You have not actually broadcast the sublime and spotless glories of the Personality of Godhead. This philosophy which does not satisfy the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless.[8]

Omo _Zwî` AnZo Y_©H$m n[aË`mJ H$aHo$ ^JdmZ² Ho$ MaU-H$_bm| H$m ^OZ-godZ H$aVm h¡ --- ^OZ n[an¹$ hmo OmZo na Vmo ~mV hr Š`m h¡ --- `{X Bggo nyd© hr CgH$m ^OZ Ny>Q> Om` Vmo Š`m H$ht ^r CgH$m H$moB© A_§Jb hmo gH$Vm h¡? naÝVw Omo ^JdmZ² H$m ^OZ Zht H$aVo Am¡a Ho$db ñdY_©H$m nmbZ H$aVo h¢Ÿ& CÝh| H$m¡Z-gm bm^ {_bVm h¡Ÿ&& 17Ÿ&&

~w{Õ_mZ² _Zwî` H$mo Mm{h`o {H$ dh Cg dñVwH$s àm{áHo$ {b`o à`ËZ H$ao, Omo {VZHo$ go boH$a ~«÷m n`©ÝV g_ñV D±$Mr-ZrMr `mo{Z`m| _| H$_m]Ho$ \$bñdê$n AmZo-OmZo na ^r ñd`§ àmá Zht hmoVrŸ& g§gma Ho$ {df`-gwI Vmo, O¡go {~Zm Moï>m Ho$ Xw:I {_bVo h¢ d¡go hr, H$_©Ho$ \$bê$n _| A{M³Ë`J{V g_` Ho$ \o$a go g~H$mo gd©Ì ñd^md go hr {_b OmVo h¢Ÿ&& 18Ÿ&&

ZmaXOr Zo H$hm --- gË`g§H$ën ì`mgOr! nwéfmoÎm_ ^JdmZ² lrH¥$îU Ho$ à{V g_ñV H$_m]H$mo g_{n©V H$a XoZm hr g§gma Ho$ VrZm| Vmnm| H$s EH$_mÌ Am¡f{Y h¡, `h ~mV _¢Zo AmnH$mo ~Vbm XrŸ&& 32Ÿ&&

O Brahmana Vyasadeva, it is decided by the learned that that best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one’s activities to the services of the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead[Sri Krsna].[32]

àm{U`m| H$mo {Og nXmW© Ho$ godZ go Omo amoJ hmo OmVm h¡, dhr nXmW© {M{H$Ëgm{d{Y Ho$ AZwgma à`moJ H$aZo na Š`m Cg amoJ H$mo Xya Zht H$aVm?Ÿ&& 33Ÿ&&

Does not a thing, applied therapeutically, cure a disease which was caused by that very same thing?[33]

Bgr àH$ma `Ú{n g^r H$_© _Zwî`m| H$mo OÝ_-_¥Ë`wê$n g§gma Ho$ MH«$ _| S>mbZodmbo h¢, VWm{n O~ do ^JdmZ² H$mo g_{n©V H$a {X`o OmVo h¢, V~ CZH$m H$_©nZm hr Zï> hmo OmVm h¡Ÿ&& 34Ÿ&&

Thus when all a man’s activities are dedicated to the services of the Lord, those very activities which caused  his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of work.[34]

AÜ`m` - 8
Hw$ÝVr Zo ^JdmZ² lrH¥$îU go àmW©Zm H$s --- OJÒwamo! h_mao OrdZ_| gd©Xm nX-nX na {dn{Îm`m§ AmVr ah|; Š`m|{H$ {dn{Îm`m| _| hr {ZpíMV ê$n go AmnHo$ Xe©Z hþAm H$aVo h¢ Am¡a AmnHo$ Xe©Z hmo OmZo na {\$a OÝ_-_wË`w Ho$ M¸$a _| Zht AmZm n‹S>VmŸ&& 25Ÿ&&

" Kunti offered prayers to Shri Krisna:-I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see you again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths[25]

D±$Mo Hw$b _| OÝ_, Eoœ`©, {dÚm Am¡a gån{Îm Ho$ H$maU {OgH$m K_ÊS> ~‹T> ahm h¡, dh _Zwî` Vmo AmnH$m Zm_ ^r Zht bo gH$Vm; Š`m|{H$ Amn Vmo CZ bmoJm|H$mo Xe©Z XoVo h¢, Omo AqH$MZ h¢Ÿ&& 26Ÿ&&

My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but not only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is no the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.[26]

AÜ`m` - 9
^rî_ {nVm_h nmÊS>dm| H$s A{à` KQ>ZmAm| go XwIr hmoH$a H$hVo h¢ --- _¢ g_PVm hÿ± {H$ Vw_ bmoJm|{H$ OrdZ _| `o Omo A{à` KQ>ZmE§ K{Q>V hþB© h¢, do g~ CÝhtH$s brbm h¢Ÿ&& 14Ÿ&&

