सिमद भागवतम चंतो ६ बाब 2

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6 (Bab 2)

Chapter Two: Ajâmila Delivered by the Visnudûtas

TEXT 1

srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

evam te bhagavad-dûtâ

yamadûtâbhibhâsitam

upadhâryâtha tân râjan

pratyâhur naya-kovidâh

srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî, the son of Vyâsadeva, said; evam--thus; te--they; bhagavat-dûtâh--the servants of Lord Visnu; yamadûta--by the servants of Yamarâja; abhibhâsitam--what was spoken; upadhârya--hearing; atha--then; tân--unto them; râjan--O King; pratyâhuh--replied properly; naya-kovidâh--being conversant in good arguments or good logic.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, the servants of Lord Visnu are always very expert in logic and arguments. After hearing the statements of the Yamadutas, they replied as follows.

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TEXT 2

srî-visnudûtâ ûcuh

aho kastam dharma-drsâm

adharmah sprsate sabhâm

yatrâdandyesv apâpesu

dando yair dhriyate vrthâ

srî-visnudûtâh ûcuh--the Visnudûtas said; aho--alas; kastam--how painful it is; dharma-drsâm--of persons interested in maintaining religion; adharmah--irreligion; sprsate--is affecting; sabhâm--the assembly; yatra--wherein; adandyesu--upon persons not to be punished; apâpesu--who are sinless; dandah--punishment; yaih--by whom; dhriyate--is being allotted; vrthâ--unnecessarily.

TRANSLATION

The Visnudutas said: Alas, how painful it is that irreligion is being introduced into an assembly where religion should be maintained. Indeed, those in charge of maintaining the religious principles are needlessly punishing a sinless, unpunishable person.

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TEXT 3

prajânâm pitaro ye ca

sâstârah sâdhavah samâh

yadi syât tesu va isamyam

kam yânti saranam prajâh

prajânam--of the citizens; pitarah--protectors, guardians (kings or government servants); ye--they who; ca--and; sâstârah--give instructions concerning law and order; sâdhavah--endowed with all good qualities; samâh--equal to everyone; yadi--if; syât--there is; tesu--among them; vaisamyam--partiality; kam--what; yânti--will go to; saranam--shelter; prajâh--the citizens.

TRANSLATION

A king or governmental official should be so well qualified that he acts as a father, maintainer and protector of the citizens because of affection and love. He should give the citizens good advice and instructions according to the standard scriptures and should be equal to everyone. Yamaraja does this, for he is the supreme master of justice, and so do those who follow in his footsteps. However, if such persons become polluted and exhibit partiality by punishing an innocent, blameless person, where will the citizens go to take shelter for their maintenance and security?

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TEXT 4

yad yad âcarati sreyân

itaras tat tad îhate

sa yat pramânam kurute

lokas tad anuvartate

yatyat--whatever; âcarati--executes; sreyân--a first-class man with full knowledge of religious principles; itarah--the subordinate man; tat tat--that; îhate--performs; sah--he (the great man); yat--whatever; pramânam--as evidence or as the right thing; kurute--accepts; lokah--the general public; tat--that; anuvartate--follows.

TRANSLATION

The mass of people follow the example of a leader in society and imitate his behavior. They accept as evidence whatever the leader accepts.

PURPORT

Although Ajamila was not punishable, the Yamadutas were insisting on taking him away to Yamaraja for punishment. This was adharma, contrary to religious principles. The Visnudutas feared that if such irreligious acts were allowed, the management of human society would be spoiled. In modern times, the Krsna consciousness movement is trying to introduce the right principles of management for human society, but unfortunately the governments of Kali-yuga do not properly support the Hare Krsna movement because they do not appreciate its valuable service. The Hare Krsna movement is the right movement for ameliorating the fallen condition of human society, and therefore governments and public leaders in every part of the world should support this movement to completely rectify humanity's sinful condition.

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TEXT 5-6

yasyânke sira âdhâya

lokah svapiti nirvrtah

svayam dharmam adharmam vâ

na hi veda yathâ pasuh

sa katham nyarpitâtmânam

krta-maitram acetanam

visrambhanîyo bhûtânâm

saghrno dogdhum arhati

yasya--of whom; anke--on the lap; sirah--the head; âdhâya--placing; lokah--the general mass of people; svapiti--sleep; nirvrtah--in peace; svayam--personally; dharmam--religious principles or the goal of life; adharmam--irreligious principles; vâ--or; na--not; hi--indeed; veda--know; yathâ--exactly like; pasuh--an animal; sah--such a person; katham--how; nyarpita-âtmânam--unto the living entity who has fully surrendered; krta-maitram--endowed with good faith and friendship; acetanam--with undeveloped consciousness, foolish; visrambhanîyah--deserving to be the object of faith; bhûtânâm--of the living entities; sa-ghrnah--who has a soft heart for the good of all people; dogdhum--to give pain; arhati--is able.

TRANSLATION

People in general are not very advanced in knowledge by which to discriminate between religion and irreligion. The innocent, unenlightened citizen is like an ignorant animal sleeping in peace with its head on the lap of its master, faithfully believing in the master's protection. If a leader is actually kindhearted and deserves to be the object of a living entity's faith, how can he punish or kill a foolish person who has fully surrendered in good faith and friendship?

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TEXT 7

ayam hi krta-nirveso

janma-koty-amhasâm api

yad vyâjahâra vivaso

nâma svasty-ayanam hareh

ayam--this person (Ajâmila); hi--indeed; krta-nirvesah--has undergone all kinds of atonement; janma--of births; koti--of millions; amhasâm--for the sinful activities; api--even; yat--because; vyâjahâra--he has chanted; vivasah--in a helpless condition; nâma--the holy name; svasti-ayanam--the means of liberation; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Ajamila has already atoned for all his sinful actions. Indeed, he has atoned not only for sins performed in one life but for those performed in millions of lives, for in a helpless condition he chanted the holy name of Narayana. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offense, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation.

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TEXT 8

etenaiva hy aghono 'sya

krtam syâd agha-niskrtam

yadâ nârâyanâyeti

jagâda catur-aksaram

etena--by this (chanting); eva--indeed; hi--certainly; aghonah--who possesses sinful reactions; asya--of this (Ajâmila); krtam--performed; syât--is; agha--of sins; niskrtam--complete atonement; yadâ--when; nârâyana--O Nârâyana (the name of his son); âya--please come; iti--thus; jagâda--he chanted; catuh-aksaram--the four syllables (nâ-râ-ya-na).

TRANSLATION

The Visnudutas continued: Even previously, while eating and at other times, this Ajamila would call his son, saying, "My dear Narayana, please come here." Although calling the name of his son, he nevertheless uttered the four syllables na-ra-ya-na. Simply by chanting the name of Narayana in this way, he sufficiently atoned for the sinful reactions of millions of lives.

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TEXT 9-10

stenah surâ-po mitra-dhrug

brahma-hâ guru-talpa-gah

strî-râja-pitr-go-hantâ

ye ca pâtakino 'pare

sarvesâm apy aghavatâm

idam eva suniskrtam

nâma-vyâharanam visnor

yatas tad-visayâ matih

stenah--one who steals; surâ-pah--a drunkard; mitra-dhruk--one who turns against a friend or relative; brahma-hâ--one who kills a brâhmana; guru-talpa-gah--one who indulges in sex with the wife of his teacher or guru; strî--women; râja--king; pitr--father; go--of cows; hantâ--the killer; ye--those who; ca--also; pâtakinah--committed sinful activities; apare--many others; sarvesâm--of all of them; api--although; agha-vatâm--persons who have committed many sins; idam--this; eva--certainly; su-niskrtam--perfect atonement; nâma-vyâharanam--chanting of the holy name; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; yatah--because of which; tat-visayâ--on the person who chants the holy name; matih--His attention.

TRANSLATION

The chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Visnu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, "Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection."

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TEXT 11

na niskrtair uditair brahma-vâdibhis

tathâ visuddhyaty aghavân vratâdibhih

yathâ harer nâma-padair udâhrtais

tad uttamasloka-gunopalambhakam

na--not; niskrtaih--by the processes of atonement; uditaih--prescribed; brahma-vâdibhih--by learned scholars such as Manu; tathâ--to that extent; visuddhyati--becomes purified; agha-vân--a sinful man; vrata-âdibhih--by observing the vows and regulative principles; yathâ--as; hareh--of Lord Hari; nâma-padaih--by the syllables of the holy name; udâhrtaih--chanted; tat--that; uttamasloka--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna--of the transcendental qualities; upalambhakam--reminding one.

TRANSLATION

By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting once the holy name of Lord Hari. Although ritualistic atonement may free one from sinful reactions, it does not awaken devotional service, unlike the chanting of the Lord's names, which reminds one of the Lord's fame, qualities, attributes, pastimes and paraphernalia.

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TEXT 12

naikântikam tad dhi krte 'pi niskrte

manah punar dhâvati ced asat-pathe

tat karma-nirhâram abhîpsatâm harer

gunânuvâdah khalu sattva-bhâvanah

na--not; aikântikam--absolutely cleansed; tat--the heart; hi--because; krte--very nicely performed; api--although; niskrte--atonement; manah--the mind; punah--again; dhâvati--runs; cet--if; asat-pathe--on the path of material activities; tat--therefore; karma-nirhâram--cessation of the fruitive reactions of material activities; abhîpsatam--for those who seriously want; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna-anuvâdah--constant chanting of the glories; khalu--indeed; sattva-bhâvanah--actually purifying one's existence.

TRANSLATION

The ritualistic ceremonies of atonement recommended in the religious scriptures are insufficient to cleanse the heart absolutely because after atonement one's mind again runs toward material activities. Consequently, for one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one's heart completely.

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TEXT 13

athainam mâpanayata

krtâsesâgha-niskrtam

yad asau bhagavan-nâma

mriyamânah samagrahît

atha--therefore; enam--him (Ajâmila); mâ--do not; apanayata--try to take; krta--already done; asesa--unlimited; agha-niskrtam--atonement for his sinful actions; yat--because; asau--he; bhagavat-nâma--the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mriyamânah--while dying; samagrahît--perfectly chanted.

TRANSLATION

At the time of death, this Ajamila helplessly and very loudly chanted the holy name of the Lord, Narayana. That chanting alone has already freed him from the reactions of all sinful life. Therefore, O servants of Yamaraja, do not try to take him to your master for punishment in hellish conditions.

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TEXT 14

sânketyam pârihâsyam vâ

stobham helanam eva vâ

vaikuntha-nâma-grahanam

asesâgha-haram viduh

sânketyam--as an assignation; pârihâsyam--jokingly; vâ--or; stobham--as musical entertainment; helanam--neglectfully; eva--certainly; vâ--or; vaikuntha--of the Lord; nâma-grahanam--chanting the holy name; asesa--unlimited; agha-haram--neutralizing the effect of sinful life; viduh--advanced transcendentalists know.

TRANSLATION

One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures.

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TEXT 15

patitah skhalito bhagnah

sandastas tapta âhatah

harir ity avasenâha

pumân nârhati yâtanâh

patitah--fallen down; skhalitah--slipped; bhagnah--having broken his bones; sandastah--bitten; taptah--severely attacked by fever or similar painful conditions; âhatah--injured; harih--Lord Krsna; iti--thus; avasena--accidentally; aha--chants; pumân--a person; na--not; arhati--deserves; yâtanâh--hellish conditions.

TRANSLATION

If one chants the holy name of Hari and then dies because of an accidental misfortune, such as falling from the top of a house, slipping and suffering broken bones while traveling on the road, being bitten by a serpent, being afflicted with pain and high fever, or being injured by a weapon, one is immediately absolved from having to enter hellish life, even though he is sinful.

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TEXT 16

gurûnâm ca laghûnâm ca

gurûni ca laghûni ca

prâyascittâni pâpânâm

jnâtvoktâni maharsibhih

gurûnâm--heavy; ca--and; laghûnâm--light; ca--also; gurûni--heavy; ca--and; laghûni--light; ca--also; prâyascittâni--the processes of atonement; pâpânâm--of sinful activities; jnâtvâ--knowing perfectly well; uktâni--have been prescribed; mahâ-rsibhih--by great sages.

TRANSLATION

Authorities who are learned scholars and sages have carefully ascertained that one should atone for the heaviest sins by undergoing a heavy process of atonement and one should atone for lighter sins by undergoing lighter atonement. Chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, however, vanquishes all the effects of sinful activities, regardless of whether heavy or light.

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TEXT 17

tais tâny aghâni pûyante

tapo-dâna-vratâdibhih

nâdharmajam tad-dhrdayam

tad apîsânghri-sevayâ

taih--by those; tâni--all those; aghâni--sinful activities and their results; pûyante--become vanquished; tapah--austerity; dâna--charity; vrata-âdibhih--by vows and other such activities; na--not; adharma jam--produced from irreligious actions; tat--of that; hrdayam--the heart; tat--that; api--also; îsa-anghri--of the lotus feet of the Lord; sevayâ--by service.

TRANSLATION

Although one may neutralize the reactions of sinful life through austerity, charity, vows and other such methods, these pious activities cannot uproot the material desires in one's heart. However, if one serves the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, he is immediately freed from all such contaminations.

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TEXT 18

ajnânâd athavâ jnânâd

uttamasloka-nâma yat

sankîrtitam agham pumso

dahed edho yathânalah

ajnânât--out of ignorance; athavâ--or; jnânât--with knowledge; uttamasloka--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nâma--the holy name; yat--that which; sankîrtitam--chanted; agham--sin; pumsah--of a person; dahet--burns to ashes; edhah--dry grass; yathâ--just as; analah--fire.

