ajamilo ’py athakarnya
dharmam bhagavatam suddham
trai-vedyam ca gunasrayam
bhaktiman bhagavaty asu
anutapo mahan asit
smarato ’subham atmanah
ajamilah—Ajamila; api—also; atha—thereafter; akarnya—hearing; dutanam—of the order carriers; yama-krsnayoh—of Yamaraja and Lord Krsna; dharmam—actual religious principles; bhagavatam—as described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, 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-man—a pure devotee (cleansed of the modes of material nature); bhagavati—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asu—immediately; mahatmya—glorification of the name, fame, etc.; sravanat—because of hearing; hareh—of Lord Hari; anutapah—regret; mahan—very great; asit—there was; smaratah—remembering; asubham—all the inglorious activities; atmanah—done by himself.
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.
“The Vedas mainly deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the Self.” The Vedic principles certainly prescribe a gradual process for rising to the spiritual platform, but if one remains attached to the Vedic principles, there is no chance of his being elevated to spiritual life. Krsna therefore advised Arjuna to perform devotional service, which is the process of transcendental religion. The transcendental position of devotional service is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6). Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje. Bhakti, devotional service, is paro dharmah, transcendental dharma; it is not material dharma. People generally think that religion should be pursued for material profit. This may be suitable for persons interested in material life, but one who is interested in spiritual life should be attached to paro dharmah, the religious principles by which one becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord (yato bhaktir adhoksaje). The bhagavata religion teaches that the Lord and the living entity are eternally related and that the duty of the living entity is to surrender to the Lord. When one is situated on the platform of devotional service, one is freed from impediments and completely satisfied (ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati). Having been elevated to that platform, Ajamila began to lament for his past materialistic activities and glorify the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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