Question: I am wondering if there is scriptural evidence or statements by Srila Prabhupada that would explain what would be a person’s fate in a particular circumstance. The circumstance being that during their life, the person met the devotees and became interested in Krishna consciousness. For the rest of their life, they tried to worship and serve Sri Krishna to the best of their ability. However, when they left their body, they were unable to remember Krishna at that moment. Yamaraja and the Yamadutas came to take them to the hellish planets but when they started to undergo punishment, they then were able to remember Sri Krishna and call out to Him.
Would it be considered ‘too late?’ What would be the fate of such a person?
Answer by Romapada Swami: You can rest assured that this hypothetical circumstance is not likely to happen, the reason being that Krishna personally takes charge of delivering His faithful devotee. You can study the purport to BG 12.6-7 where Srila Prabhupada elaborates on this. He also stated categorically that when a devotee dedicates his life to Lord Caitanya, Lord Caitanya will personally appear in their mind at the final moment of passing away. He writes in the purport to Isopanishad 17, “Even if at the time of death a devotee does not remember his service to the Lord, the Lord does not forget him.” This is stated in the context of a prayer to remind the Lord to please remember the devotee’s sacrifices.
But, “even if there is no such reminder, the Lord does not forget the service rendered by His pure devotee.”
This scenario is probable in other yogic processes – for example, an astanga yogi may practice fixing the mind on the Supersoul, but at the critical moment of passing away, may fail to remember Krishna. This happened in the case of Maharaja Bharata.
But unlike the yogi, the devotee does not rely on his own strength of remembrance. Being humble, he entirely depends on Krishna’s goodwill and leaves everything up to His mercy. This is also demonstrated in the humble prayers of Bhishmadeva. The Lord in turn reciprocates by taking charge, and He gives memory to the devotee in the final moment. After all, Krishna is the source of remembrance and forgetfulness!
Even a failed yogi does not have to suffer hellish punishment – they are given a better chance in the next life to continue from where they left off, to perfect their effort. So what to speak of one who tries to serve Krishna faithfully to the best of their ability! Please study Krishna’s assurance on this subject in BG 6.40.
If a devotee has failed to completely purify himself, and still maintains lingering attachment to material enjoyment, in other words a “mixed-devotee”, it is true that they may not be able to remember Krishna perfectly and purely at the time of leaving the body. Still they will not be subjected to hellish condition, but will be given a better opportunity in the next life to perfect their devotion. If in spite of trying to worship Krishna, a devotee still commits some sinful act, offense, or gross neglect of the duties prescribed to them, they may have to face some mild reaction for it in the next life, but they still remain under the personal protection of the Lord. And by continued practice of devotional service, they are purified of the flaws in their consciousness and progress towards the kingdom of God.
