Q.  My friend asked a question ‘Did the egg come first or the hen?’ How can I answer him? Please give me reference (of some book etc.).

A.  This question has bugged humanity since a long time. Trying to solve this
question has wasted a lot of time of many philosophers. All they can do is
speculate. There is no way to ascertain the facts with surety.

Better is to try to solve the real problems of life as identified by
advanced spiritualists–birth, old age, disease and death. If we can solve
these problems, we really stand to gain eternal life free from all troubles
and all questions.

Life in the womb for nine months is very constricting and painful. Even
birth causes the child to cry out loudly. Death certainly is painful because
it causes us to leave behind all our cherished people and possessions
without a prior notice. Imagine being suddenly asked to vacate your home and
leave behind your family by some powerful people who come to your home
without informing you (they even tell you that you are never going to see
your loved ones and your possesseions again). About old age and disease, we
all have got practical experience every day.

So, it is advisable to utilise our valuable time to inquire into solving
these problems rather than the problem like that mentioned by your friend.

You may ask him to refer to Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.22.6 on www.vedabase.net