Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 19
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
सकृन्मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो- र्निवेशितं तद्गुणरागि यैरिह । न ते यमं पाशभृतश्च तद्भटान् स्वप्नेऽपि पश्यन्ति हि चीर्णनिष्कृता: ॥ १९ ॥
sakṛn manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor niveśitaṁ tad-guṇa-rāgi yair iha na te yamaṁ pāśa-bhṛtaś ca tad-bhaṭān svapne ’pi paśyanti hi cīrṇa-niṣkṛtāḥ
যিসকলে একবাৰো মন শ্ৰীকৃষ্ণৰ পদপদ্মত সম্পূৰ্ণভাৱে নিবিষ্ট কৰি, তেওঁৰ নাম-ৰূপ-গুণ-লীলা প্ৰতি আসক্ত হয়, তেওঁলোক সকলো পাপফলৰ পৰা মুক্ত—ইয়াই সত্য নিষ্কৃতি; তেনে শৰণাগতসকলে সপোনতো যমৰাজ বা পাষধাৰী যমদূতক নেদেখে।
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) :
FAQs
This verse teaches that the deepest atonement is to fix the mind on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and become attached to His qualities; such devotion purifies one so thoroughly that Yama and his messengers no longer approach.
In Canto 6, Chapter 1, Śukadeva explains the contrast between karmic punishment and devotional purification: remembrance of Kṛṣṇa nullifies the jurisdiction of Yama’s agents over the devotee.
Begin daily with a brief, sincere moment of remembrance—chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names or contemplating His qualities—so the mind develops attachment to devotion rather than fear, guilt, or anxiety.