Text 253] Explanations of the Atmarama Verse 223
This is a chance to become purified by associating with this Krsna conscious-
ness movement and strictly following the rules and regulations. By chanting the
Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from all contamination, especially
contamination brought about by the killing of animals. Lord Krsna Himself re-
quested:
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekarn saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. | shall deliver you
from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66)

We should take this instruction from Krsna and follow in the footsteps of
Narada Muni in the disciplic succession. If we simply surrender unto Krsna’s lotus
feet and take this Krsna consciousness movement seriously, we can be freed from
the karma incurred by sin. If we are intelligent enough, we shall engage in the
loving service of the Lord. Then our lives will be successful, and we shall not have
to suffer like the hunter life after life. By killing animals, not only will we be bereft
of the human form but we will have to take an animal form and somehow or
other be killed by the same type of animal we have killed. This is the law of
nature. The Sanskrit word mdamsa means “meat.” It is said: mam sah khadati iti
mamsah. That is, ‘| am now eating the flesh of an animal who will some day in the
future be eating my flesh.’

TEXT 253
Ge BLS, — “Alay CALS A TTA FA |
Coa Say Glas AAT SAT? roo |
vyadha kahe, —“balya haite ei dmara karma
kemane tarimu mufi pamara adhama?
SYNONYMS

vyadha kahe—the hunter said; balya haite—from the very beginning of my
childhood; ei dmara karma—l| have been taught this business (half-killing animals);
kemane—how,; tarimu—shall become free from these sinful activities; mufAi—l;
pamara adhama—sinful and misled.

TRANSLATION

“The hunter then admitted that he was convinced of his sinful activity, and

he said, ‘I have been taught this business from my very childhood. Now | am
