That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: parābhavas tāvad abodha-jātaḥ (SB 5.5.5). Abodha-jāta means the embodiment of ignorance. We do not know so many things. In our own body . . . I am claiming, "It is my body," but I do not know how the body is working, how we are taking food, how it is being transferred into different secretions, then the secretion is going to the heart. And we know something by the medical science, but it is not perfect. Medical science fails. Although I am claiming . . . I do not know, at least. The physician may know, the medical man may know, but I am claiming, "I am this body," but I do not know how it is working. Therefore we are all abodha-jāta. Abodha-jāta.
Therefore our business is to inquire about the truth. This is explained in this verse, jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. This human life should be engaged for inquiring about the truth, anything, either of this body or of this material nature or about God, our interrelationship—so many things there have to be known. Therefore in this verse it is said that jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. It is not our only business that simply to eat, sleep and have sex life and defend. That is not our only business. That may be the business of the cats and dogs, but human life is not meant for that purpose. The civilization should be so molded that people will have the chance to think soberly about the truth of life. That is the perf . . . that is called tattva-jijñāsā.
For this purpose the Vedic civilization is perfect. Vedic civilization is for everyone, but nowadays it is said that it is for the Indians or for the Hindus or . . . but actually, it is meant for everyone. Just like here it is said, jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. It is everyone's duty to inquire about the Absolute Truth. Where is the question of Hindu, Muslim or this or that? Truth is truth. "Two plus two equal to four," it is accepted by the Hindus, Muslim, Christian and everyone. Science is science. So therefore we should be interested about inquiring. This is the confirmation in every scripture; in the Bhāgavata also. This is also Bhāgavata.
In Bhāgavata, in another place it is said, tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam (SB 11.3.21): "Those who are actually inquisitive to know the value of life, the Absolute Truth, he must approach a guru." Here also it is said, jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. Jijñāsā means somebody in inferior position inquires from the superior man. Then there is jijñāsā. Just like a child inquires from his father. Intelligent child always inquires, "Father, what is this? What is this? What is this?" and father explains. In this way the child gets experience. So similarly, here it is said that jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā. Every human being . . . it is human being. Jīvasya, the general meaning is all living entity, but all living entity cannot inquire. That is not possible. The cats and dogs, they cannot inquire. There are 8,400,000 species of life, out of which this human form of life is competent to inquire about the Truth. Therefore here it is said, jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ.