Shloka 31
Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name
तस्मात् सङ्कीर्तनं विष्णोर्जगन्मङ्गलमंहसाम् । महतामपि कौरव्य विद्ध्यैकान्तिकनिष्कृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥
tasmāt saṅkīrtanaṁ viṣṇor jagan-maṅgalam aṁhasām mahatām api kauravya viddhy aikāntika-niṣkṛtam
เพราะฉะนั้น โอ้กษัตริย์เชื้อสายกุรุ การสังคีรตนะพระนามของพระวิษณุเป็นมงคลสูงสุดแก่ทั้งจักรวาล และสามารถถอนรากผลแห่งบาปใหญ่ยิ่งได้ จงรู้เถิดว่านี่คือการชำระบาปอันเด็ดขาดที่สุด
We should note that although Ajāmila chanted the name of Nārāyaṇa imperfectly, he was delivered from all sinful reactions. The chanting of the holy name is so auspicious that it can free everyone from the reactions of sinful activities. One should not conclude that one may continue to sin with the intention of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa to neutralize the reactions. Rather, one should be very careful to be free from all sins and never think of counteracting sinful activities by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, for this is another offense. If by chance a devotee accidentally performs some sinful activity, the Lord will excuse him, but one should not intentionally perform sinful acts.
FAQs
This verse declares that saṅkīrtana—glorifying Lord Viṣṇu—is the ultimate and exclusive atonement, effective even for the greatest sins.
Śukadeva is speaking to Parīkṣit Mahārāja, a descendant of the Kuru dynasty, and emphasizes to him that devotion expressed as Viṣṇu-saṅkīrtana surpasses ordinary penitential rituals.
Make regular chanting and hearing of Viṣṇu’s names (alone or with others) a daily practice, using it as the primary spiritual remedy rather than relying only on external or occasional forms of repentance.