Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.14

tavapy etarhi kauravya

saptaham jivitavadhih

upakalpaya tat sarvam

tavad yat samparayikam

SYNONYMS

tava -- your; api -- also; etarhi -- therefore; kauravya -- O one born in the family of Kuru; saptaham -- seven days; jivita -- duration of life; avadhih -- up to the limit of; upakalpaya -- get them performed; tat -- those; sarvam -- all; tavat -- so long; yat -- which are; samparayikam -- rituals for the next life.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Parikshit, now your duration of life is limited to seven more days, so during this time you can perform all those rituals which are needed for the best purpose of your next life.

PURPORT

Sukadeva Gosvami, after citing the example of Maharaja Khatvanga, who prepared himself for the next life within a very short time, encouraged Maharaja Parikshit by saying that since he still had seven days at his disposal, he could easily take advantage of the time to prepare himself for the next life. Indirectly, the Gosvami told Maharaja Parikshit that be should take shelter of the sound representation of the Lord for the seven days still remaining in the duration of his life and thus get himself liberated. In other words, everyone can best prepare himself for the next life simply by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, as it was recited by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Parikshit. The rituals are not formal, but there are also some favorable conditions, which are required to be carried out, as instructed hereafter.