Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for Mankind | Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.1.19
sakrin manah krishna-padāravindayor
niveśitam tad-guna-rāgi yair iha
na te yamam pāśa-bhritaś ca tad-bhatān
svapne 'pi paśyanti hi cīrna-nishkritāh
SYNONYMS
sakrit — once only; manah — the mind; krishna-pada-aravindayoh — unto the two lotus feet of Lord Krishna; niveśitam — completely surrendered; tat — of Krishna; guna-rāgi — which is somewhat attached to the qualities, name, fame and paraphernalia; yaih — by whom; iha — in this world; na — not; te — such persons; yamam — Yamarāja, the superintendent of death; pāśa-bhritah — those who carry ropes (to catch sinful persons); ca — and; tat — his; bhatān — order carriers; svapne api — even in dreams; paśyanti — see; hi — indeed; cīrna-nishkritāh — who have performed the right type of atonement.
TRANSLATION
Although not having fully realized Krishna, persons who have even once surrendered completely unto His lotus feet and who have become attracted to His name, form, qualities and pastimes are completely freed of all sinful reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement. Even in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamarāja or his order carriers, who are equipped with ropes to bind the sinful.
PURPORT
Krishna says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." This same principle is described here (sakrin manah krishna-padāravindayoh). If by studying Bhagavad-gītā one decides to surrender to Krishna, he is immediately freed from all sinful reactions. It is also significant that Śukadeva Gosvāmī, having several times repeated the words vāsudeva-parāyana and nārāyana-parāyana, finally says krishna-padāravindayoh. Thus he indicates that Krishna is the origin of both Nārāyana and Vāsudeva. Even though Nārāyana and Vāsudeva are not different from Krishna, simply by surrendering to Krishna one fully surrenders to all His expansions, such as Nārāyana, Vāsudeva and Govinda. As Krishna says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.7), mattah parataram nānyat: "There is no truth superior to Me." There are many names and forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Krishna is the supreme form (krishnas tu bhagavān svayam). Therefore Krishna recommends to neophyte devotees that one should surrender unto Him only (mām ekam). Because neophyte devotees cannot understand what the forms of Nārāyana, Vāsudeva and Govinda are, Krishna directly says, mām ekam. Herein, this is also supported by the word krishna-padāravindayoh. Nārāyana does not speak personally, but Krishna, or Vāsudeva, does, as in Bhagavad-gītā for example. Therefore, to follow the direction of Bhagavad-gītā means to surrender unto Krishna, and to surrender in this way is the highest perfection of bhakti-yoga.
Parīkshit Mahārāja had inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī how one can be saved from falling into the various conditions of hellish life. In this verse Śukadeva Gosvāmī answers that a soul who has surrendered to Krishna certainly cannot go to naraka, hellish existence. To say nothing of going there, even in his dreams he does not see Yamarāja or his order carriers, who are able to take one there. In other words, if one wants to save himself from falling into naraka, hellish life, he should fully surrender to Krishna. The word sakrit is significant because it indicates that if one sincerely surrenders to Krishna once, he is saved even if by chance he falls down by committing sinful activities. Therefore Krishna says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.30):
"Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated." If one never for a moment forgets Krishna, he is safe even if by chance he falls down by committing sinful acts.
In the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (2.40) the Lord also says:
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti
"In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear."
Elsewhere in the Gītā (6.40) the Lord says, na hi kalyāna-krit kaścid durgatim tāta gacchati: "one who performs auspicious activity is never overcome by evil." The highest kalyāna (auspicious) activity is to surrender to Krishna. That is the only path by which to save oneself from falling down into hellish life. Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī has confirmed this as follows:
kaivalyam narakāyate tri-daśa-pūr ākāśa-pushpāyate
durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-patalī protkhāta-damshtrāyate
viśvam pūrna-sukhāyate vidhi-mahendrādiś ca kītāyate
yat-kārunya-katāksha-vaibhavavatām tam gauram eva stumah
The sinful actions of one who has surrendered unto Krishna are compared to a snake with its poison fangs removed (protkhāta-damshtrāyate). Such a snake is no longer to be feared. Of course, one should not commit sinful activities on the strength of having surrendered to Krishna. However, even if one who has surrendered to Krishna happens to do something sinful because of his former habits, such sinful actions no longer have a destructive effect. Therefore one should adhere to the lotus feet of Krishna very tightly and serve Him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be akuto-bhaya, free from fear.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness