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
ទោះមិនទាន់ដឹងច្បាស់អំពីព្រះក្រឹស្ណាក៏ដោយ អ្នកណាដែលបានដាក់ចិត្តម្តងទៀតលើព្រះបាទផ្កាឈូករបស់ព្រះองค์ និងស្រឡាញ់ព្រះនាម ព្រះរូប ព្រះគុណ និងលីឡា នោះរួចផុតពីផលបាបទាំងអស់—នេះហើយជាប្រាយស្ចិត្ដពិត; សូម្បីក្នុងសុបិនក៏មិនឃើញយមរាជ ឬយមទូតកាន់ខ្សែចងទេ។
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) :
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.