TRANSLATION

As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one's sinful activities.

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TEXT 19

yathâgadam vîryatamam

upayuktam yadrcchayâ

ajânato 'py âtma-gunam

kuryân mantro 'py udâhrtah

yathâ--just like; agadam--medicine; vîrya-tamam--very powerful; upayuktam--properly taken; yadrcchayâ--somehow or other; ajânatah--by a person without knowledge; api--even; âtma-gunam--its own potency; kuryât--manifests; mantrah--the Hare Krsna mantra; api--also; udâhrtah--chanted.

TRANSLATION

If a person unaware of the effective potency of a certain medicine takes that medicine or is forced to take it, it will act even without his knowledge because its potency does not depend on the patient's understanding. Similarly, even though one does not know the value of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if one chants knowingly or unknowingly, the chanting will be very effective.

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TEXT 20

srî-suka uvâca

ta evam suvinirnîya

dharmam bhâgavatam nrpa

tam yâmya-pâsân nirmucya

vipram mrtyor amûmucan

srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; te--they (the order carriers of Lord Visnu); evam--thus; su-vinirnîya--perfectly ascertaining; dharmam--real religion; bhâgavatam--in terms of devotional service; nrpa--O King; tam--him (Ajâmila); yâmya-pâsât--from the bondage of the order carriers of Yamarâja; nirmucya--releasing; vipram--the brâhmana; mrtyoh--from death; amûmucan--rescued.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, having thus perfectly judged the principles of devotional service with reasoning and arguments, the order carriers of Lord Visnu released the brahmana Ajamila from the bondage of the Yamadutas and saved him from imminent death.

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TEXT 21

iti pratyuditâ yâmyâ

dûtâ yâtvâ yamântikam

yama-râjne yathâ sarvam

âcacaksur arindama

iti--thus; pratyuditâh--having been replied to (by the order carriers of Visnu); yâmyâh--the servants of Yamarâja; dûtâh--the messengers; yâtvâ--going; yama-antikam--to the abode of Lord Yamarâja; yama-râjne--unto King Yamarâja; yathâ--duly; sarvam--everything; âcacaksuh--informed in full detail; arindama--O subduer of the enemies.

TRANSLATION

My dear Maharaja Pariksit, O subduer of all enemies, after the servants of Yamaraja had been answered by the order carriers of Lord Visnu, they went to Yamaraja and explained to him everything that had happened.

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TEXT 22

dvijah pâsâd vinirmukto

gata-bhîh prakrtim gatah

vavande sirasâ visnoh

kinkarân darsanotsavah

dvijah--the brâhmana (Ajâmila); pâsât--from the noose; vinirmuktah--being released; gata-bhîh--freed from fear; prakrtim gatah--came to his senses; vavande--offered his respectful obeisances; sirasâ--by bowing his head; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; kinkarân--unto the servants; darsana-utsavah--very pleased by seeing them.

TRANSLATION

Having been released from the nooses of Yamaraja's servants, the brahmana Ajamila, now free from fear, came to his senses and immediately offered obeisances to the Visnudutas by bowing his head at their lotus feet. He was extremely pleased by their presence, for he had seen them save his life from the hands of the servants of Yamaraja.

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TEXT 23

tam vivaksum abhipretya

mahâpurusa-kinkarâh

sahasâ pasyatas tasya

tatrântardadhire 'nagha

tam--him (Ajâmila); vivaksum--desiring to speak; abhipretya--understanding; mahâpurusa-kinkarâh--the order carriers of Lord Visnu; sahasâ--suddenly; pasyatah tasya--while he looked on; tatra--there; antardadhire--disappeared; anagha--O sinless Mahârâja Parîksit.

TRANSLATION

O sinless Maharaja Pariksit, the order carriers of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Visnudutas, saw that Ajamila was attempting to say something, and thus they suddenly disappeared from his presence.

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TEXT 24-25

ajâmilo 'py athâkarnya

dûtânâm yama-krsnayoh

dharmam bhâgavatam suddham

trai-vedyam ca gunâsrayam



bhaktimân bhagavaty âsu

mâhâtmya-sravanâd dhareh

anutâpo mahân âsit

smarato 'subham âtmanah

ajâmilah--Ajâmila; api--also; atha--thereafter; âkarnya--hearing; dûtânâm--of the order carriers; yama-krsnayoh--of Yamarâja and Lord Krsna; dharmam--actual religious principles; bhâgavatam--as described in Srîmad-Bhâgavatam, or concerning the relationship between the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; suddham--pure; trai-vedyam--mentioned in three Vedas; ca--also; guna-asrayam--material religion, under the modes of material nature;

bhakti-mân--a pure devotee (cleansed of the modes of material nature); bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âsu--immediately; mâhâtmya--glorification of the name, fame, etc.; sravanât--because of hearing; hareh--of Lord Hari; anutâpah--regret; mahân--very great; âsît--there was; smaratah--remembering; asubham--all the inglorious activities; âtmanah--done by himself.

