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
Sans même avoir pleinement réalisé Kṛṣṇa, ceux qui, ne fût-ce qu’une fois, ont entièrement déposé leur cœur aux pieds de lotus du Seigneur et se sont épris de Son nom, de Sa forme, de Ses qualités et de Ses līlā, sont délivrés de toute réaction pécheresse: telle est la véritable expiation. Même en rêve, ils ne voient ni Yamarāja ni ses messagers porteurs de liens.
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.