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CHAPTER TWO

Ajāmila Delivered by the Viṣṇudūtas

In this chapter the messengers from Vaikuṇṭha explain to the Yamadūtas the glories of chanting the holy name of the Lord. The Viṣṇudūtas said, “Now impious acts are being performed even in an assembly of devotees, for a person who is not punishable is going to be punished in the assembly of Yamarāja. The mass of people are helpless and must depend upon the government for their safety and security, but if the government takes advantage of this to harm the citizens, where will they go? We see perfectly that Ajāmila should not be punished, although you are attempting to take him to Yamarāja for punishment.”

It was due to Ajāmila’s glorifying the holy name of the Supreme Lord that he was not punishable. The Viṣṇudūtas explained this as follows: “Simply by once chanting the holy name of Nārāyaṇa, this brāhmaṇa has become free from the reactions of sinful life. Indeed, he has been freed not only from the sins of this life, but from the sins of many, many thousands of other lives. He has already undergone true atonement for all his sinful actions. If one atones according to the directions of the śāstras, one does not actually become free from sinful reactions, but if one chants the holy name of the Lord, even a glimpse of such chanting can immediately free one from all sins. Chanting the glories of the Lord’s holy name awakens all good fortune. Therefore there is no doubt that Ajāmila, being completely free from all sinful reactions, should not be punished by Yamarāja.”

As they were saying this, the Viṣṇudūtas released Ajāmila from the ropes of the Yamadūtas and left for their own abode. The brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, however, offered his respectful obeisances to the Viṣṇudūtas. He could understand how fortunate he was to have chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa at the end of his life. Indeed, he could realize the full significance of this good fortune. Having thoroughly understood the discussion between the Yamadūtas and the Viṣṇudūtas, he became a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He lamented very much for how very sinful he had been, and he condemned himself again and again.

Finally, because of his association with the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila, his original consciousness aroused, gave up everything and went to Hardwar, where he engaged in devotional service without deviation, always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus the Viṣṇudūtas went there, seated him on a golden throne and took him away to Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

In summary, although the sinful Ajāmila meant to call his son, the holy name of Lord Nārāyaṇa, even though chanted in the preliminary stage, nāmābhāsa, was able to give him liberation. Therefore one who chants the holy name of the Lord with faith and devotion is certainly exalted. He is protected even in his material, conditional life.

Devanagari

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच
एवं ते भगवद्दूता यमदूताभिभाषितम् ।
उपधार्याथ तान् राजन् प्र्रत्याहुर्नयकोविदा: ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
evaṁ te bhagavad-dūtā
yamadūtābhibhāṣitam
upadhāryātha tān rājan
pratyāhur naya-kovidāḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, said; evam — thus; te — they; bhagavat-dūtāḥ — the servants of Lord Viṣṇu; yamadūta — by the servants of Yamarāja; abhibhāṣitam — what was spoken; upadhārya — hearing; atha — then; tān — unto them; rājan — O King; pratyāhuḥ — replied properly; naya-kovidāḥ — being conversant in good arguments or good logic.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, the servants of Lord Viṣṇu are always very expert in logic and arguments. After hearing the statements of the Yamadūtas, they replied as follows.

Devanagari

श्रीविष्णुदूता ऊचु:
अहो कष्टं धर्मद‍ृशामधर्म: स्पृशते सभाम् ।
यत्रादण्ड्येष्वपापेषु दण्डो यैर्ध्रियते वृथा ॥ २ ॥

Text

śrī-viṣṇudūtā ūcuḥ
aho kaṣṭaṁ dharma-dṛśām
adharmaḥ spṛśate sabhām
yatrādaṇḍyeṣv apāpeṣu
daṇḍo yair dhriyate vṛthā

Synonyms

śrī-viṣṇudūtāḥ ūcuḥ — the Viṣṇudūtas said; aho — alas; kaṣṭam — how painful it is; dharma-dṛśām — of persons interested in maintaining religion; adharmaḥ — irreligion; spṛśate — is affecting; sabhām — the assembly; yatra — wherein; adaṇḍyeṣu — upon persons not to be punished; apāpeṣu — who are sinless; daṇḍaḥ — punishment; yaiḥ — by whom; dhriyate — is being allotted; vṛthā — unnecessarily.

Translation

The Viṣṇudūtas said: Alas, how painful it is that irreligion is being introduced into an assembly where religion should be maintained. Indeed, those in charge of maintaining the religious principles are needlessly punishing a sinless, unpunishable person.

Purport

The Viṣṇudūtas accused the Yamadūtas of violating the religious principles by attempting to drag Ajāmila to Yamarāja for punishment. Yamarāja is the officer appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to judge religious and irreligious principles and to punish people who are irreligious. However, if completely sinless people are punished, the entire assembly of Yamarāja is contaminated. This principle applies not only in the assembly of Yamarāja, but throughout human society also.

In human society, properly maintaining religious principles is the duty of the king’s court or the government. Unfortunately, in this yuga, Kali-yuga, the religious principles are tampered with, and the government cannot properly judge who is to be punished and who is not. It is said that in the Kali-yuga if one cannot spend money in court, one cannot get justice. Indeed, in courts of justice it is often found that magistrates are bribed for favorable judgments. Sometimes religious men who preach the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement for the benefit of the entire populace are arrested and harassed by the police and courts. The Viṣṇudūtas, who are Vaiṣṇavas, lamented for these very regrettable facts. Because of their spiritual compassion for all the fallen souls, Vaiṣṇavas go out to preach according to the standard method of all religious principles, but unfortunately, because of the influence of Kali-yuga, Vaiṣṇavas who have dedicated their lives to preaching the glories of the Lord are sometimes harassed and punished by courts on false charges of disturbing the peace.

Devanagari

प्रजानां पितरो ये च शास्तार: साधव: समा: ।
यदि स्यात्तेषु वैषम्यं कं यान्ति शरणं प्रजा: ॥ ३ ॥

Text

prajānāṁ pitaro ye ca
śāstāraḥ sādhavaḥ samāḥ
yadi syāt teṣu vaiṣamyaṁ
kaṁ yānti śaraṇaṁ prajāḥ

Synonyms

prajānām — of the citizens; pitaraḥ — protectors, guardians (kings or government servants); ye — they who; ca — and; śāstāraḥ — give instructions concerning law and order; sādhavaḥ — endowed with all good qualities; samāḥ — equal to everyone; yadi — if; syāt — there is; teṣu — among them; vaiṣamyam — partiality; kam — what; yānti — will go to; śaraṇam — shelter; prajāḥ — the citizens.

Translation

A king or governmental official should be so well qualified that he acts as a father, maintainer and protector of the citizens because of affection and love. He should give the citizens good advice and instructions according to the standard scriptures and should be equal to everyone. Yamarāja does this, for he is the supreme master of justice, and so do those who follow in his footsteps. However, if such persons become polluted and exhibit partiality by punishing an innocent, blameless person, where will the citizens go to take shelter for their maintenance and security?

Purport

The king, or in modern times the government, should act as the guardian of the citizens by teaching them the proper goal of life. The human form of life is especially meant for realization of one’s self and one’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because this cannot be realized in animal life. The duty of the government, therefore, is to take charge of training all the citizens in such a way that by a gradual process they will be elevated to the spiritual platform and will realize the self and his relationship with God. This principle was followed by kings like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Lord Rāmacandra, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and Prahlāda Mahārāja. The leaders of the government must be very honest and religious because otherwise all the affairs of the state will suffer. Unfortunately, in the name of democracy, rogues and thieves are electing other rogues and thieves to the most important posts in the government. Recently this has been proven in America, where the president had to be condemned and dragged down from his post by the citizens. This is only one case, but there are many others. Because of the importance of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, people should be Kṛṣṇa conscious and should not vote for anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then there will be actual peace and prosperity in the state. When a Vaiṣṇava sees mismanagement in the government, he feels great compassion in his heart and tries his best to purify the situation by spreading the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.

Devanagari

यद्यदाचरति श्रेयानितरस्तत्तदीहते ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥ ४ ॥

Text

yad yad ācarati śreyān
itaras tat tad īhate
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

Synonyms

yat yat — whatever; ācarati — executes; śreyān — a first-class man with full knowledge of religious principles; itaraḥ — the subordinate man; tat tat — that; īhate — performs; saḥ — he (the great man); yat — whatever; pramāṇam — as evidence or as the right thing; kurute — accepts; lokaḥ — the general public; tat — that; anuvartate — follows.

Translation

The mass of people follow the example of a leader in society and imitate his behavior. They accept as evidence whatever the leader accepts.

Purport

Although Ajāmila was not punishable, the Yamadūtas were insisting on taking him away to Yamarāja for punishment. This was adharma, contrary to religious principles. The Viṣṇudūtas feared that if such irreligious acts were allowed, the management of human society would be spoiled. In modern times, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to introduce the right principles of management for human society, but unfortunately the governments of Kali-yuga do not properly support the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement because they do not appreciate its valuable service. The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is the right movement for ameliorating the fallen condition of human society, and therefore governments and public leaders in every part of the world should support this movement to completely rectify humanity’s sinful condition.

