1. Be more serious than Sukadeva or Pariksit

    We are not so serious, because we are thinking that "We shall live for seven millions of years, so let me go slowly. Better utilize the time by sleeping." That is our position. If you have got some time, "Let me take this opportunity by sleeping, not by reading the books." So if you do not become serious, then it will take many, many years. But we should be serious more than Sukadeva or Pariksit Maharaja. Pariksit Maharaja had at least time limit seven days, but we do not know whether we will live again seven minutes. Any moment your heart can failure.

    …So our life is so jeopardized. Any moment I can die. That's a fact. If you don't take seriously like that, that "Any moment, I can die." So Pariksit Maharaja had the opportunity of hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam for seven days, so I do not know whether I have opportunity for reading Srimad-Bhagavatam for seven minutes. So let me read it very seriously. That should be our attitude. Not that, "Seven… Oh, Pariksit Maharaja was given seven days notice. Oh, I have no such notice. I may live for seven millions of years." That is our disease.

    (From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.25 — June 23, 1972, Los Angeles)