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
Aunque no hayan realizado plenamente a Kṛṣṇa, quienes siquiera una vez han rendido por completo su mente a Sus pies de loto y se han enamorado de Su nombre, forma, cualidades y līlās, quedan libres de toda reacción pecaminosa: ésa es la expiación verdadera. Ni en sueños ven a Yamarāja ni a sus mensajeros portadores de sogas.
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.