So there was argument, and their attempt was foiled by these Nārāyaṇa-dūta. So when they came to their master, Yamarāja that, "This is our first experience that somebody else took away from our hand the person who was to be brought here. So is there any greater personality like you, er, more than you?" so he explained, "Yes, I am servant of Nārāyaṇa." So in that time Yamarāja advised that, "To a devotee you shall never go. It is not your jurisdiction." Just like the police jurisdiction is for the criminals, not for the gentlemen; similarly, Yamarāja's duty and his servants' duty, to take away to the Yamarāja only these sinful men. And those who are devotees, they are supposed to be not sinful. Naturally, they should be sinless. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā. Without becoming sinless, one cannot completely devote himself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
- janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
- te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
- bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
- (BG 7.28)
A person can be completely engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness business if he is completely sinless. Of course, by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, even there is little tinge of sin, it is evaded gradually. But one should be very alert. It is not that "Because I am Kṛṣṇa conscious, and by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious or chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, I am getting out of the jurisdiction of sinful activities . . ." This should never be thought of. We should be very much alert, because māyā is very strong. As soon as she gets the opportunity, immediately captures. So we should be . . . therefore it is said, ṛtam icchatām. Ṛtam icchatām. So they should try to avoid sinful activities if they actually want relief from this cycle of birth and death. This is the program.