Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.1.19.

Skandham-6.


Chapter-1. ( The History of the Life of Ajamila )


Slokam-19. ( Although not having fully realized Krishna, persons who have even once surrendered completely unto His lotus feet and who have become attracted to His name, form, qualities and pastimes are completely freed of all sinful reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement. Even in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamarāja or his order carriers, who are equipped with ropes to bind the sinful.)



sakrt    manah    krishna-padaravindayor   nivesitam   tad-guna-ragi   yairiha,



na   te    yamam    pasa-bhrtas    ca    tad-bhatan    svapnepi    pasyanti    hi    cirna-nishkrtah.



sakrt   =   once only; 

manah   =   the mind; 

krishna-pada-aravindayoh   =   unto the two lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; 

nivesitam   =   completely surrendered; 

tat   =   of Krishna; 

guna-ragi   =   which is somewhat attached to the qualities, name, fame and paraphernalia; 

yaih   =   by whom; 

iha   =   in this world; 

na   =    not; 

te   =   such persons; 

yamam   =   Yamaraja, the Lord of death; 

pasa-bhrtah   =   those who carry ropes (to catch sinful persons); 

ca   =   and; 

tat   =   his; 

bhatan   =   order carriers; 

svapne api   =   even in dreams; 

pasyanti   =   see; 

hi   =   indeed; 

cirna-nishkrtah   =   who have performed the right type of atonement.




Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (18.66):




sarva-dharman   parityajya  mam   ekamsaranam   vraja,


aham    tvam    sarva-papebhyomokshayisyami    masucah.



“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” This same principle is described here (sakmn manah krishna-padaravindayoh). If by studying Bhagavad-gita one decides to surrender to Krishna, he is immediately freed from all sinful reactions. It is also significant that Sri Suka Brahmarishi, having several times repeated the words vasudeva-parayana and narayana-parayana, finally says krishna-padaravindayoh. Thus he indicates that Krishna is the origin of both Narayana and Vasudeva. Even though Narayana and Vasudeva are not different from Krishna, simply by surrendering to Krishna one fully surrenders to all His expansions, such as Narayana, Vasudeva and Govinda. As Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (7.7), mattah parataram nanyat: “There is no truth superior to Me.” There are many names and forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Krishn is the supreme form (krishnas tu bhagavan svayam). Therefore Krishna recommends to neophyte devotees that one should surrender unto Him only (mam ekam). Because neophyte devotees cannot understand what the forms of Narayana, Vasudeva and Govinda are, Krishna directly says, mam ekam. Herein, this is also supported by the word krishn-padaravindayoh. Narayana does not speak personally, but Krishna, or Vasudeva, does, as in Bhagavad-gita for example. Therefore, to follow the direction of Bhagavad-gita means to surrender unto Krishna, and to surrender in this way is the highest perfection of bhakti-yoga.



Parikshit Maharaja had inquired from Sri Suka Brahmarishi how one can be saved from falling into the various conditions of hellish life. In this slokam Rishi answers that a soul who has surrendered to Krishna certainly cannot go to naraka, hellish existence. To say nothing of going there, even in his dreams he does not see Yamaraja or his order carriers, who are able to take one there. In other words, if one wants to save himself from falling into naraka, hellish life, he should fully surrender to Krishna. The word sakṛt is significant because it indicates that if one sincerely surrenders to Krishna once, he is saved even if by chance he falls down by committing sinful activities. 


Therefore Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.30):



“Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.” If one never for a moment forgets Kṛṣṇa, he is safe even if by chance he falls down by committing sinful acts.



In the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita (2.40) the Lord also says:



“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”



Elsewhere in the Gita (6.40) the Lord says :


“one who performs auspicious activity is never overcome by evil.” The highest kalyana (auspicious) activity is to surrender to Krishna. That is the only path by which to save oneself from falling down into hellish life."



Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati has confirmed this as follows:



The sinful actions of one who has surrendered unto Krishna are compared to a snake with its poison fangs removed. Such a snake is no longer to be feared. Of course, one should not commit sinful activities on the strength of having surrendered to Krishna. However, even if one who has surrendered to Krishna happens to do something sinful because of his former habits, such sinful actions no longer have a destructive effect. Therefore one should adhere to the lotus feet of Krishna very tightly and serve Him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be akuto-bhaya, free from fear.

To be continued ...