Devanagari

यस्याङ्के शिर आधाय लोक: स्वपिति निर्वृत: ।
स्वयं धर्ममधर्मं वा न हि वेद यथा पशु: ॥ ५ ॥
स कथं न्यर्पितात्मानं कृतमैत्रमचेतनम् ।
विस्रम्भणीयो भूतानां सघृणो दोग्धुमर्हति ॥ ६ ॥

Text

yasyāṅke śira ādhāya
lokaḥ svapiti nirvṛtaḥ
svayaṁ dharmam adharmaṁ vā
na hi veda yathā paśuḥ
sa kathaṁ nyarpitātmānaṁ
kṛta-maitram acetanam
visrambhaṇīyo bhūtānāṁ
saghṛṇo dogdhum arhati

Synonyms

yasya — of whom; aṅke — on the lap; śiraḥ — the head; ādhāya — placing; lokaḥ — the general mass of people; svapiti — sleep; nirvṛtaḥ — in peace; svayam — personally; dharmam — religious principles or the goal of life; adharmam — irreligious principles; — or; na — not; hi — indeed; veda — know; yathā — exactly like; paśuḥ — an animal; saḥ — such a person; katham — how; nyarpita-ātmānam — unto the living entity who has fully surrendered; kṛta-maitram — endowed with good faith and friendship; acetanam — with undeveloped consciousness, foolish; visrambhaṇīyaḥ — deserving to be the object of faith; bhūtānām — of the living entities; sa-ghṛṇaḥ — who has a soft heart for the good of all people; dogdhum — to give pain; arhati — is able.

Translation

People in general are not very advanced in knowledge by which to discriminate between religion and irreligion. The innocent, unenlightened citizen is like an ignorant animal sleeping in peace with its head on the lap of its master, faithfully believing in the master’s protection. If a leader is actually kindhearted and deserves to be the object of a living entity’s faith, how can he punish or kill a foolish person who has fully surrendered in good faith and friendship?

Purport

The Sanskrit word viśvasta-ghāta refers to one who breaks faith or causes a breach of trust. The mass of people should always feel security because of the government’s protection. Therefore, how regrettable it is for the government itself to cause a breach of trust and put the citizens in difficulty for political reasons. We actually saw during the partition days in India that although Hindus and Muslims were living together peacefully, manipulation by politicians suddenly aroused feelings of hatred between them, and thus the Hindus and Muslims killed one another over politics. This is a sign of Kali-yuga. In this age, animals are kept nicely sheltered, completely confident that their masters will protect them, but unfortunately as soon as the animals are fat, they are immediately sent for slaughter. Such cruelty is condemned by Vaiṣṇavas like the Viṣṇudūtas. Indeed, the hellish conditions already described await the sinful men responsible for such suffering. One who betrays the confidence of a living entity who takes shelter of him in good faith, whether that living entity be a human being or an animal, is extremely sinful. Because such betrayals now go unpunished by the government, all of human society is terribly contaminated. The people of this age are therefore described as mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ. As a consequence of such sinfulness, men are condemned (mandāḥ), their intelligence is unclear (sumanda-matayaḥ), they are unfortunate (manda-bhāgyāḥ), and therefore they are always disturbed by many problems (upadrutāḥ). This is their situation in this life, and after death they are punished in hellish conditions.

Devanagari

अयं हि कृतनिर्वेशो जन्मकोट्यंहसामपि ।
यद्‌व्याजहार विवशो नाम स्वस्त्ययनं हरे: ॥ ७ ॥

Text

ayaṁ hi kṛta-nirveśo
janma-koṭy-aṁhasām api
yad vyājahāra vivaśo
nāma svasty-ayanaṁ hareḥ

Synonyms

ayam — this person (Ajāmila); hi — indeed; kṛta-nirveśaḥ — has undergone all kinds of atonement; janma — of births; koṭi — of millions; aṁhasām — for the sinful activities; api — even; yat — because; vyājahāra — he has chanted; vivaśaḥ — in a helpless condition; nāma — the holy name; svasti-ayanam — the means of liberation; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

Ajāmila has already atoned for all his sinful actions. Indeed, he has atoned not only for sins performed in one life but for those performed in millions of lives, for in a helpless condition he chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offense, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation.

Purport

The Yamadūtas had considered only the external situation of Ajāmila. Since he was extremely sinful throughout his life, they thought he should be taken to Yamarāja and did not know that he had become free from the reactions of all his sins. The Viṣṇudūtas therefore instructed that because he had chanted the four syllables of the name Nārāyaṇa at the time of his death, he was freed from all sinful reactions. In this regard Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura quotes the following verses from the smṛti-śāstra:

nāmno hi yāvatī śaktiḥ
pāpa-nirharaṇe hareḥ
tāvat kartuṁ na śaknoti
pātakaṁ pātakī naraḥ

“Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit.” (Bṛhad-viṣṇu Purāṇa)

avaśenāpi yan-nāmni
kīrtite sarva-pātakaiḥ
pumān vimucyate sadyaḥ
siṁha-trastair mṛgair iva

“If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in fear.” (Garuḍa Purāṇa)

sakṛd uccāritaṁ yena
harir ity akṣara-dvayam
baddha-parikaras tena
mokṣāya gamanaṁ prati

“By once chanting the holy name of the Lord, which consists of the two syllables ha-ri, one guarantees his path to liberation.” (Skanda Purāṇa)

These are some of the reasons why the Viṣṇudūtas objected to the Yamadūtas’ taking Ajāmila to the court of Yamarāja.

Devanagari

एतेनैव ह्यघोनोऽस्य कृतं स्यादघनिष्कृतम् ।
यदा नारायणायेति जगाद चतुरक्षरम् ॥ ८ ॥

Text

etenaiva hy aghono ’sya
kṛtaṁ syād agha-niṣkṛtam
yadā nārāyaṇāyeti
jagāda catur-akṣaram

Synonyms

etena — by this (chanting); eva — indeed; hi — certainly; aghonaḥ — who possesses sinful reactions; asya — of this (Ajāmila); kṛtam — performed; syāt — is; agha — of sins; niṣkṛtam — complete atonement; yadā — when; nārāyaṇa — O Nārāyaṇa (the name of his son); āya — please come; iti — thus; jagāda — he chanted; catuḥ-akṣaram — the four syllables (nā-rā-ya-ṇa).

Translation

The Viṣṇudūtas continued: Even previously, while eating and at other times, this Ajāmila would call his son, saying, “My dear Nārāyaṇa, please come here.” Although calling the name of his son, he nevertheless uttered the four syllables nā-rā-ya-ṇa. Simply by chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa in this way, he sufficiently atoned for the sinful reactions of millions of lives.

Purport

Previously, when engaged in sinful activities to maintain his family, Ajāmila chanted the name of Nārāyaṇa without offenses. To chant the holy name of the Lord just to counteract one’s sinful activities, or to commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name, is offensive (nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ). But although Ajāmila engaged in sinful activities, he never chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa to counteract them; he simply chanted the name Nārāyaṇa to call his son. Therefore his chanting was effective. Because of chanting the holy name of Nārāyaṇa in this way, he had already vanquished the accumulated sinful reactions of many, many lives. In the beginning he was pure, but although he later committed many sinful acts, he was offenseless because he did not chant the holy name of Nārāyaṇa to counteract them. One who always chants the holy name of the Lord without offenses is always pure. As confirmed in this verse Ajāmila was already sinless, and because he chanted the name of Nārāyaṇa he remained sinless. It did not matter that he was calling his son; the name itself was effective.

Devanagari

स्तेन: सुरापो मित्रध्रुग् ब्रह्महा गुरुतल्पग: ।
स्त्रीराजपितृगोहन्ता ये च पातकिनोऽपरे ॥ ९ ॥
सर्वेषामप्यघवतामिदमेव सुनिष्कृतम् ।
नामव्याहरणं विष्णोर्यतस्तद्विषया मति: ॥ १० ॥

Text

stenaḥ surā-po mitra-dhrug
brahma-hā guru-talpa-gaḥ
strī-rāja-pitṛ-go-hantā
ye ca pātakino ’pare
sarveṣām apy aghavatām
idam eva suniṣkṛtam
nāma-vyāharaṇaṁ viṣṇor
yatas tad-viṣayā matiḥ

Synonyms

stenaḥ — one who steals; surā-paḥ — a drunkard; mitra-dhruk — one who turns against a friend or relative; brahma- — one who kills a brāhmaṇa; guru-talpa-gaḥ — one who indulges in sex with the wife of his teacher or guru; strī — women; rāja — king; pitṛ — father; go — of cows; hantā — the killer; ye — those who; ca — also; pātakinaḥ — committed sinful activities; apare — many others; sarveṣām — of all of them; api — although; agha-vatām — persons who have committed many sins; idam — this; eva — certainly; su-niṣkṛtam — perfect atonement; nāma-vyāharaṇam — chanting of the holy name; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; yataḥ — because of which; tat-viṣayā — on the person who chants the holy name; matiḥ — His attention.

Translation

The chanting of the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brāhmaṇa, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, “Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.”

Devanagari

न निष्कृतैरुदितैर्ब्रह्मवादिभि-
स्तथा विशुद्ध्यत्यघवान् व्रतादिभि: ।
यथा हरेर्नामपदैरुदाहृतै-
स्तदुत्तमश्लोकगुणोपलम्भकम् ॥ ११ ॥

Text

na niṣkṛtair uditair brahma-vādibhis
tathā viśuddhyaty aghavān vratādibhiḥ
yathā harer nāma-padair udāhṛtais
tad uttamaśloka-guṇopalambhakam

Synonyms

na — not; niṣkṛtaiḥ — by the processes of atonement; uditaiḥ — prescribed; brahma-vādibhiḥ — by learned scholars such as Manu; tathā — to that extent; viśuddhyati — becomes purified; agha-vān — a sinful man; vrata-ādibhiḥ — by observing the vows and regulative principles; yathā — as; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; nāma-padaiḥ — by the syllables of the holy name; udāhṛtaiḥ — chanted; tat — that; uttamaśloka — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guṇa — of the transcendental qualities; upalambhakam — reminding one.

Translation

By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting once the holy name of Lord Hari. Although ritualistic atonement may free one from sinful reactions, it does not awaken devotional service, unlike the chanting of the Lord’s names, which reminds one of the Lord’s fame, qualities, attributes, pastimes and paraphernalia.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura comments that the chanting of the holy name of the Lord has special significance that distinguishes it from the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies of atonement for severe, more severe or most severe sinful actions. There are twenty types of religious scriptures called dharma-śāstras, beginning with the Manu-saṁhitā and Parāśara-saṁhitā, but herein it is stressed that although one may become free from the reactions of the most sinful activities by following the religious principles of these scriptures, this cannot promote a sinful man to the stage of loving service to the Lord. On the other hand, chanting the holy name of the Lord even once not only frees one immediately from the reactions of the greatest sins, but also raises one to the platform of rendering loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described as uttamaśloka because He is famous for His glorious activities. Thus one serves the Lord by remembering His form, His attributes and pastimes. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that this is all possible simply by chanting the Lord’s holy name because of the Lord’s omnipotence. What cannot be achieved through the performance of Vedic rituals can be easily achieved through the chanting of the Lord’s holy name. To chant the holy name and dance in ecstasy is so easy and sublime that one can achieve all the benefits of spiritual life simply by following this process. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu declares, paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam: “All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa saṅkīrtana!” The saṅkīrtana movement we have started offers the best process for becoming purified of all sinful reactions and coming immediately to the platform of spiritual life.

Devanagari

नैकान्तिकं तद्धि कृतेऽपि निष्कृते
मन: पुनर्धावति चेदसत्पथे ।
तत्कर्मनिर्हारमभीप्सतां हरे-
र्गुणानुवाद: खलु सत्त्वभावन: ॥ १२ ॥

Text

naikāntikaṁ tad dhi kṛte ’pi niṣkṛte
manaḥ punar dhāvati ced asat-pathe
tat karma-nirhāram abhīpsatāṁ harer
guṇānuvādaḥ khalu sattva-bhāvanaḥ

Synonyms

na — not; aikāntikam — absolutely cleansed; tat — the heart; hi — because; kṛte — very nicely performed; api — although; niṣkṛte — atonement; manaḥ — the mind; punaḥ — again; dhāvati — runs; cet — if; asat-pathe — on the path of material activities; tat — therefore; karma-nirhāram — cessation of the fruitive reactions of material activities; abhīpsatām — for those who seriously want; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guṇa-anuvādaḥ — constant chanting of the glories; khalu — indeed; sattva-bhāvanaḥ — actually purifying one’s existence.

Translation

The ritualistic ceremonies of atonement recommended in the religious scriptures are insufficient to cleanse the heart absolutely because after atonement one’s mind again runs toward material activities. Consequently, for one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.

Purport

The statements in this verse have been confirmed previously in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17):

śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām

“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” It is the special mercy of the Supreme Lord that as soon as He knows that one is glorifying His name, fame and attributes, He personally helps cleanse the dirt from one’s heart. Therefore simply by such glorification one not only becomes purified, but also achieves the results of pious activities (puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana). Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtana refers to the process of devotional service. Even if one does not understand the meaning of the Lord’s name, pastimes or attributes, one is purified simply by hearing or chanting of them. Such purification is called sattva-bhāvana.

One’s main purpose in human life should be to purify his existence and achieve liberation. As long as one has a material body, one is understood to be impure. In such an impure, material condition, one cannot enjoy a truly blissful life, although everyone seeks it. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.1) says, tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena sattvaṁ śuddhyet: one must perform tapasya, austerity, to purify his existence in order to come to the spiritual platform. The tapasya of chanting and glorifying the name, fame and attributes of the Lord is a very easy purifying process by which everyone can be happy. Therefore everyone who desires the ultimate cleansing of his heart must adopt this process. Other processes, such as karma, jñāna and yoga, cannot cleanse the heart absolutely.

Devanagari

अथैनं मापनयत कृताशेषाघनिष्कृतम् ।
यदसौ भगवन्नाम म्रियमाण: समग्रहीत् ॥ १३ ॥

Text

athainaṁ māpanayata
kṛtāśeṣāgha-niṣkṛtam
yad asau bhagavan-nāma
mriyamāṇaḥ samagrahīt

Synonyms

atha — therefore; enam — him (Ajāmila); — do not; apanayata — try to take; kṛta — already done; aśeṣa — unlimited; agha-niṣkṛtam — atonement for his sinful actions; yat — because; asau — he; bhagavat-nāma — the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mriyamāṇaḥ — while dying; samagrahīt — perfectly chanted.

Translation

At the time of death, this Ajāmila helplessly and very loudly chanted the holy name of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa. That chanting alone has already freed him from the reactions of all sinful life. Therefore, O servants of Yamarāja, do not try to take him to your master for punishment in hellish conditions.

Purport

The Viṣṇudūtas, who are superior authorities, gave orders to the Yamadūtas, who did not know that Ajāmila was no longer subject to tribulation in hellish life for his past sins. Although he had chanted the holy name Nārāyaṇa to indicate his son, the holy name is so transcendentally powerful that he was automatically freed because he had chanted the holy name while dying (ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ). As Kṛṣṇa confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (7.28):

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ

“Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.” Unless one is freed from all sinful reactions, one cannot be promoted to the platform of devotional service. Elsewhere in Bhagavad-gītā (8.5) it is stated:

anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ

If one remembers Kṛṣṇa, Nārāyaṇa, at the time of death, one is certainly eligible to return immediately home, back to Godhead.

Devanagari

साङ्केत्यं पारिहास्यं वा स्तोभं हेलनमेव वा ।
वैकुण्ठनामग्रहणमशेषाघहरं विदु: ॥ १४ ॥

Text

sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ vā
stobhaṁ helanam eva vā
vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇam
aśeṣāgha-haraṁ viduḥ

Synonyms

sāṅketyam — as an assignation; pārihāsyam — jokingly; — or; stobham — as musical entertainment; helanam — neglectfully; eva — certainly; — or; vaikuṇṭha — of the Lord; nāma-grahaṇam — chanting the holy name; aśeṣa — unlimited; agha-haram — neutralizing the effect of sinful life; viduḥ — advanced transcendentalists know.

Translation

One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures.

Devanagari

पतित: स्खलितो भग्न: सन्दष्टस्तप्त आहत: ।
हरिरित्यवशेनाह पुमान्नार्हति यातना: ॥ १५ ॥

Text

patitaḥ skhalito bhagnaḥ
sandaṣṭas tapta āhataḥ
harir ity avaśenāha
pumān nārhati yātanāḥ

Synonyms

patitaḥ — fallen down; skhalitaḥ — slipped; bhagnaḥ — having broken his bones; sandaṣṭaḥ — bitten; taptaḥ — severely attacked by fever or similar painful conditions; āhataḥ — injured; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; iti — thus; avaśena — accidentally; āha — chants; pumān — a person; na — not; arhati — deserves; yātanāḥ — hellish conditions.

Translation

If one chants the holy name of Hari and then dies because of an accidental misfortune, such as falling from the top of a house, slipping and suffering broken bones while traveling on the road, being bitten by a serpent, being afflicted with pain and high fever, or being injured by a weapon, one is immediately absolved from having to enter hellish life, even though he is sinful.

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (8.6):

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” If one practices chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he is naturally expected to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa when he meets with some accident. Even without such practice, however, if one somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord (Hare Kṛṣṇa) when he meets with an accident and dies, he will be saved from hellish life after death.

Devanagari

गुरूणां च लघूनां च गुरूणि च लघूनि च ।
प्रायश्चित्तानि पापानां ज्ञात्वोक्तानि महर्षिभि: ॥ १६ ॥

Text

gurūṇāṁ ca laghūnāṁ ca
gurūṇi ca laghūni ca
prāyaścittāni pāpānāṁ
jñātvoktāni maharṣibhiḥ

Synonyms

gurūṇām — heavy; ca — and; laghūnām — light; ca — also; gurūṇi — heavy; ca — and; laghūni — light; ca — also; prāyaścittāni — the processes of atonement; pāpānām — of sinful activities; jñātvā — knowing perfectly well; uktāni — have been prescribed; mahā-ṛṣibhiḥ — by great sages.

Translation

Authorities who are learned scholars and sages have carefully ascertained that one should atone for the heaviest sins by undergoing a heavy process of atonement and one should atone for lighter sins by undergoing lighter atonement. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, however, vanquishes all the effects of sinful activities, regardless of whether heavy or light.

Purport

In this regard, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes an incident that took place when Sāmba was rescued from the punishment of the Kauravas. Sāmba fell in love with the daughter of Duryodhana, and since according to kṣatriya custom one is not offered a kṣatriya’s daughter unless he displays his chivalrous valor, Sāmba abducted her. Consequently Sāmba was arrested by the Kauravas. Later, when Lord Balarāma came to rescue him, there was an argument about Sāmba’s release. Since the argument was not settled, Balarāma showed His power in such a way that all of Hastināpura trembled and would have been vanquished as if by a great earthquake. Then the matter was settled, and Sāmba married Duryodhana’s daughter. The purport is that one should take shelter of Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose protective power is so great that it cannot be equaled in the material world. However powerful the reactions of one’s sins, they will immediately be vanquished if one chants the name of Hari, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma or Nārāyaṇa.

Devanagari

तैस्तान्यघानि पूयन्ते तपोदानव्रतादिभि: ।
नाधर्मजं तद्‌धृदयं तदपीशाङ्‌घ्रिसेवया ॥ १७ ॥

Text

tais tāny aghāni pūyante
tapo-dāna-vratādibhiḥ
nādharmajaṁ tad-dhṛdayaṁ
tad apīśāṅghri-sevayā

Synonyms

taiḥ — by those; tāni — all those; aghāni — sinful activities and their results; pūyante — become vanquished; tapaḥ — austerity; dāna — charity; vrata-ādibhiḥ — by vows and other such activities; na — not; adharma-jam — produced from irreligious actions; tat — of that; hṛdayam — the heart; tat — that; api — also; īśa-aṅghri — of the lotus feet of the Lord; sevayā — by service.

Translation

Although one may neutralize the reactions of sinful life through austerity, charity, vows and other such methods, these pious activities cannot uproot the material desires in one’s heart. However, if one serves the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, he is immediately freed from all such contaminations.

Purport

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.42), bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca: devotional service is so powerful that one who performs devotional service is immediately freed from all sinful desires. All desires within this material world are sinful because material desire means sense gratification, which always involves action that is more or less sinful. Pure bhakti, however, is anyābhilāṣitā-śūnya; in other words, it is free from material desires, which result from karma and jñāna. One who is situated in devotional service no longer has material desires, and therefore he is beyond sinful life. Material desires should be completely stopped. Otherwise, although one’s austerities, penances and charity may free one from sin for the time being, one’s desires will reappear because his heart is impure. Thus he will act sinfully and suffer.

Devanagari

अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानादुत्तमश्लोकनाम यत् ।
सङ्कीर्तितमघं पुंसो दहेदेधो यथानल: ॥ १८ ॥

Text

ajñānād athavā jñānād
uttamaśloka-nāma yat
saṅkīrtitam aghaṁ puṁso
dahed edho yathānalaḥ

Synonyms

ajñānāt — out of ignorance; athavā — or; jñānāt — with knowledge; uttamaśloka — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nāma — the holy name; yat — that which; saṅkīrtitam — chanted; agham — sin; puṁsaḥ — of a person; dahet — burns to ashes; edhaḥ — dry grass; yathā — just as; analaḥ — fire.

Translation

As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one’s sinful activities.

Purport

Fire will act, regardless of whether handled by an innocent child or by someone well aware of its power. For example, if a field of straw or dry grass is set afire, either by an elderly man who knows the power of fire or by a child who does not, the grass will be burned to ashes. Similarly, one may or may not know the power of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but if one chants the holy name he will become free from all sinful reactions.

Devanagari

यथागदं वीर्यतममुपयुक्तं यद‍ृच्छया ।
अजानतोऽप्यात्मगुणं कुर्यान्मन्त्रोऽप्युदाहृत: ॥ १९ ॥

Text

yathāgadaṁ vīryatamam
upayuktaṁ yadṛcchayā
ajānato ’py ātma-guṇaṁ
kuryān mantro ’py udāhṛtaḥ

Synonyms

yathā — just like; agadam — medicine; vīrya-tamam — very powerful; upayuktam — properly taken; yadṛcchayā — somehow or other; ajānataḥ — by a person without knowledge; api — even; ātma-guṇam — its own potency; kuryāt — manifests; mantraḥ — the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; api — also; udāhṛtaḥ — chanted.

Translation

If a person unaware of the effective potency of a certain medicine takes that medicine or is forced to take it, it will act even without his knowledge because its potency does not depend on the patient’s understanding. Similarly, even though one does not know the value of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if one chants knowingly or unknowingly, the chanting will be very effective.

Purport

In the Western countries, where the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is spreading, learned scholars and other thoughtful men are realizing its effectiveness. For example, Dr. J. Stillson Judah, a learned scholar, has been very much attracted to this movement because he has actually seen that it is turning hippies addicted to drugs into pure Vaiṣṇavas who voluntarily become servants of Kṛṣṇa and humanity. Even a few years ago, such hippies did not know the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but now they are chanting it and becoming pure Vaiṣṇavas. Thus they are becoming free from all sinful activities, such as illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. This is practical proof of the effectiveness of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, which is supported in this verse. One may or may not know the value of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but if one somehow or other chants it, he will immediately be purified, just as one who takes a potent medicine will feel its effects, regardless of whether he takes it knowingly or unknowingly.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
त एवं सुविनिर्णीय धर्मं भागवतं नृप ।
तं याम्यपाशान्निर्मुच्य विप्रं मृत्योरमूमुचन् ॥ २० ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
ta evaṁ suvinirṇīya
dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ nṛpa
taṁ yāmya-pāśān nirmucya
vipraṁ mṛtyor amūmucan

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; te — they (the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu); evam — thus; su-vinirṇīya — perfectly ascertaining; dharmam — real religion; bhāgavatam — in terms of devotional service; nṛpa — O King; tam — him (Ajāmila); yāmya-pāśāt — from the bondage of the order carriers of Yamarāja; nirmucya — releasing; vipram — the brāhmaṇa; mṛtyoḥ — from death; amūmucan — rescued.

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, having thus perfectly judged the principles of devotional service with reasoning and arguments, the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu released the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila from the bondage of the Yamadūtas and saved him from imminent death.

Devanagari

इति प्रत्युदिता याम्या दूता यात्वा यमान्तिकम् ।
यमराज्ञे यथा सर्वमाचचक्षुररिन्दम ॥ २१ ॥

Text

iti pratyuditā yāmyā
dūtā yātvā yamāntikam
yama-rājñe yathā sarvam
ācacakṣur arindama

Synonyms

iti — thus; pratyuditāḥ — having been replied to (by the order carriers of Viṣṇu); yāmyāḥ — the servants of Yamarāja; dūtāḥ — the messengers; yātvā — going; yama-antikam — to the abode of Lord Yamarāja; yama-rājñe — unto King Yamarāja; yathā — duly; sarvam — everything; ācacakṣuḥ — informed in full detail; arindama — O subduer of the enemies.

Translation

My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, O subduer of all enemies, after the servants of Yamarāja had been answered by the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu, they went to Yamarāja and explained to him everything that had happened.

Purport

In this verse the word pratyuditāḥ is very significant. The servants of Yamarāja are so powerful that they can never be hindered anywhere, but this time they were baffled and disappointed in their attempt to take away a man they considered sinful. Therefore they immediately returned to Yamarāja and described to him everything that had happened.

Devanagari

द्विज: पाशाद्विनिर्मुक्तो गतभी: प्रकृतिं गत: ।
ववन्दे शिरसा विष्णो: किङ्करान् दर्शनोत्सव: ॥ २२ ॥

Text

dvijaḥ pāśād vinirmukto
gata-bhīḥ prakṛtiṁ gataḥ
vavande śirasā viṣṇoḥ
kiṅkarān darśanotsavaḥ

Synonyms

dvijaḥ — the brāhmaṇa (Ajāmila); pāśāt — from the noose; vinirmuktaḥ — being released; gata-bhīḥ — freed from fear; prakṛtim gataḥ — came to his senses; vavande — offered his respectful obeisances; śirasā — by bowing his head; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; kiṅkarān — unto the servants; darśana-utsavaḥ — very pleased by seeing them.

Translation

Having been released from the nooses of Yamarāja’s servants, the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, now free from fear, came to his senses and immediately offered obeisances to the Viṣṇudūtas by bowing his head at their lotus feet. He was extremely pleased by their presence, for he had seen them save his life from the hands of the servants of Yamarāja.

Purport

Vaiṣṇavas are also Viṣṇudūtas because they carry out the orders of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa is very eager for all the conditioned souls rotting in this material world to surrender to Him and be saved from material pangs in this life and punishment in hellish conditions after death. A Vaiṣṇava therefore tries to bring conditioned souls to their senses. Those who are fortunate like Ajāmila are saved by the Viṣṇudūtas, or Vaiṣṇavas, and thus they return back home, back to Godhead.

Devanagari

तं विवक्षुमभिप्रेत्य महापुरुषकिङ्करा: ।
सहसा पश्यतस्तस्य तत्रान्तर्दधिरेऽनघ ॥ २३ ॥

Text

taṁ vivakṣum abhipretya
mahāpuruṣa-kiṅkarāḥ
sahasā paśyatas tasya
tatrāntardadhire ’nagha

Synonyms

tam — him (Ajāmila); vivakṣum — desiring to speak; abhipretya — understanding; mahāpuruṣa-kiṅkarāḥ — the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu; sahasā — suddenly; paśyataḥ tasya — while he looked on; tatra — there; antardadhire — disappeared; anagha — O sinless Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Translation

O sinless Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the order carriers of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Viṣṇudūtas, saw that Ajāmila was attempting to say something, and thus they suddenly disappeared from his presence.

Purport

The śāstras say:

pāpiṣṭhā ye durācārā
deva-brāhmaṇa-nindakāḥ
apathya-bhojanās teṣām
akāle maraṇaṁ dhruvam

“For persons who are pāpiṣṭha, very sinful, and durācāra, misbehaved or very unclean in their habits, who are against the existence of God, who disrespect Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, and who eat anything and everything, untimely death is sure.” It is said that in Kali-yuga one has a maximum lifetime of one hundred years, but as people become degraded, the duration of their lives decreases (prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ). Because Ajāmila was now free from all sinful reactions, his lifetime was extended, even though he was to have died immediately. When the Viṣṇudūtas saw Ajāmila trying to say something to them, they disappeared to give him a chance to glorify the Supreme Lord. Since all his sinful reactions had been vanquished, he was now prepared to glorify the Lord. Indeed, one cannot glorify the Lord unless one is completely free from all sinful activities. This is confirmed by Kṛṣṇa Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (7.28):

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ

“Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.” The Viṣṇudūtas made Ajāmila aware of devotional service so that He might immediately become fit to return home, back to Godhead. To increase his eagerness to glorify the Lord, they disappeared so that he would feel separation in their absence. In the mode of separation, glorification of the Lord is very intense.

Devanagari

अजामिलोऽप्यथाकर्ण्य दूतानां यमकृष्णयो: ।
धर्मं भागवतं शुद्धं त्रैवेद्यं च गुणाश्रयम् ॥ २४ ॥
भक्तिमान् भगवत्याशु माहात्म्यश्रवणाद्धरे: ।
अनुतापो महानासीत्स्मरतोऽशुभमात्मन: ॥ २५ ॥

Text

ajāmilo ’py athākarṇya
dūtānāṁ yama-kṛṣṇayoḥ
dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ śuddhaṁ
trai-vedyaṁ ca guṇāśrayam
bhaktimān bhagavaty āśu
māhātmya-śravaṇād dhareḥ
anutāpo mahān āsīt
smarato ’śubham ātmanaḥ

Synonyms

ajāmilaḥ — Ajāmila; api — also; atha — thereafter; ākarṇya — hearing; dūtānām — of the order carriers; yama-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Yamarāja and Lord Kṛṣṇa; dharmam — actual religious principles; bhāgavatam — as described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, or concerning the relationship between the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śuddham — pure; trai-vedyam — mentioned in three Vedas; ca — also; guṇa-aśrayam — material religion, under the modes of material nature; bhakti-mān — a pure devotee (cleansed of the modes of material nature); bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; āśu — immediately; māhātmya — glorification of the name, fame, etc.; śravaṇāt — because of hearing; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; anutāpaḥ — regret; mahān — very great; āsīt — there was; smarataḥ — remembering; aśubham — all the inglorious activities; ātmanaḥ — done by himself.

Translation

After hearing the discourses between the Yamadūtas and the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila could understand the religious principles that act under the three modes of material nature. These principles are mentioned in the three Vedas. He could also understand the transcendental religious principles, which are above the modes of material nature and which concern the relationship between the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Furthermore, Ajāmila heard glorification of the name, fame, qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He thus became a perfectly pure devotee. He could then remember his past sinful activities, which he greatly regretted having performed.

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45) Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:

traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā
nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
niryoga-kṣema ātmavān

“The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the Self.” The Vedic principles certainly prescribe a gradual process for rising to the spiritual platform, but if one remains attached to the Vedic principles, there is no chance of his being elevated to spiritual life. Kṛṣṇa therefore advised Arjuna to perform devotional service, which is the process of transcendental religion. The transcendental position of devotional service is also confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6). Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje. Bhakti, devotional service, is paro dharmaḥ, transcendental dharma; it is not material dharma. People generally think that religion should be pursued for material profit. This may be suitable for persons interested in material life, but one who is interested in spiritual life should be attached to paro dharmaḥ, the religious principles by which one becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord (yato bhaktir adhokṣaje). The bhāgavata religion teaches that the Lord and the living entity are eternally related and that the duty of the living entity is to surrender to the Lord. When one is situated on the platform of devotional service, one is freed from impediments and completely satisfied (ahaituky apratihatā yayātmā suprasīdati). Having been elevated to that platform, Ajāmila began to lament for his past materialistic activities and glorify the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

अहो मे परमं कष्टमभूदविजितात्मन: ।
येन विप्लावितं ब्रह्म वृषल्यां जायतात्मना ॥ २६ ॥

Text

aho me paramaṁ kaṣṭam
abhūd avijitātmanaḥ
yena viplāvitaṁ brahma
vṛṣalyāṁ jāyatātmanā

Synonyms

aho — alas; me — my; paramam — extreme; kaṣṭam — miserable condition; abhūt — became; avijita-ātmanaḥ — because my senses were uncontrolled; yena — by which; viplāvitam — destroyed; brahma — all my brahminical qualifications; vṛṣalyām — through a śūdrāṇī, a maidservant; jāyatā — being born; ātmanā — by me.

Translation

Ajāmila said: Alas, being a servant of my senses, how degraded I became! I fell down from my position as a duly qualified brāhmaṇa and begot children in the womb of a prostitute.

Purport

The men of the higher classes — the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas — do not beget children in the wombs of lower-class women. Therefore the custom in Vedic society is to examine the horoscopes of a girl and boy being considered for marriage to see whether their combination is suitable. Vedic astrology reveals whether one has been born in the vipra-varṇa, kṣatriya-varṇa, vaiśya-varṇa or śūdra-varṇa, according to the three qualities of material nature. This must be examined because a marriage between a boy of the vipra-varṇa and a girl of the śūdra-varṇa is incompatible; married life would be miserable for both husband and wife. Consequently a boy should marry a girl of the same category. Of course, this is trai-guṇya, a material calculation according to the Vedas, but if the boy and girl are devotees there need be no such considerations. A devotee is transcendental, and therefore in a marriage between devotees, the boy and girl form a very happy combination.

Devanagari

धिङ्‌मां विगर्हितं सद्भ‍िर्दुष्कृतं कुलकज्जलम् ।
हित्वा बालां सतीं योऽहं सुरापीमसतीमगाम् ॥ २७ ॥

Text

dhiṅ māṁ vigarhitaṁ sadbhir
duṣkṛtaṁ kula-kajjalam
hitvā bālāṁ satīṁ yo ’haṁ
surā-pīm asatīm agām

Synonyms

dhik mām — all condemnation upon me; vigarhitam — condemned; sadbhiḥ — by honest men; duṣkṛtam — who has committed sinful acts; kula-kajjalam — who has defamed the family tradition; hitvā — giving up; bālām — a young wife; satīm — chaste; yaḥ — who; aham — I; surā-pīm — with a woman accustomed to drinking wine; asatīm — unchaste; agām — I had sexual intercourse.

Translation

Alas, all condemnation upon me! I acted so sinfully that I degraded my family tradition. Indeed, I gave up my chaste and beautiful young wife to have sexual intercourse with a fallen prostitute accustomed to drinking wine. All condemnation upon me!

Purport

This is the mentality of one who is becoming a pure devotee. When one is elevated to the platform of devotional service by the grace of the Lord and the spiritual master, one first regrets his past sinful activities. This helps one advance in spiritual life. The Viṣṇudūtas had given Ajāmila the chance to become a pure devotee, and the duty of a pure devotee is to regret his past sinful activities in illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. Not only should one give up his past bad habits, but he must always regret his past sinful acts. This is the standard of pure devotion.

Devanagari

वृद्धावनाथौ पितरौ नान्यबन्धू तपस्विनौ ।
अहो मयाधुना त्यक्तावकृतज्ञेन नीचवत् ॥ २८ ॥

Text

vṛddhāv anāthau pitarau
nānya-bandhū tapasvinau
aho mayādhunā tyaktāv
akṛtajñena nīcavat

Synonyms

vṛddhau — old; anāthau — who had no other person to look after their comforts; pitarau — my father and mother; na anya-bandhū — who had no other friend; tapasvinau — who underwent great difficulties; aho — alas; mayā — by me; adhunā — at that moment; tyaktau — were given up; akṛta-jñena — ungrateful; nīca-vat — like the most abominable low-class person.

Translation

My father and mother were old and had no other son or friend to look after them. Because I did not take care of them, they lived with great difficulty. Alas, like an abominable lower-class man, I ungratefully left them in that condition.

Purport

According to Vedic civilization, everyone has the responsibility for taking care of brāhmaṇas, old men, women, children and cows. This is the duty of everyone, especially an upper-class person. Because of his association with a prostitute, Ajāmila abandoned all his duties. Regretting this, Ajāmila now considered himself quite fallen.

Devanagari

सोऽहं व्यक्तं पतिष्यामि नरके भृशदारुणे ।
धर्मघ्ना: कामिनो यत्र विन्दन्ति यमयातना: ॥ २९ ॥

Text

so ’haṁ vyaktaṁ patiṣyāmi
narake bhṛśa-dāruṇe
dharma-ghnāḥ kāmino yatra
vindanti yama-yātanāḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — such a person; aham — I; vyaktam — it is now clear; patiṣyāmi — will fall down; narake — in hell; bhṛśa-dāruṇe — most miserable; dharma-ghnāḥ — they who break the principles of religion; kāminaḥ — who are too lusty; yatra — where; vindanti — undergo; yama-yātanāḥ — the miserable conditions imposed by Yamarāja.

Translation

It is now clear that as a consequence of such activities, a sinful person like me must be thrown into hellish conditions meant for those who have broken religious principles and must there suffer extreme miseries.

Devanagari

किमिदं स्वप्न आहो स्वित् साक्षाद् द‍ृष्टमिहाद्भ‍ुतम् ।
क्‍व याता अद्य ते ये मां व्यकर्षन् पाशपाणय: ॥ ३० ॥

Text

kim idaṁ svapna āho svit
sākṣād dṛṣṭam ihādbhutam
kva yātā adya te ye māṁ
vyakarṣan pāśa-pāṇayaḥ

Synonyms

kim — whether; idam — this; svapne — in a dream; āho svit — or; sākṣāt — directly; dṛṣṭam — seen; iha — here; adbhutam — wonderful; kva — where; yātāḥ — have gone; adya — now; te — all of them; ye — who; mām — me; vyakarṣan — were dragging; pāśa-pāṇayaḥ — with ropes in their hands.

Translation

Was this a dream I saw, or was it reality? I saw fearsome men with ropes in their hands coming to arrest me and drag me away. Where have they gone?

Devanagari

अथ ते क्‍व गता: सिद्धाश्चत्वारश्चारुदर्शना: ।
व्यामोचयन्नीयमानं बद्ध्वा पाशैरधो भुव: ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

atha te kva gatāḥ siddhāś
catvāraś cāru-darśanāḥ
vyāmocayan nīyamānaṁ
baddhvā pāśair adho bhuvaḥ

Synonyms

atha — thereafter; te — those persons; kva — where; gatāḥ — went; siddhāḥ — liberated; catvāraḥ — four personalities; cāru-darśanāḥ — extremely beautiful to see; vyāmocayan — they released; nīyamānam — me, who was being carried away; baddhvā — being arrested; pāśaiḥ — by ropes; adhaḥ bhuvaḥ — downward to the hellish region.

Translation

And where have those four liberated and very beautiful persons gone who released me from arrest and saved me from being dragged down to the hellish regions?

Purport

As we have learned from the descriptions in the Fifth Canto, the hellish planets are situated in the lower portions of this universe. Therefore they are called adho bhuvaḥ. Ajāmila could understand that the Yamadūtas had come from that region.

Devanagari

अथापि मे दुर्भगस्य विबुधोत्तमदर्शने ।
भवितव्यं मङ्गलेन येनात्मा मे प्रसीदति ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

athāpi me durbhagasya
vibudhottama-darśane
bhavitavyaṁ maṅgalena
yenātmā me prasīdati

Synonyms

atha — therefore; api — although; me — of me; durbhagasya — so unfortunate; vibudha-uttama — exalted devotees; darśane — because of seeing; bhavitavyam — there must be; maṅgalena — auspicious activities; yena — by which; ātmā — self; me — my; prasīdati — actually becomes happy.

Translation

I am certainly most abominable and unfortunate to have merged in an ocean of sinful activities, but nevertheless, because of my previous spiritual activities, I could see those four exalted personalities who came to rescue me. Now I feel exceedingly happy because of their visit.

Purport

As stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.54):

‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

“Association with devotees is recommended by all the śāstras because by even a moment of such association one can receive the seed for all perfection.” In the beginning of his life Ajāmila was certainly very pure, and he associated with devotees and brāhmaṇas; because of that pious activity, even though he was fallen, he was inspired to name his son Nārāyaṇa. Certainly this was due to good counsel given from within by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” The Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart, is so kind that if one has ever rendered service to Him, the Lord never forgets him. Thus the Lord, from within, gave Ajāmila the opportunity to name his youngest son Nārāyaṇa so that in affection he would constantly call “Nārāyaṇa! Nārāyaṇa!” and thus be saved from the most fearful and dangerous condition at the time of his death. Such is the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja: by the mercy of the guru and Kṛṣṇa, one receives the seed of bhakti. This association saves a devotee from the greatest fear. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we therefore change a devotee’s name to a form that reminds him of Viṣṇu. If at the time of death the devotee can remember his own name, such as Kṛṣṇadāsa or Govinda dāsa, he can be saved from the greatest danger. Therefore the change of names at the time of initiation is essential. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is so meticulous that it gives one a good opportunity to remember Kṛṣṇa somehow or other.

Devanagari

अन्यथा म्रियमाणस्य नाशुचेर्वृषलीपते: ।
वैकुण्ठनामग्रहणं जिह्वा वक्तुमिहार्हति ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

anyathā mriyamāṇasya
nāśucer vṛṣalī-pateḥ
vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇaṁ
jihvā vaktum ihārhati

Synonyms

anyathā — otherwise; mriyamāṇasya — of a person who is just ready for death; na — not; aśuceḥ — most unclean; vṛṣalī-pateḥ — the keeper of a prostitute; vaikuṇṭha — of the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha; nāma-grahaṇam — the chanting of the holy name; jihvā — the tongue; vaktum — to speak; iha — in this situation; arhati — is able.

Translation

Were it not for my past devotional service, how could I, a most unclean keeper of a prostitute, have gotten an opportunity to chant the holy name of Vaikuṇṭhapati when I was just ready to die? Certainly it could not have been possible.

Purport

The name Vaikuṇṭhapati, which means “the master of the spiritual world,” is not different from the name Vaikuṇṭha. Ajāmila, who was now a realized soul, could understand that because of his past spiritual activities in devotional service, he had gotten this opportunity to chant the holy name of Vaikuṇṭhapati in his horrible condition at the time of death.

Devanagari

क्‍व चाहं कितव: पापो ब्रह्मघ्नो निरपत्रप: ।
क्‍व च नारायणेत्येतद्भ‍गवन्नाम मङ्गलम् ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

kva cāhaṁ kitavaḥ pāpo
brahma-ghno nirapatrapaḥ
kva ca nārāyaṇety etad
bhagavan-nāma maṅgalam

Synonyms

kva — where; ca — also; aham — I; kitavaḥ — a cheater; pāpaḥ — all sins personified; brahma-ghnaḥ — the killer of my brahminical culture; nirapatrapaḥ — shameless; kva — where; ca — also; nārāyaṇa — Nārāyaṇa; iti — thus; etat — this; bhagavat-nāma — the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maṅgalam — all-auspicious.

Translation

Ajāmila continued: I am a shameless cheater who has killed his brahminical culture. Indeed, I am sin personified. Where am I in comparison to the all-auspicious chanting of the holy name of Lord Nārāyaṇa?

Purport

Those engaged in broadcasting the holy name of Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa, through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should always consider what our position was before we came and what it is now. We had fallen into abominable lives as meat-eaters, drunkards and woman hunters who performed all kinds of sinful activities, but now we have been given the opportunity to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore we should always appreciate this opportunity. By the grace of the Lord we are opening many branches, and we should use this good fortune to chant the holy name of the Lord and serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. We must be conscious of the difference between our present and past conditions and should always be very careful not to fall from the most exalted life.

Devanagari

सोऽहं तथा यतिष्यामि यतचित्तेन्द्रियानिल: ।
यथा न भूय आत्मानमन्धे तमसि मज्जये ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

so ’haṁ tathā yatiṣyāmi
yata-cittendriyānilaḥ
yathā na bhūya ātmānam
andhe tamasi majjaye

Synonyms

saḥ — such a person; aham — I; tathā — in that way; yatiṣyāmi — I shall endeavor; yata-citta-indriya — controlling the mind and senses; anilaḥ — and the internal airs; yathā — so that; na — not; bhūyaḥ — again; ātmānam — my soul; andhe — in darkness; tamasi — in ignorance; majjaye — I drown.

Translation

I am such a sinful person, but since I have now gotten this opportunity, I must completely control my mind, life and senses and always engage in devotional service so that I may not fall again into the deep darkness and ignorance of material life.

Purport

Every one of us should have this determination. We have been elevated to an exalted position by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, and if we remember that this is a great opportunity and pray to Kṛṣṇa that we will not fall again, our lives will be successful.

Devanagari

विमुच्य तमिमं बन्धमविद्याकामकर्मजम् ।
सर्वभूतसुहृच्छान्तो मैत्र: करुण आत्मवान् ॥ ३६ ॥
मोचये ग्रस्तमात्मानं योषिन्मय्यात्ममायया ।
विक्रीडितो ययैवाहं क्रीडामृग इवाधम: ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

vimucya tam imaṁ bandham
avidyā-kāma-karmajam
sarva-bhūta-suhṛc chānto
maitraḥ karuṇa ātmavān
mocaye grastam ātmānaṁ
yoṣin-mayyātma-māyayā
vikrīḍito yayaivāhaṁ
krīḍā-mṛga ivādhamaḥ

Synonyms

vimucya — having become free from; tam — that; imam — this; bandham — bondage; avidyā — due to ignorance; kāma — due to lusty desire; karma-jam — caused by activities; sarva-bhūta — of all living entities; suhṛt — friend; śāntaḥ — very peaceful; maitraḥ — friendly; karuṇaḥ — merciful; ātma-vān — self-realized; mocaye — I shall disentangle; grastam — encaged; ātmānam — my soul; yoṣit-mayyā — in the form of woman; ātma-māyayā — by the illusory energy of the Lord; vikrīḍitaḥ — played with; yayā — by which; eva — certainly; aham — I; krīḍā-mṛgaḥ — a controlled animal; iva — like; adhamaḥ — so fallen.

Translation

Because of identifying oneself with the body, one is subjected to desires for sense gratification, and thus one engages in many different types of pious and impious action. This is what constitutes material bondage. Now I shall disentangle myself from my material bondage, which has been caused by the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s illusory energy in the form of a woman. Being a most fallen soul, I was victimized by the illusory energy and have become like a dancing dog led around by a woman’s hand. Now I shall give up all lusty desires and free myself from this illusion. I shall become a merciful, well-wishing friend to all living entities and always absorb myself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Purport

This should be the standard of determination for all Kṛṣṇa conscious persons. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person should free himself from the clutches of māyā, and he should also be compassionate to all others suffering in those clutches. The activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are meant not only for oneself but for others also. This is the perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One who is interested in his own salvation is not as advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness as one who feels compassion for others and who therefore propagates the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Such an advanced devotee will never fall down, for Kṛṣṇa will give him special protection. That is the sum and substance of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Everyone is like a play toy in the hands of the illusory energy and is acting as she moves him. One should come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness to release oneself and also to release others.

Devanagari

ममाहमिति देहादौ हित्वामिथ्यार्थधीर्मतिम् ।
धास्ये मनो भगवति शुद्धं तत्कीर्तनादिभि: ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

mamāham iti dehādau
hitvāmithyārtha-dhīr matim
dhāsye mano bhagavati
śuddhaṁ tat-kīrtanādibhiḥ

Synonyms

mama — my; aham — I; iti — thus; deha-ādau — in the body and things related to the body; hitvā — giving up; amithyā — not false; artha — on values; dhīḥ — with my consciousness; matim — the attitude; dhāsye — I shall engage; manaḥ — my mind; bhagavati — on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śuddham — pure; tat — His name; kīrtana-ādibhiḥ — by chanting, hearing and so on.

Translation

Simply because I chanted the holy name of the Lord in the association of devotees, my heart is now becoming purified. Therefore I shall not fall victim again to the false lures of material sense gratification. Now that I have become fixed in the Absolute Truth, henceforward I shall not identify myself with the body. I shall give up false conceptions of “I” and “mine” and fix my mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Purport

How a living entity becomes a victim of the material condition is lucidly explained in this verse. The beginning is to misidentify the body as one’s self. Therefore Bhagavad-gītā begins with the spiritual instruction that one is not the body, but is within the body. This consciousness can be possible only if one chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and always keeps oneself in the association of devotees. This is the secret of success. Therefore we stress that one should chant the holy name of the Lord and keep oneself free from the contaminations of this material world, especially the contaminations of lusty desires for illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. With determination, one should vow to follow these principles and thus be saved from the miserable condition of material existence. The first necessity is to become freed from the bodily concept of life.

