What is the significance of the human body in the pursuit of Self-knowledge?

Chapter 8 teaches that the human body is an unparalleled vehicle for achieving the four great goals of life (purusharthas). Although the body and its senses are adjuncts that can lead the Soul to falsely identify as a doer, they are also the necessary tools for spiritual practice. The text strongly advises one to strive for Self-knowledge before the body perishes, making the most of every moment of human birth. By practicing one's own duty (svadharma) and contemplating the Self and non-Self, a person can use the human form to attain the state of Narayan and find ultimate satisfaction.