TRANSLATION

After hearing the discourses between the Yamadutas and the Visnudutas, Ajamila could understand the religious principles that act under the three modes of material nature. These principles are mentioned in the three Vedas. He could also understand the transcendental religious principles, which are above the modes of material nature and which concern the relationship between the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Furthermore, Ajamila heard glorification of the name, fame, qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He thus became a perfectly pure devotee. He could then remember his past sinful activities, which he greatly regretted having performed.

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TEXT 26

aho me paramam kastam

abhûd avijitâtmanah

yena viplâvitam brahma

vrsalyâm jâyatâtmanâ

aho--alas; me--my; paramam--extreme; kastam--miserable condition; abhût--became; avijita-âtmanah--because my senses were uncontrolled; yena--by which; viplâvitam--destroyed; brahma--all my brahminical qualifications; vrsalyâm--through a sûdrânî, a maidservant; jâyatâ--being born; âtmanâ--by me.

TRANSLATION

Ajamila said: Alas, being a servant of my senses, how degraded I became! I fell down from my position as a duly qualified brahmana and begot children in the womb of a prostitute.

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TEXT 27

dhin mâm vigarhitam sadbhir

duskrtam kula-kajjalam

hitvâ bâlâm satîm yo 'ham

surâ-pîm asatîm agâm

dhik mâm--all condemnation upon me; vigarhitam--condemned; sadbhih--by honest men; duskrtam--who has committed sinful acts; kula-kajjalam--who has defamed the family tradition; hitvâ--giving up; bâlâm--a young wife; satîm--chaste; yah--who; aham--I; surâpîm--with a woman accustomed to drinking wine; asatîm--unchaste; agâm--I had sexual intercourse.

TRANSLATION

Alas, all condemnation upon me! I acted so sinfully that I degraded my family tradition. Indeed, I gave up my chaste and beautiful young wife to have sexual intercourse with a fallen prostitute accustomed to drinking wine. All condemnation upon me!

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TEXT 28

vrddhâv anâthau pitarau

nânya-bandhû tapasvinau

aho mayâdhunâ tyaktâv

akrtajnena nîcavat

vrddhau--old; anâthau--who had no other person to look after their comforts; pitarau--my father and mother; na anya-bandhû--who had no other friend; tapasvinau--who underwent great difficulties; aho--alas; mayâ--by me; adhunâ--at that moment; tyaktau--were given up; akrta jnena--ungrateful; nîcavat--like the most abominable low-class person.

TRANSLATION

My father and mother were old and had no other son or friend to look after them. Because I did not take care of them, they lived with great difficulty. Alas, like an abominable lower-class man, I ungratefully left them in that condition.

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TEXT 29

so 'ham vyaktam patisyâmi

narake bhrsa-dârune

dharma-ghnâh kâmino yatra

vindanti yama-yâtanâh

sah--such a person; aham--I; vyaktam--it is now clear; patisyâmi--will fall down; narake--in hell; bhrsa-dârune--most miserable; dharma-ghnâh--they who break the principles of religion; kâminah--who are too lusty; yatra--where; vindanti--undergo; yama-yâtanâh--the miserable conditions imposed by Yamarâja.

TRANSLATION

It is now clear that as a consequence of such activities, a sinful person like me must be thrown into hellish conditions meant for those who have broken religious principles and must there suffer extreme miseries.

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TEXT 30

kim idam svapna âho svit

sâksâd drstam ihâdbhutam

kva yâtâ adya te ye mâm

vyakarsan pâsa-pânayah

kim--whether; idam--this; svapne--in a dream; âho svit--or; sâksât--directly; drstam--seen; iha--here; adbhutam--wonderful; kva--where; yâtâh--have gone; adya--now; te--all of them; ye--who; mâm--me; vyakarsan--were dragging; pâsa-pânayah--with ropes in their hands.

TRANSLATION

Was this a dream I saw, or was it reality? I saw fearsome men with ropes in their hands coming to arrest me and drag me away. Where have they gone?

