Shloka 20
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
यस्य ह वाव क्षुतपतनप्रस्खलनादिषु विवश: सकृन्नामाभिगृणन् पुरुष: कर्मबन्धनमञ्जसा विधुनोति यस्य हैव प्रतिबाधनं मुमुक्षवोऽन्यथैवोपलभन्ते ॥ २० ॥
yasya ha vāva kṣuta-patana-praskhalanādiṣu vivaśaḥ sakṛn nāmābhigṛṇan puruṣaḥ karma-bandhanam añjasā vidhunoti yasya haiva pratibādhanaṁ mumukṣavo ’nyathaivopalabhante.
വിശപ്പാൽ വലയുകയോ വീഴുകയോ ഇടറുകയോ ചെയ്ത് അശക്തനായ ഒരാൾ പോലും ഭഗവാന്റെ പരിശുദ്ധ നാമം ഒരിക്കൽ—ഇച്ഛയോടെയോ അനിച്ഛയോടെയോ—ഉച്ചരിച്ചാൽ, അവൻ ക്ഷണത്തിൽ തന്നെ കർമബന്ധനഫലങ്ങളെ കഴുകി നീക്കും. എന്നാൽ അതേ മോചനത്തെ നേടാൻ കർമത്തിൽ കുടുങ്ങിയവർ യോഗാദി ശ്രമങ്ങളിൽ അനവധി തടസ്സങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു.
It is not a fact that one has to offer his material possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and be liberated before he can engage in devotional service. A devotee automatically attains liberation without separate endeavors. Bali Mahārāja did not get back all his material possessions merely because of his charity to the Lord. One who becomes a devotee, free from material desires and motives, regards all opportunities, both material and spiritual, as benedictions from the Lord, and in this way his service to the Lord is never hampered. Bhukti, material enjoyment, and mukti, liberation, are only by-products of devotional service. A devotee need not work separately to attain mukti. Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura said, muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjaliḥ sevate ’smān: a pure devotee of the Lord does not have to endeavor separately for mukti, because mukti is always ready to serve him.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even an involuntary utterance of the Lord’s name—during sneezing, slipping, or distress—can swiftly destroy karmic bondage because the name is spiritually potent.
The verse indicates that the Lord’s restraining power (pratibādhana) can act in unexpected ways; mere pursuit of impersonal liberation may meet impediments unless aligned with His will and devotion.
Make the Lord’s name a daily habit (japa/kīrtana) so remembrance becomes natural in all situations, reducing karmic entanglement and strengthening devotion.