" Feeling about the tribulationsa of the Pandavas, Bhismadeve says: In my opinion, this is all due to inevitable time, under whose control everyone in every planet is carried.[14]

Zht Vmo Ohm± gmjmV² Y_©nwÌ amOm `w{Y{ð>a hm|, JXmYmar ^r_goZ Am¡a YZwYm©ar AOw©Z ajm H$m H$m_ H$a aho hm|, JmÊS>rd YZwf hmo Am¡a ñd`§ lrH¥$îU gwöX hm| --- ^bm, dhm± ^r {dn{Îm H$s gå^mdZm h¡?Ÿ&& 15Ÿ&&

O how wonderful is the influence of inevitable time. It is irreversible-otherwise , how can there be reverses in the presence of King Yudhisthira, the son of the demigod controlling religion; Bhima, the great fighter with a club; the great bowman Arjuna with his mighty weapon Gandiva; and above all, the Lord, the direct well wisher of the Pandavas?[15]

AÜ`m` - 15
AOw©Z Zo `w{Y{ð>a go `Xwd§{e`m| Ho$ nañna b‹S> _Z {_Q>Zo Ho$ àg§J _| H$hm --- dmñVd _| `h gd©e{º$_mZ² ^JdmZ² H$s hr brbm h¡ {H$ g§gma Ho$ àmUr nañna EH$-Xygao H$m nmbZ-nmofU ^r H$aVo h¢ Am¡a EH$-Xygao H$mo _ma ^r S>mbVo h¢Ÿ&& 24Ÿ&&

" In reference to the battle fought among the person of Yadu dynasty, Arjun said to Yudhuisthira:-Factually this is all due to the superme will of the Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes people kill one another, and at other times they protect one another.[24]

{Og àH$ma ObMam| _| ~‹S>o OÝVw N>moQ>m|H$mo, ~bdmZ² Xw~bm|H$mo Ed§ ~‹S>o Am¡a ~bdmZ² ^r nañna EH$-Xygao H$mo Im OmVo h¢, Cgr àH$ma A{Ve` ~br Am¡a ~‹S>o `Xwd§{e`m| Ho$ Ûmam ^JdmZ² Zo Xygao amOmAm|H$m g§hma H$am`mŸ& VËdíMmV² `Xwd§{e`m| Ho$ Ûmam hr EH$ go Xygao `Xwd§er H$m Zme H$amHo$ nyU©ê$n go n¥Ïdr H$m ^ma CVma {X`mŸ&& 25-26Ÿ&&

AÜ`m` - 17
eyÐ go CËnr{‹S>V Jmo_mVm H$mo gå~mo{YV H$aVo hþE amOm nar{jV² Zo H$hm --- {Og amOmHo$ amÁ`_| Xwï>m| Ho$ CnÐd go gmar àOm ÌñV ahVr h¡, Cg _Vdmbo amOm H$s H$s{V©, Am`w, Eoœ`© Am¡a nabmoH$ Zï> hmo OmVo h¡Ÿ& amOmAm| H$m na_ Y_© `hr h¡ {H$ do Xw:{I`m| H$m Xw:I Xya H$a|Ÿ&& 10Ÿ&&

" Addressing the sorrowful  mother cow, the king, Pariksit said:-The King’s good name, duration of life and good rebirth vanish when all kinds of living beings are terrified by miscreants in his kingdom. It is certainly the prime duty of the king to subdue first the sufferings of those who suffer[10]Y_© Zo _hmamO nar{jV² go H$hm --- Omo bmoJ {H$gr ^r àH$ma Ho$ Û¡V H$mo ñdrH$ma Zht H$aVo, doAnZo-AmnH$mo hr AnZo Xw:I H$m H$maU ~bVmVo h¢Ÿ& H$moB© àmaãY H$mo H$maU ~VbmVo h¢, Vmo H$moB© H$_© H$moŸ& Hw$N> bmoJ ñd^md H$mo; Vmo Hw$N> bmoJ B©œa H$mo Xw:I H$m H$maU _mZVo h¢Ÿ&& 19Ÿ&&

" The God Of religion said to Maharaja Pariksit:-Some of the philosophers, who deny all sorts of duality, declare that one’s own self is responsible for his personal happiness and distress. Others say that superhuman powers are responsible, while yet others say that activity is responsible and the gross materialists maintain that nature is the ultimate cause.[19]

