Text 24] Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers 171
he was famous as a great sinner. Furthermore, one’s physiological condi-
tion is completely disturbed at the time of death, and in such an awkward
condition it would certainly have been very difficult for Ajamila to have
chanted clearly. Nevertheless, Ajamila achieved liberation simply by
chanting the holy name of the Lord. Therefore, what is to be said of those
who are not sinful as Ajamila? It is to be concluded that with a strong
vow one should chant the holy name of the Lord—Hare Krsna, Hare
Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare—for thus one will certainly be delivered from the clutches of
maya by the grace of Krsna.

The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is recommended even for per-
sons who commit offenses, because if they continue chanting they will
gradually chant offenselessly. By chanting the Hare Krsna mantra with-
out offenses, one increases his love for Krsna. As stated by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, prem4é pum-artho mahdan: one’s main concern should be to
increase one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to
increase one’s love for Him.

In this regard Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura quotes the
following verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.24):

evam dharmair manusyanam
uddhavatmani vedinam
mayi sanjayate bhaktih
ko ‘nyo ’rtho ’sydvasisyate
“My dear Uddhava, the supreme religious system for human society is
that by which one can awaken his dormant love for Me.” Commenting on
this verse, Srila Vigsvanatha Cakravarti Thakura describes the word
bhakti by saying premaivoktah. Ko anyah arthah asya: in the presence
of bhakti, what is the necessity of liberation?

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura also quotes this verse from the

Padma Purana:
namaparadha-yuktanam
namany eva haranty agham
avisranti-prayuktani
tany evartha-karani ca