Devanagari

इति जातसुनिर्वेद: क्षणसङ्गेन साधुषु ।
गङ्गाद्वारमुपेयाय मुक्तसर्वानुबन्धन: ॥ ३९ ॥

Text

iti jāta-sunirvedaḥ
kṣaṇa-saṅgena sādhuṣu
gaṅgā-dvāram upeyāya
mukta-sarvānubandhanaḥ

Synonyms

iti — thus; jāta-sunirvedaḥ — (Ajāmila) who had become detached from the material conception of life; kṣaṇa-saṅgena — by a moment’s association; sādhuṣu — with devotees; gaṅgā-dvāram — to Hardwar (hari-dvāra), the doorway to Hari (because the Ganges begins there, Hardwar is also called gaṅgā-dvāra); upeyāya — went; mukta — being freed from; sarva-anubandhanaḥ — all kinds of material bondage.

Translation

Because of a moment’s association with devotees [the Viṣṇudūtas], Ajāmila detached himself from the material conception of life with determination. Thus freed from all material attraction, he immediately started for Hardwar.

Purport

The word mukta-sarvānubandhanaḥ indicates that after this incident, Ajāmila, not caring for his wife and children, went straight to Hardwar for further advancement in his spiritual life. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement now has centers in Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa so that those who want to live a retired life, whether they be devotees or not, can go there and with determination give up the bodily concept of life. One is welcome to live in those holy places for the rest of his life in order to achieve the highest success by the very simple method of chanting the holy name of the Lord and taking prasāda. Thus one may return home, back to Godhead. We do not have a center in Hardwar, but Vṛndāvana and Śrīdhāma Māyāpur are better for devotees than any other places. The Caitanya Candrodaya temple offers one a good opportunity to associate with devotees. Let us all take advantage of this opportunity.

Devanagari

स तस्मिन् देवसदन आसीनो योगमास्थित: ।
प्रत्याहृतेन्द्रियग्रामो युयोज मन आत्मनि ॥ ४० ॥

Text

sa tasmin deva-sadana
āsīno yogam āsthitaḥ
pratyāhṛtendriya-grāmo
yuyoja mana ātmani

Synonyms

saḥ — he (Ajāmila); tasmin — at that place (Hardwar); deva-sadane — in one Viṣṇu temple; āsīnaḥ — being situated; yogam āsthitaḥ — performed bhakti-yoga; pratyāhṛta — withdrawn from all activities of sense gratification; indriya-grāmaḥ — his senses; yuyoja — he fixed; manaḥ — the mind; ātmani — on the self or the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

In Hardwar, Ajāmila took shelter at a Viṣṇu temple, where he executed the process of bhakti-yoga. He controlled his senses and fully applied his mind in the service of the Lord.

Purport

The devotees who have joined the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may live comfortably in our many temples and engage in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus they can control the mind and senses and achieve the highest success in life. This is the process descending from time immemorial. Learning from the life of Ajāmila, we should vow with determination to do what is necessary to follow this path.

Devanagari

ततो गुणेभ्य आत्मानं वियुज्यात्मसमाधिना ।
युयुजे भगवद्धाम्नि ब्रह्मण्यनुभवात्मनि ॥ ४१ ॥

Text

tato guṇebhya ātmānaṁ
viyujyātma-samādhinā
yuyuje bhagavad-dhāmni
brahmaṇy anubhavātmani

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; guṇebhyaḥ — from the modes of material nature; ātmānam — the mind; viyujya — detaching; ātma-samādhinā — by being fully engaged in devotional service; yuyuje — engaged; bhagavat-dhāmni — in the form of the Lord; brahmaṇi — which is Parabrahman (not idol worship); anubhava-ātmani — which is always thought of (beginning from the lotus feet and gradually progressing upward).

Translation

Ajāmila fully engaged in devotional service. Thus he detached his mind from the process of sense gratification and became fully absorbed in thinking of the form of the Lord.

Purport

If one worships the Deity in the temple, one’s mind will naturally be absorbed in thought of the Lord and His form. There is no distinction between the form of the Lord and the Lord Himself. Therefore bhakti-yoga is the most easy system of yoga. Yogīs try to concentrate their minds upon the form of the Supersoul, Viṣṇu, within the heart, but this same objective is easily achieved when one’s mind is absorbed in the Deity worshiped in the temple. In every temple there is a transcendental form of the Lord, and one may easily think of this form. By seeing the Lord during ārati, by offering bhoga and by constantly thinking of the form of the Deity, one becomes a first-class yogī. This is the best process of yoga, as confirmed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47):

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntarātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

“Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” The first-class yogī is he who controls his senses and detaches himself from material activities by always thinking of the form of the Lord.

Devanagari

यर्ह्युपारतधीस्तस्मिन्नद्राक्षीत्पुरुषान् पुर: ।
उपलभ्योपलब्धान् प्राग्ववन्दे शिरसा द्विज: ॥ ४२ ॥

Text

yarhy upārata-dhīs tasminn
adrākṣīt puruṣān puraḥ
upalabhyopalabdhān prāg
vavande śirasā dvijaḥ

Synonyms

yarhi — when; upārata-dhīḥ — his mind and intelligence were fixed; tasmin — at that time; adrākṣīt — had seen; puruṣān — the persons (the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu); puraḥ — before him; upalabhya — getting; upalabdhān — who were gotten; prāk — previously; vavande — offered obeisances; śirasā — by the head; dvijaḥ — the brāhmaṇa.

Translation

When his intelligence and mind were fixed upon the form of the Lord, the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila once again saw before him four celestial persons. He could understand that they were those he had seen previously, and thus he offered them his obeisances by bowing down before them.

Purport

The Viṣṇudūtas who had rescued Ajāmila came before him again when his mind was firmly fixed upon the form of the Lord. The Viṣṇudūtas had gone away for some time to give Ajāmila a chance to become firmly fixed in meditation upon the Lord. Now that his devotion had matured, they returned to take him. Understanding that the same Viṣṇudūtas had returned, Ajāmila offered them his obeisances by bowing down before them.

Devanagari

हित्वा कलेवरं तीर्थे गङ्गायां दर्शनादनु ।
सद्य: स्वरूपं जगृहे भगवत्पार्श्ववर्तिनाम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Text

hitvā kalevaraṁ tīrthe
gaṅgāyāṁ darśanād anu
sadyaḥ svarūpaṁ jagṛhe
bhagavat-pārśva-vartinām

Synonyms

hitvā — giving up; kalevaram — the material body; tīrthe — in the holy place; gaṅgāyām — on the bank of the Ganges; darśanāt anu — after seeing; sadyaḥ — immediately; sva-rūpam — his original spiritual form; jagṛhe — he assumed; bhagavat-pārśva-vartinām — which is fit for an associate of the Lord.

Translation

Upon seeing the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila gave up his material body at Hardwar on the bank of the Ganges. He regained his original spiritual body, which was a body appropriate for an associate of the Lord.

Purport

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9):

janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

The result of perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is that after giving up one’s material body, one is immediately transferred to the spiritual world in one’s original spiritual body to become an associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Some devotees go to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, and others go to Goloka Vṛndāvana to become associates of Kṛṣṇa.

Devanagari

साकं विहायसा विप्रो महापुरुषकिङ्करै: ।
हैमं विमानमारुह्य ययौ यत्र श्रिय: पति: ॥ ४४ ॥

Text

sākaṁ vihāyasā vipro
mahāpuruṣa-kiṅkaraiḥ
haimaṁ vimānam āruhya
yayau yatra śriyaḥ patiḥ

Synonyms

sākam — along; vihāyasā — by the path in the sky, or the airways; vipraḥ — the brāhmaṇa (Ajāmila); mahāpuruṣa-kiṅkaraiḥ — with the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu; haimam — made of gold; vimānam — an airplane; āruhya — boarding; yayau — went; yatra — where; śriyaḥ patiḥ — Lord Viṣṇu, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

Translation

Accompanied by the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu, Ajāmila boarded an airplane made of gold. Passing through the airways, he went directly to the abode of Lord Viṣṇu, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

Purport

For many years, material scientists have tried to go to the moon, but they are still unable to go there. However, the spiritual airplanes from the spiritual planets can take one back home, back to Godhead, in a second. The speed of such a spiritual plane can only be imagined. Spirit is finer than the mind, and everyone has experience of how swiftly the mind travels from one place to another. Therefore one can imagine the swiftness of the spiritual form by comparing it to the speed of the mind. In less than even a moment, a perfect devotee can return home, back to Godhead, immediately after giving up his material body.

Devanagari

एवं स विप्लावितसर्वधर्मा
दास्या: पति: पतितो गर्ह्यकर्मणा ।
निपात्यमानो निरये हतव्रत:
सद्यो विमुक्तो भगवन्नाम गृह्णन् ॥ ४५ ॥

Text

evaṁ sa viplāvita-sarva-dharmā
dāsyāḥ patiḥ patito garhya-karmaṇā
nipātyamāno niraye hata-vrataḥ
sadyo vimukto bhagavan-nāma gṛhṇan

Synonyms

evam — in this way; saḥ — he (Ajāmila); viplāvita-sarva-dharmāḥ — who gave up all religious principles; dāsyāḥ patiḥ — the husband of a prostitute; patitaḥ — fallen; garhya-karmaṇā — by being engaged in abominable activities; nipātyamānaḥ — falling; niraye — in hellish life; hata-vrataḥ — who broke all his vows; sadyaḥ — immediately; vimuktaḥ — liberated; bhagavat-nāma — the holy name of the Lord; gṛhṇan — chanting.

