Text 3

One must first give up false identification with this material body (dehaabhimāna). The Mukunda-mālā-stotram (37) states:

इदं शरीरं शत-सन्धि-जर्जरं पतत्य् अवश्यं परिणाम-पेशलम्
किम् औषधं पृच्छसि मूढ दुर्मते निरामयं कृष्ण-रसायनं पिब

idaṃ śarīraṃ śata-sandhi-jarjaraṃ pataty avaśyaṃ pariṇāma-peśalam
kim auṣadhaṃ pṛcchasi mūḍha durmate nirāmayaṃ kṛṣṇa-rasāyanaṃ piba

This frail body, which is made of five elements and connected by hundreds of joints, is certain to decline. Consequently, the body will be burned to ashes or will become food for worms and transformed into excrement. O foolish and wicked mind, you have decorated such a disgusting body with a senseless attachment. The elixir of śrī kṛṣṇa-nāma is the only powerful medicine to cure this disease of material existence. You should constantly drink it by incessantly chanting Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s holy name.

śata sandhi-jara-jara, tava ei kalevara,
patana haibe eka-dina

भस्म, कृमि, विष्ठा ह’बे, सकलेर घृण्य तबे,
इहाते ममता अर्वाचीन

bhasma, kṛmi, viṣṭhā ha’be, sakalera ghṛṇya tabe,
ihāte mamatā arvācīna

ore mana, śuna mora e satya-vacana,
e rogera mahauṣadhi, kṛṣṇa-nāma niravadhi,
nirāmaya kṛṣṇa-rasāyana

Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:

One should endeavour to serve Śrī Govinda and not painstakingly try to protect this short-lived temporary body. No matter how much one tries to protect this body, which is made of five elements, its destruction is inevitable. Therefore this Text says, “O wicked mind, give up performing aṣṭāṅga-yoga, physical exercises and so forth to keep this body fit, and only drink the nectar of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. Only this nectar can liberate you from the cycle of birth and death. By the mercy of the holy name, you will attain the eternal abode of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and a transcendental body suitable for rendering service there. You will then be engaged in your eternal service (nitya-sevā ).”