Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.28-29 Nitai: “At the time of death, Ajamila saw three awkward persons, very fearsome in appearance, with ropes in their hands. They had twisted faces and deformed bodily features, and their hair stood on end. They had come to take Ajamila away to the shelter of Yamaraja. Ajamila became extremely bewildered when he saw them. His small child, Narayana, was playing a little distance off, and with tearful eyes and great anxiety, he called the name of his son very loudly three times, ‘Narayana, Narayana, Narayana!’ ” Prabhupada: Is there “three times”? Nitai: It said in the manuscript. The manuscript said “three times.” Prabhupada: Who said in the manuscript? There is no three times. Not “Narayana” three times. One time, “O Narayana,” that’s all. So did I say “three times”? No, it is not said here. You should correct it. Once, “O Narayana,” that’s all. There is no reason of calling three times. There is no mention here. Once is sufficient. (laughter) sa pasa-hastams trin drstva purusan ati-darunan vakra-tundan urdhva-romna atmanam netum agatan dure kridanakasaktam putram narayanahvayam plavitena svarenoccair ajuhavakulendriyah Uccair ajuhava, very loudly, “Narayana!” Like that. That’s all. Uccair ajuhava akulendriyah. So you edited it? Not yet? Nitai: No. Prabhupada: So you should keep at least what is there. So this is the position at the time of death. Sometimes you will find the dying man is crying, akulendriyah, tearful eyes. He cannot express. He is not practiced. But he was given the chance. Krsna gave him the conscience when the child was born to keep his name Narayana. This is Krsna’s mercy, that “This rascal was My devotee, and now he is so fallen. All right, he is attracted to his children.” So He gave the conscience, “Now keep your son’s name Narayana.” Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah. Krsna is situated in everyone’s heart. Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca [Bg. 15.15]. Krsna says, “From Me everything, remembrance and forgetfulness, come.” Those who want to forget Krsna, Krsna helps him to forget: “All right, you forget.” He does not give. He does not dictate from the within. And one who is foolishly in bad association, unfortunately forgets Krsna, then Krsna gives him chance. Offenders are very nuisance. Krsna… Too much offender, purposefully, guru-Vaisnava, his position is very difficult. But by chance if one forgets Krsna, Krsna does not forget him. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, api cet suduracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah [Bg. 9.30] Practiced, we are practiced to so many bad habits life after life in this material condition. So sometimes, one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord may, on account of old practice, he commits some sinful activities. Krsna forgives him. He knows that he is sincere, but on account of his old practice, he has done something mistake. There is a verse, sah pada-mulam bhajatam priyasya(?). Somehow or other, you become recognized by Krsna, priya. Krsna may know that “He is sincerely trying to do something for render…” Krsna does not require your service or my service. He is self-sufficient. If we render service, that is for…, that is good for us. Krsna, He recognizes, “Oh, now he has again begun service. That’s nice.” So to such person Krsna excuses. Sah pada-mulam bhajatam priyasya. That verse. Now I forget. There is a verse like that. So the Ajamila, young man, on account of association with a prostitute, he lost his good character and began to maintain the prostitute by stealing, by cheating, one after another. So by mistake or on account of the age, he became captivated by the prostitute. So Krsna was watching. Therefore He gave him this chance that on account of his affection towards the child, he will at least repeat “Narayana, Narayana.” “Narayana come. Narayana take your food. Narayana sit down.” So bhava-grahi-janardanah. Krsna is so kind. He takes the purpose or the essence. Because the holy name has its effect. So although this Ajamila, by his foolishness, he was attached to the material body of the son, but because he was chanting “Narayana,” Krsna was taking that essence, that’s all, that “Some way or other, he is chanting.” The importance of chanting is so nice. So do not give up chanting. Then Krsna will protect you. This is the example. “Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,” you practice. Naturally, when you are in danger, you will say, “Hare Krsna.” This much do. If you are practiced to do something, chant Hare Krsna, then you are safe. So it is not difficult. Sincerely chant. Try to avoid offense. Don’t try to fall down purposefully for sense gratification. That is very dangerous. He… Purposefully, he did not fall down. Circumstantially came in contact with a prostitute, could not help him. So circumstantially he fell down, not by willingly. This should be noted. Willingly doing, that is very great offense. But circumstantially, there is every chance because we are fallen and practiced to malpractices life after life. Because the material life means sinful life. You see the whole people. They do not care. They do not know even this is sinful. We say, “No illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication and no gambling.” So Western people will think, “What is this nonsense? These are the preliminary facilities for a human being, and this man is denying.” They do not know even. Some of our students left this institution. They thought that “Swamiji is denying the primary necessities of life.” They are so dull that they cannot understand this is sinful. Not only ordinary common man, even a big man, Lord Zetland in England. So one of my Godbrothers went to preach, and Lord Zetland, Marquis of Zetland… He was known as Lord Rolandsey(?). He was governor of Bengal. In our college days he came to our coll… He’s Scotch man. So very gentleman and inclined to philosophy. So he asked this Godbrother, “Can you make me brahmana?” So he proposed, “Yes, why not? You follow these rules and regulation. You will become brahmana.” So when he heard the rules and regulation—no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication—he