View source for A devotee's sinful activities is excused, and if he is repentant, then he is again elevated to his original position. That is the verdict of all sastras

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{{terms|"A devotee's sinful activities is excused, and if he is repentant, then he is again elevated to his original position. That is the verdict of all śāstras"}}
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{{compiler|SharmisthaK}}
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[[Category:Sinful Activities of a Devotee of God Are Excused]]
[[Category:Repentance of a Devotee of God]]
[[Category:Again]]
[[Category:Elevation of a Devotee of God]]
[[Category:Original Position]]
[[Category:Position of a Devotee of God]]
[[Category:That Is]]
[[Category:Verdict of the Sastra]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SHARMISTHA]]
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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One should be very much repentant. Then Kṛṣṇa is so kind. But he hasn't got to take to the prāyaścitta or, what is called, atonement system. A devotee hasn't got to do that. A devotee's sinful activities is excused, and if he is repentant, then he is again elevated to his original position. That is the verdict of all śāstras.
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[[Vanisource:710218 - Lecture SB 06.03.25-26 - Gorakhpur|710218 - Lecture SB 06.03.25-26 - Gorakhpur]]
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Sarvātmanā, this word is very important. The Kṛṣṇa also asks when He said that, "Giving up all other kinds of engagement of religious process, simply surrender unto Me." That is called sarvātmanā, "with all heart, with all intention, without any reservation," sarvātmanā, the exact meaning.

Yamarāja says that "One who has taken to devotional service," sarvātmanā, "very seriously, and without any deviation," sarvātmanā vidadhate khalu bhāva-yogam, te me na daṇḍam arhanti, "they are not," I mean to say: "within the jurisdiction of my punishment." It is clearly said, yama-daṇḍa. Those who are devotees, they are out of the jurisdiction of ruling of Yamarāja. It is especially stated here, te me na daṇḍam arhanti: "They are not liable for my punishment. Even they commit some mistake or fall down, or even they commit a very sinister, sinful activity, still, they are not under my jurisdiction."

Kṛṣṇa also says in the Bhagavad-gītā, api cet sudurācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 9.30 (1972)|BG 9.30]]). But this concession . . . there are many other concession. Kṛṣṇa says that, "Anyone who is engaged in devotional service, if unintentionally he commits some mistake and offense, I excuse."

So these are special cases, not that because Kṛṣṇa promises to excuse . . . because Kṛṣṇa says that: "Even though he has committed such sinful activities, still, he's a sādhu," and although Yamarāja says that, "Those who are engaged in devotional service, they are out of my jurisdiction of punishment," so we should not take advantage of this concession. That is a great offense, greatest offense. Nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ (Padma Purāṇa, Brahma-kaṇḍha 25.16). These concessions are there for the devotees, but not for intentional committing sinful activity.

If by accident, if by previous habit, one commits some mistake or falls down, that is excused. And one should be repentant, "My dear Lord, I have committed this offense. Please excuse me." And one should fast. One should be very much repentant. Then Kṛṣṇa is so kind. But he hasn't got to take to the prāyaścitta or, what is called, atonement system. A devotee hasn't got to do that. A devotee's sinful activities is excused, and if he is repentant, then he is again elevated to his original position. That is the verdict of all śāstras.

And here also the Yamarāja says that te me na daṇḍam arhanty atha yady amīṣāṁ syāt pātakaṁ tad api hanty urugāya-vādaḥ: "Even if he has committed some sinful activities, because he is chanting the glories of the Lord, his sinful activity is not taken into account—excused."

Te deva-siddha-parigīta-pavitra-gāthā ye sādhavaḥ samadṛśo bhagavat-prapannāḥ. Bhagavat-prapannāḥ. How Yamarāja is eulogizing the devotees. Devotee is bhagavat-prapannāḥ. Bhagavat means to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prapannāḥ means fully surrendered. Bhagavat-prapannāḥ. The same thing is corroborated here.

So just like Kṛṣṇa said, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]): "I shall protect you from all sinful reaction," because there is declaration by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore His servant, the executor of the criminal department, Yamarāja, he also says that te deva-siddha-parigīta-pavitra-gāthā ye sādhavaḥ samadṛśo bhagavat-prapannāḥ, that, "A devotee who has fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are worshiped by devaloka, siddhaloka." The demigods also, they worship. They show full respect.

Now, Kṛṣṇa says that kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 7.20 (1972)|BG 7.20]]): "Those who are worshipers of the demigods, they are bewildered by their lusty desires." And here Yamarāja says that deva-siddha-parigīta-pavitra-gāthāḥ: "And a devotee is worshiped by the devāḥ, demigods." Just try to understand the opposite direction, that those who are ordinarily enthused by lust and greed, they go to worship demigods. But if one becomes a devotee of the Lord, the demigod worships him. That is the prerogative of devotee.
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