{H$Ýht-{H$Ýht H$m Eogm ^r {ZíM` h¡ {H$ Xw:I H$m H$maU Z Vmo V_© Ho$ Ûmam OmZm Om gH$Vm h¡ Am¡a Z dmUr Ho$ Ûmam ~Vbm`m Om gH$Vm h¡Ÿ& amOf}! A~ BZ_| H$m¡Z-gm _V R>rH$ h¡ `h Amn AnZr ~w{Õ go hr {dMma H$s{OEŸ&& 20Ÿ&&

amOm nar{jV² Zo Y_© Ho$ VÎd g_PmVo hþE d¥f^ Ho$ ê$n _| ñd`§ Y_© go H$hm --- gË``wJ _| AmnHo$ Mma MaU Wo --- Vn, n{dÌVm, X`m Am¡a gË`Ÿ& Bg g_` AY_© Ho$ A§e --- Jd©, Amg{º$ Am¡a _X go VrZ MaU Zï> hmo MwHo$ h¢Ÿ&& 24Ÿ&&

" King Pariksit said to Vrishabh explaining the elements of religion:- In the age of Satya[ truthfulness] your four legs were established by the four principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But it appears that there of your legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication.[24]

A~ AmnH$m Mm¡Wm MaU Ho$db "gË`' hr ~M ahm h¡Ÿ& Cgr Ho$ ~b na Amn Or aho h¢, AgË` go nwï> hþAm `h AY_© ê$n H${b`wJ Cgo ^r J«mg H$a boZm MmhVm h¡Ÿ&& 25Ÿ&&

You are now standing on one leg only, which is your truthfulness, and you are somehow or other hobbling along. But quarrel personified[Kali], flourishing by deceit, is also trying to destroy that leg.[25]

AÜ`m` - 18
gyVOr Zo H$hm --- ^«_Z Ho$ g_mZ gmaJ«mhr g_«mQ²> nar{jV² H${b`wJ go H$moB© Ûof Zht aIVo Wo; Š`m|{H$ Bg_| `h EH$ ~hþV ~‹S>m JwU h¡ {H$ nwÊ`H$_© Vmo g§H$ën_mÌ go hr \$br^yV hmo OmVo h¢, naÝVw nmnH$_© H$m \$b earago H$aZo na hr {_bVm h¡, g§H$ën_mÌ go ZhtŸ&& 7Ÿ&&

" Shri Sutaji said:-Maharaja Pariksit was a realist, like the bees who only accept the essence [of a flower]. He knew perfectly well that in this age of Kali, auspicious things produce goods effects immediately, whereas inauspicious acts must be actually performed[to render effects.]. So he was never envious of the personality of Kali.[7].

gyVOr Zo H$hm --- ~«÷mOr Zo ^JdmZ² Ho$ MaUm| H$m àjmbZ H$aZo Ho$ {b`o Omo Ob g_{n©V {H$`m Wm, dhr CZHo$ MaUZIm| go {ZH$bH$a J§JmOr Ho$ ê$n_| àdm{hV hþAmŸ& `h Ob _hmXodOr g{hV gmao OJV² H$mo n{dÌ H$aVm h¡Ÿ& Eogr AdñWm _| {Ì^wdZ _| lrH¥$îU Ho$ A{V[aº$ "^JdmZ²' eãX H$m Xygam Am¡a Š`m AW© hmo gH$Vm h¡Ÿ&& 21Ÿ&&

Who can be worthy of the name of the Supreme Lord but the Personality of Godhead Sri Krisna? Brahmaji collected the water emanating from the nails of His feet in order to award it to Lord Siva as a worshipful welcome. This very water [the Ganges] is purifying the whole universe, including Lord Siva.[21]

AÜ`m` - 19
amOm nar{jV² Zo H$hm --- _¢ Amn ~«m÷Um| Ho$ MaUm| _| àUm_ H$aHo$ nwZ: `hr àmW©Zm H$aVm hÿ± {H$ _wPo H$_©de Mmho {Og `mo{Z_| OÝ_ boZm n‹S>o, ^JdmZ² lrH¥$îU Ho$ MaUm| _| _oam AZwamJ hmo, CZHo$ MaUm{lV _hmË_mAm| go {deof àr{V hmo Am¡a OJV² Ho$ g_ñV àm{U`m| Ho$ à{V _oar EH$ gr _¡Ìr ahoŸ& Eogm Amn Amerdm©X Xr{O`oŸ&& 16Ÿ&&

" King Pariksit said:-Again, offering obeisances unto all you brahmanas, I pray that if I should again take my birth in the material world I will have complete attachment to the unlimited Lord  Krsna, association with his devotees and friendly relations with all living beings.[16]

amOm nar{jV² Zo nyN>m --- Amn g^r {dÛmZ² nañna {dMma H$aHo$ ~VbmB`o {H$ g~Ho$ {b`o g~ AdñWmAm| _| Am¡a {deof H$aHo$ Wmo‹S>o hr g_` _| _aZodmbo nwéfm|Ho$ {b`o AÝV:H$aU Am¡a earago H$aZo`mo½` {dewÕ H$_© H$m¡Z gm h¡Ÿ&&& 24Ÿ&&

" King Pariksit asked: O trustworthy brahmanas, I now ask you about my immediate duty. Please, after proper deliberation, tell me of the unalloyed duty of everyone in all circumstances, and specifically of those who are just about to die.[24]