said, “Oh, it is impossible. It is not possible.” He flatly refused, that “In our country it is not possible.” So it is very difficult job, but if one is able to give up these sinful activities, then his life is very pure. He becomes purified. And unless one is purified, he cannot chant Hare Krsna; neither he can understand Krsna consciousness. yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drdha-vratah [Bg. 7.28] This Krsna says. “One who has ended the process of sinful activities and engaged in pious activities, such person can become a firm devotee.” So these four principle, as we have recommended, you must follow. There is no question of optional, “I may do it, I may not do.” No, you must. Otherwise, the progress will be checked. Krsna will not leave you. Just like the Ajamila. The progress was checked, but because he did not do it willfully, therefore Krsna was giving him opportunity. As soon as possible, again capture him. Because he did not do anything willfully. First of all, this is the condition, circumstantial. Therefore Krsna was very kind. He gave him the son, “Call him. You have affection for your son? All right, chant ‘Narayana’ by calling your son.” This opportunity was given. So for his sinful activities he saw fierceful features of these order-carriers, or Yamaduta. That is going on. If one is not offender, then he has no chance even to see the Yamaduta. But because willfully or nonwillfully he was engaged in sinful activities, associating with the prostitute, and for maintaining the prostitute he was planning so many sinful activities, cheat and take others’ money and enjoy, for that reason, he had to see. And if he remains pure, he hasn’t got to see. This is the difference. So regular resultant action of sinful life, one has to. Just like Yudhisthira Maharaja. Yudhisthira Maharaja was advised by Krsna that “You go to Dronacarya and tell him the lies.” “What is that?” “Now, tell him that ‘Your son Asvatthama is dead.’ ” Because Dronacarya had some benediction that unless he is shocked by the death of his son, he will never die. So Krsna had to take this diplomatic, because it is politics. So Krsna… Because Dronacarya will not believe anyone. He knew that Maharaja Yudhisthira is a most pious man; he never tells lies. So if Maharaja Yudhisthira goes and says that “Your son is dead,” then he will believe. Otherwise, Krsna could have gone personally, but He knew that people do not believe Him. (laughter) He is very tricky. (laughter) So therefore no tricky man can excel Him. A man may be very tricky, very intelligent, but he will not be able to excel Krsna. He is more tricky. Just like in His childhood, Krsna was naughty, so mother wanted to bind Him. So Krsna also became tricky. Mother first of all brought some rope and bound, and when it was to be knotted, it was short. And then again she joined another rope. In this way, whatever rope store she had, she brought one after another, and at last, when knotting, it is too… What is called? Devotees: Inches. Prabhupada: Short. So she, Krsna thought, “Mother, nobody can bind Me, and because I have accepted to become your child, you are trying to bind Me? All right, you bring your all ropes. You will never be able to bind Me.” This is Krsna. But mother Yasoda is the greatest devotee. So when Krsna saw that “My mother is now exhausted, perspiring. All right, you can bind Me.” This is the… You have seen in the Krsna book. So ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11] If you want to play tricks with Krsna, Krsna is the greater trick. You will never be able. That is our mistake, that we think that “I am so intelligent, I can do something without the knowledge of Krsna.” That is our foolishness. Krsna says, sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: “I am sitting in everyone’s heart.” How you can cheat Him? It is not possible. Don’t try to cheat Krsna. Don’t try to cheat guru. Don’t try to cheat Krsna. Then your progress is sure. Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. You are singing daily, sri-guru-carana… What is that? Sri-guru… Devotees: Sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma. Prabhupada: No, that… Devotee: Guru-mukha? Prabhupada: Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya **. Don’t try to cheat guru. Then progress will be checked. acaryam mam vijaniyan navamanyeta karhicit na martya-buddhyasuyeta sarva-devamayo guruh [SB 11.17.27] Acaryam mam vijaniyan. Krsna says, “Acarya means I am.” Navamanyeta karhicit: “Do not try to neglect.” Na martya-buddhyasuyeta: “Do not consider acarya, spiritual master, as ordinary human being and become envious.” These things are warned. Acaryam mam vijaniyan navamanyeta karhicit, na martya-buddhyasuyeta [SB 11.17.27] Familiarity breeds contempt. That is not good. Similarly… Because by the mercy of acarya, by the mercy of guru, you will get Krsna. You sing that, krsna-prapti jaha hoite, what is that? Krsna-prapti jaha hoite. What is that language? Krta-krta: That by his mercy he brings us close to Krsna. Prabhupada: No, no, what is that Bengali language? You cannot… You are singing daily? Krta-krta: Prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasa jate. Prabhupada: Ah. Avidya vinasa jate, krsna-prapti haya… So these are the things. Avidya vinasa jate. Avidya means ignorance. We are full of ignorance. So guru’s duty is to open the eyes, and by opening your eyes he will give you Krsna. So this is the process. So you should be very much careful not to cheat Krsna, not to cheat guru, and become very sincere and follow. Then it is guaranteed. Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Two things required. You cannot jump over Krsna, neglecting guru. Then it is finished. If you want to jump over Krsna without favor of the guru, Krsna is not so easy. So these things should be very carefully observed, no offense. Sincerely follow. Then Krsna will protect, and your progress in Krsna consciousness, to go back to home, back to Godhead, will be assured, insured. So this man circumstantially fell down. So Krsna is saving him. Krsna is saving him, and he will be saved. We shall see in the following passage. Thank you very much. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Philadelphia, July 13, 1975