Translation

Ajāmila was a brāhmaṇa who because of bad association had given up all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming most fallen, he stole, drank and performed other abominable acts. He even kept a prostitute. Thus he was destined to be carried away to hell by the order carriers of Yamarāja, but he was immediately rescued simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name Nārāyaṇa.

Devanagari

नात: परं कर्मनिबन्धकृन्तनं
मुमुक्षतां तीर्थपदानुकीर्तनात् ।
न यत्पुन: कर्मसु सज्जते मनो
रजस्तमोभ्यां कलिलं ततोऽन्यथा ॥ ४६ ॥

Text

nātaḥ paraṁ karma-nibandha-kṛntanaṁ
mumukṣatāṁ tīrtha-pādānukīrtanāt
na yat punaḥ karmasu sajjate mano
rajas-tamobhyāṁ kalilaṁ tato ’nyathā

Synonyms

na — not; ataḥ — therefore; param — better means; karma-nibandha — the obligation to suffer or undergo tribulations as a result of fruitive activities; kṛntanam — that which can completely cut off; mumukṣatām — of persons desiring to get out of the clutches of material bondage; tīrtha-pāda — about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand; anukīrtanāt — than constantly chanting under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master; na — not; yat — because; punaḥ — again; karmasu — in fruitive activities; sajjate — becomes attached; manaḥ — the mind; rajaḥ-tamobhyām — by the modes of passion and ignorance; kalilam — contaminated; tataḥ — thereafter; anyathā — by any other means.

Translation

Therefore one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance.

Purport

It has actually been seen that even after achieving so-called perfection, many karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs become attached to material activities again. Many so-called svāmīs and yogīs give up material activities as false (jagan mithyā), but after some time they nevertheless resume material activities by opening hospitals and schools or performing other activities for the benefit of the public. Sometimes they participate in politics, although still falsely declaring themselves sannyāsīs, members of the renounced order. The perfect conclusion, however, is that if one actually desires to get out of the material world, he must take to devotional service, which begins with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ: chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has actually proved this. In the Western countries, many young boys who were addicted to drugs and who had many other bad habits, which they could not give up, abandoned all those propensities and very seriously engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord as soon as they joined the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. In other words, this process is the perfect method of atonement for actions performed in rajaḥ and tamaḥ (passion and ignorance). As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.19):

tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ
kāma-lobhādayaś ca ye
ceta etair anāviddhaṁ
sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati

As a result of rajaḥ and tamaḥ, one becomes increasingly lusty and greedy, but when one takes to the process of chanting and hearing, one comes to the platform of goodness and becomes happy. As he advances in devotional service, all his doubts are completely eradicated (bhidyate hṛdaya-granthiś chidyante sarva-saṁśayāḥ). Thus the knot of his desire for fruitive activities is cut to pieces.

Devanagari

य एतं परमं गुह्यमितिहासमघापहम् ।
श‍ृणुयाच्छ्रद्धया युक्तो यश्च भक्त्यानुकीर्तयेत् ॥ ४७ ॥
न वै स नरकं याति नेक्षितो यमकिङ्करै: ।
यद्यप्यमङ्गलो मर्त्यो विष्णुलोके महीयते ॥ ४८ ॥

Text

ya etaṁ paramaṁ guhyam
itihāsam aghāpaham
śṛṇuyāc chraddhayā yukto
yaś ca bhaktyānukīrtayet
na vai sa narakaṁ yāti
nekṣito yama-kiṅkaraiḥ
yady apy amaṅgalo martyo
viṣṇu-loke mahīyate

Synonyms

yaḥ — anyone who; etam — this; paramam — very; guhyam — confidential; itihāsam — historical narration; agha-apaham — which frees one from all reactions to sins; śṛṇuyāt — hears; śraddhayā — with faith; yuktaḥ — endowed; yaḥ — one who; ca — also; bhaktyā — with great devotion; anukīrtayet — repeats; na — not; vai — indeed; saḥ — such a person; narakam — to hell; yāti — goes; na — not; īkṣitaḥ — is observed; yama-kiṅkaraiḥ — by the order carriers of Yamarāja; yadi api — although; amaṅgalaḥ — inauspicious; martyaḥ — a living entity with a material body; viṣṇu-loke — in the spiritual world; mahīyate — is welcomed and respectfully received.

Translation

Because this very confidential historical narration has the potency to vanquish all sinful reactions, one who hears or describes it with faith and devotion is no longer doomed to hellish life, regardless of his having a material body and regardless of how sinful he may have been. Indeed, the Yamadūtas, who carry out the orders of Yamarāja, do not approach him even to see him. After giving up his body, he returns home, back to Godhead, where he is very respectfully received and worshiped.

Devanagari

म्रियमाणो हरेर्नाम गृणन् पुत्रोपचारितम् ।
अजामिलोऽप्यगाद्धाम किमुत श्रद्धया गृणन् ॥ ४९ ॥

Text

mriyamāṇo harer nāma
gṛṇan putropacāritam
ajāmilo ’py agād dhāma
kim uta śraddhayā gṛṇan

Synonyms

mriyamāṇaḥ — at the time of death; hareḥ nāma — the holy name of Hari; gṛṇan — chanting; putra-upacāritam — indicating his son; ajāmilaḥ — Ajāmila; api — even; agāt — went; dhāma — to the spiritual world; kim uta — what to speak of; śraddhayā — with faith and love; gṛṇan — chanting.

Translation

While suffering at the time of death, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, and although the chanting was directed toward his son, he nevertheless returned home, back to Godhead. Therefore if one faithfully and inoffensively chants the holy name of the Lord, where is the doubt that he will return to Godhead?

Purport

At the time of death one is certainly bewildered because his bodily functions are in disorder. At that time, even one who throughout his life has practiced chanting the holy name of the Lord may not be able to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra very distinctly. Nevertheless, such a person receives all the benefits of chanting the holy name. While the body is fit therefore, why should we not chant the holy name of the Lord loudly and distinctly? If one does so, it is quite possible that even at the time of death he will be properly able to chant the holy name of the Lord with love and faith. In conclusion, one who chants the holy name of the Lord constantly is guaranteed to return home, back to Godhead, without a doubt.

Supplementary note to this chapter.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s commentary to texts 9 and 10 of this chapter form a dialogue concerning how one can become free from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord.

Someone may say, “It may be accepted that by chanting the holy name of the Lord one becomes freed from all the reactions of sinful life. However, if one commits sinful acts in full consciousness, not only once but many, many times, he is unable to free himself from the reactions of such sins even after atoning for them for twelve years or more. How is it possible, then, that simply by once chanting the holy name of the Lord one immediately becomes freed from the reactions of such sins?”

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura replies by quoting verses 9 and 10 of this chapter: “The chanting of the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brāhmaṇa, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers “Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.’”

One may atone for sinful life and vanquish all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name, although this is not called atonement. Ordinary atonement may temporarily protect a sinful person, but it does not completely cleanse his heart of the deep-rooted desire to commit sinful acts. Therefore atonement is not as powerful as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. In the śāstras it is said that if a person only once chants the holy name and completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord immediately considers him His ward and is always inclined to give him protection. This is confirmed by Śrīdhara Svāmī. Thus when Ajāmila was in great danger of being carried off by the order carriers of Yamarāja, the Lord immediately sent His personal order carriers to protect him, and because Ajāmila was freed from all sinful reactions, the Viṣṇudūtas spoke on his behalf.

Ajāmila had named his son Nārāyaṇa, and because he loved the boy very much, he would call him again and again. Although he was calling for his son, the name itself was powerful because the name Nārāyaṇa is not different from the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa. When Ajāmila named his son Nārāyaṇa, all the reactions of his sinful life were neutralized, and as he continued calling his son and thus chanting the holy name of Nārāyaṇa thousands of times, he was actually unconsciously advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

One may argue, “Since he was constantly chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa, how was it possible for him to be associating with a prostitute and thinking of wine?” By his sinful actions he was bringing suffering upon himself again and again, and therefore one may say that his ultimate chanting of Nārāyaṇa was the cause of his being freed. However, his chanting would then have been a nāma-aparādha. Nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ: one who continues to act sinfully and tries to neutralize his sins by chanting the holy name of the Lord is a nāma-aparādhī, an offender to the holy name. In response it may be said that Ajāmila’s chanting was inoffensive because he did not chant the name of Nārāyaṇa with the purpose of counteracting his sins. He did not know that he was addicted to sinful actions, nor did he know that his chanting of the name of Nārāyaṇa was neutralizing them. Thus he did not commit a nāma-aparādha, and his repeated chanting of the holy name of Nārāyaṇa while calling his son may be called pure chanting. Because of this pure chanting, Ajāmila unconsciously accumulated the results of bhakti. Indeed, even his first utterance of the holy name was sufficient to nullify all the sinful reactions of his life. To cite a logical example, a fig tree does not immediately yield fruits, but in time the fruits are available. Similarly, Ajāmila’s devotional service grew little by little, and therefore although he committed very sinful acts, the reactions did not affect him. In the śāstras it is said that if one chants the holy name of the Lord even once, the reactions of past, present or future sinful life do not affect him. To give another example, if one extracts the poison fangs of a serpent, this saves the serpent’s future victims from poisonous effects, even if the serpent bites repeatedly. Similarly, if a devotee chants the holy name even once inoffensively, this protects him eternally. He need only wait for the results of the chanting to mature in due course of time.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Second Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Ajāmila Delivered by the Viṣṇudūtas.”