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TEXT 31

atha te kva gatâh siddhâs

catvâras câru-darsanâh

vyâmocayan nîyamânam

baddhvâ pâsair adho bhuvah

atha--thereafter; te--those persons; kva--where; gatâh--went; siddhâh--liberated; catvârah--four personalities; câru-darsanâh--extremely beautiful to see; vyâmocayan--they released; nîyamânam--me, who was being carried away; baddhvâ--being arrested; pâsaih--by ropes; adhah bhuvah--downward to the hellish region.

TRANSLATION

And where have those four liberated and very beautiful persons gone who released me from arrest and saved me from being dragged down to the hellish regions?

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TEXT 32

athâpi me durbhagasya

vibudhottama-darsane

bhavitavyam mangalena

yenâtmâ me prasîdati

atha--therefore; api--although; me--of me; durbhagasya--so unfortunate; vibudha-uttama--exalted devotees; darsane--because of seeing; bhavitavyam--there must be; mangalena--auspicious activities; yena--by which; âtmâ--self; me--my; prasîdati--actually becomes happy.

TRANSLATION

I am certainly most abominable and unfortunate to have merged in an ocean of sinful activities, but nevertheless, because of my previous spiritual activities, I could see those four exalted personalities who came to rescue me. Now I feel exceedingly happy because of their visit.

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TEXT 33

anyathâ mriyamânasya

nâsucer vrsalî-pateh

vaikuntha-nâma-grahanam

jihvâ vaktum ihârhati

anyathâ--otherwise; mriyamânasya--of a person who is just ready for death; na--not; asuceh--most unclean; vrsalî-pateh--the keeper of a prostitute; vaikuntha--of the Lord of Vaikuntha; nâma-grahanam--the chanting of the holy name; jihvâ--the tongue; vaktum--to speak; iha--in this situation; arhati--is able.

TRANSLATION

Were it not for my past devotional service, how could I, a most unclean keeper of a prostitute, have gotten an opportunity to chant the holy name of Vaikunthapati when I was just ready to die? Certainly it could not have been possible.

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TEXT 34

kva câham kitavah pâpo

brahma-ghno nirapatrapah

kva ca nârâyanety etad

bhagavan-nâma mangalam

kva--where; ca--also; aham--I; kitavah--a cheater; pâpah--all sins personified; brahma-ghnah--the killer of my brahminical culture; nirapatrapah--shameless; kva--where; ca--also; nârâyana--Nârâyana; iti--thus; etat--this; bhagavat-nâma--the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mangalam--all-auspicious.

TRANSLATION

Ajamila continued: I am a shameless cheater who has killed his brahminical culture. Indeed, I am sin personified. Where am I in comparison to the all-auspicious chanting of the holy name of Lord Narayana?

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TEXT 35

so 'ham tathâ yatisyâmi

yata-cittendriyânilah

yathâ na bhûya âtmânam

andhe tamasi majjaye

sah--such a person; aham--I; tathâ--in that way; yatisyâmi--I shall endeavor; yata-citta-indriya--controlling the mind and senses; anilah--and the internal airs; yathâ--so that; na--not; bhûyah--again; âtmânam--my soul; andhe--in darkness; tamasi--in ignorance; majjaye--I drown.

TRANSLATION

I am such a sinful person, but since I have now gotten this opportunity, I must completely control my mind, life and senses and always engage in devotional service so that I may not fall again into the deep darkness and ignorance of material life.

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TEXT 36-37

vimucya tam imam bandham

avidyâ-kâma-karmajam

sarva-bhûta-suhrc chânto

maitrah karuna âtmavân



mocaye grastam âtmânam

yosin-mayyâtma-mâyayâ

vikrîdito yayaivâham

krîdâ-mrga ivâdhamah

vimucya--having become free from; tam--that; imam--this; bandham--bondage; avidyâ--due to ignorance; kâma--due to lusty desire; karma jam--caused by activities; sarva-bhûta--of all living entities; suhrt--friend; sântah--very peaceful; maitrah--friendly; karunah--merciful; âtma-vân--self-realized;

mocaye--I shall disentangle; grastam--encaged; âtmânam--my soul; yosit-mayyâ--in the form of woman; âtma-mâyayâ--by the illusory energy of the Lord; vikrîditah--played with; yayâ--by which; eva--certainly; aham--I; krîdâ-mrgah--a controlled animal; iva--like; adhamah--so fallen.

TRANSLATION

Because of identifying oneself with the body, one is subjected to desires for sense gratification, and thus one engages in many different types of pious and impious action. This is what constitutes material bondage. Now I shall disentangle myself from my material bondage, which has been caused by the Supreme Personality of Godhead's illusory energy in the form of a woman. Being a most fallen soul, I was victimized by the illusory energy and have become like a dancing dog led around by a woman's hand. Now I shall give up all lusty desires and free myself from this illusion. I shall become a merciful, well-wishing friend to all living entities and always absorb myself in Krsna consciousness.

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TEXT 38

mamâham iti dehâdau

hitvâmithyârtha-dhîr matim

dhâsye mano bhagavati

suddham tat-kîrtanâdibhih

mama--my; aham--I; iti--thus; deha-âdau--in the body and things related to the body; hitvâ--giving up; amithyâ--not false; artha--on values; dhîh--with my consciousness; matim--the attitude; dhâsye--I shall engage; manah--my mind; bhagavati--on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; suddham--pure; tat--His name; kîrtana-âdibhih--by chanting, hearing and so on.

TRANSLATION

Simply because I chanted the holy name of the Lord in the association of devotees, my heart is now becoming purified. Therefore I shall not fall victim again to the false lures of material sense gratification. Now that I have become fixed in the Absolute Truth, henceforward I shall not identify myself with the body. I shall give up false conceptions of "I" and "mine" and fix my mind on the lotus feet of Krsna.

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TEXT 39

iti jâta-sunirvedah

ksana-sangena sâdhusu

gangâ-dvâram upeyâya

mukta-sarvânubandhanah

iti--thus; jâta-sunirvedah--(Ajâmila) who had become detached from the material conception of life; ksana-sangena--by a moment's association; sâdhusu--with devotees; gangâ-dvâram--to Hardwar (haridvâra), the doorway to Hari (because the Ganges begins there, Hardwar is also called gangâ-dvâra); upeyâya--went; mukta--being freed from; sarva-anubandhanah--all kinds of material bondage.

TRANSLATION

Because of a moment's association with devotees [the Visnudutas], Ajamila detached himself from the material conception of life with determination. Thus freed from all material attraction, he immediately started for Hardwar.

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TEXT 40

sa tasmin deva-sadana

âsîno yogam âsthitah

pratyâhrtendriya-grâmo

yuyoja mana âtmani

sah--he (Ajâmila); tasmin--at that place (Hardwar); deva-sadane--in one Visnu temple; âsînah--being situated; yogam âsthitah--performed bhakti-yoga; pratyâhrta--withdrawn from all activities of sense gratification; indriya-grâmah--his senses; yuyoja--he fixed; manah--the mind; âtmani--on the self or the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

In Hardwar, Ajamila took shelter at a Visnu temple, where he executed the process of bhakti-yoga. He controlled his senses and fully applied his mind in the service of the Lord.

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TEXT 41

tato gunebhya âtmânam

viyujyâtma-samâdhinâ

yuyuje bhagavad-dhâmni

brahmany anubhavâtmani

tatah--thereafter; gunebhyah--from the modes of material nature; âtmânam--the mind; viyujya--detaching; âtma-samâdhinâ--by being fully engaged in devotional service; yuyuje--engaged; bhagavat-dhâmni--in the form of the Lord; brahmani--which is Parabrahman (not idol worship); anubhava-âtmani--which is always thought of (beginning from the lotus feet and gradually progressing upward).

TRANSLATION

Ajamila fully engaged in devotional service. Thus he detached his mind from the process of sense gratification and became fully absorbed in thinking of the form of the Lord.

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TEXT 42

yarhy upârata-dhîs tasmin

adrâksît purusân purah

upalabhyopalabdhân prâg

vavande sirasâ dvijah

yarhi--when; upârata-dhîh--his mind and intelligence were fixed; tasmin--at that time; adrâksît--had seen; purusân--the persons (the order carriers of Lord Visnu); purah--before him; upalabhya--getting; upalabdhân--who were gotten; prâk--previously; vavande--offered obeisances; sirasâ--by the head; dvijah--the brâhmana.

TRANSLATION

When his intelligence and mind were fixed upon the form of the Lord, the brahmana Ajamila once again saw before him four celestial persons. He could understand that they were those he had seen previously, and thus he offered them his obeisances by bowing down before them.

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TEXT 43

hitvâ kalevaram tîrthe

gangâyâm darsanâd anu

sadyah svarûpam jagrhe

bhagavat-pârsva-vartinâm

hitvâ--giving up; kalevaram--the material body; tîrthe--in the holy place; gangâyâm--on the bank of the Ganges; darsanât anu--after seeing; sadyah--immediately; sva-rûpam--his original spiritual form; jagrhe--he assumed; bhagavat-pârsva-vartinâm--which is fit for an associate of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the Visnudutas, Ajamila gave up his material body at Hardwar on the bank of the Ganges. He regained his original spiritual body, which was a body appropriate for an associate of the Lord.

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TEXT 44

sâkam vihâyasâ vipro

mahâpurusa-kinkaraih

haimam vimânam âruhya

yayau yatra sriyah patih

sâkam--along; vihâyasâ--by the path in the sky, or the airways; viprah--the brâhmana (Ajâmila); mahâpurusa-kinkaraih--with the order carriers of Lord Visnu; haimam--made of gold; vimânam--an airplane; âruhya--boarding; yayau--went; yatra--where; sriyah patih--Lord Visnu, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

TRANSLATION

Accompanied by the order carriers of Lord Visnu, Ajamila boarded an airplane made of gold. Passing through the airways, he went directly to the abode of Lord Visnu, the husband of the goddess of fortune.

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TEXT 45

evam sa viplâvita-sarva-dharmâ

dâsyâh patih patito garhya-karmanâ

nipâtyamâno niraye hata-vratah

sadyo vimukto bhagavan-nâma grhnan

evam--in this way; sah--he (Ajâmila); viplâvita-sarva-dharmâh--who gave up all religious principles; dâsyâh patih--the husband of a prostitute; patitah--fallen; garhya-karmanâ--by being engaged in abominable activities; nipâtyamânah--falling; niraye--in hellish life; hata-vratah--who broke all his vows; sadyah--immediately; vimuktah--liberated; bhagavat-nâma--the holy name of the Lord; grhnan--chanting.

TRANSLATION

Ajamila was a brahmana who because of bad association had given up all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming most fallen, he stole, drank and performed other abominable acts. He even kept a prostitute. Thus he was destined to be carried away to hell by the order carriers of Yamaraja, but he was immediately rescued simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name Narayana.

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TEXT 46

nâtah param karma-nibandha-krntanam

mumuksatâm tîrtha-padânukîrtanât

na yat punah karmasu sajjate mano

rajas-tamobhyâm kalilam tato 'nyathâ

na--not; atah--therefore; param--better means; karma-nibandha--the obligation to suffer or undergo tribulations as a result of fruitive activities; krntanam--that which can completely cut off; mumuksatâm--of persons desiring to get out of the clutches of material bondage; tîrtha-pada--about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand; anukîrtanât--than constantly chanting under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master; na--not; yat--because; punah--again; karmasu--in fruitive activities; sajjate--becomes attached; manah--the mind; rajah-tamobhyâm--by the modes of passion and ignorance; kalilam--contaminated; tatah--thereafter; anyathâ--by any other means.

TRANSLATION

Therefore one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance.

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TEXT 47-48

ya etam paramam guhyam

itihâsam aghâpaham

srnuyâc chraddhayâ yukto

yas ca bhaktyânukîrtayet

na vai sa narakam yâti

neksito yama-kinkaraih

yady apy amangalo martyo

visnu-loke mahîyate

yah--anyone who; etam--this; paramam--very; guhyam--confidential; itihâsam--historical narration; agha-apaham--which frees one from all reactions to sins; srnuyât--hears; sraddhayâ--with faith; yuktah--endowed; yah--one who; ca--also; bhaktyâ--with great devotion; anukîrtayet--repeats; na--not; vai--indeed; sah--such a person; narakam--to hell; yâti--goes; na--not; îksitah--is observed; yama-kinkaraih--by the order carriers of Yamarâja; yadi api--although; amangalah--inauspicious; martyah--a living entity with a material body; visnu-loke--in the spiritual world; mahîyate--is welcomed and respectfully received.

TRANSLATION

Because this very confidential historical narration has the potency to vanquish all sinful reactions, one who hears or describes it with faith and devotion is no longer doomed to hellish life, regardless of his having a material body and regardless of how sinful he may have been. Indeed, the Yamadutas, who carry out the orders of Yamaraja, do not approach him even to see him. After giving up his body, he returns home, back to Godhead, where he is very respectfully received and worshiped.

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TEXT 49

mriyamâno harer nâma

grnan putropacâritam

ajâmilo 'py agâd dhâma

kim uta sraddhayâ grnan

mriyamânah--at the time of death; hareh nâma--the holy name of Hari; grnan--chanting; putra-upacâritam--indicating his son; ajâmilah--Ajâmila; api--even; agât--went; dhâma--to the spiritual world; kim uta--what to speak of; sraddhayâ--with faith and love; grnan--chanting.

TRANSLATION

While suffering at the time of death, Ajamila chanted the holy name of the Lord, and although the chanting was directed toward his son, he nevertheless returned home, back to Godhead. Therefore if one faithfully and inoffensively chants the holy name of the Lord, where is the doubt that he will return to Godhead?