||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 60 – Ajamila Upakhyanam – 4 – The conversation between emissaries of Lord Yama and Lord Yama

Shuka Bhramam continued “ Ajamila who was leading morally wrong life with the prostitute in the woods learned the significance of Namasmaran/recitation of sacred names of supreme Lord and finally sacrificed his body in the river Ganga, attained the abode of Lord.  He got relieved from the sins after constant contemplation, remembrance of Lord and his sacred names; he raised the soul within a short period of time thus attained Mukthi.  Whoever constantly remembers the presence of Supreme Lord as soul engages in selfless service to Lord and his devotees immerse in the contemplation of Lord, and recitation of his sacred names will not face  Lord Yama or his emissaries while leaving the mortal coil finally reaches in the abode of Lord.”

Lord Yama watched his emissaries returning to his abode empty-handed, he enquired the reason for it.  The emissaries explained the whole scenario to Lord Yama and asked “Oh! Rajan, we are not able to understand any of these happening, we are utterly confused.  According to our knowledge, you are the controller of ‘Time’, the scriptures have given the mode of conduct that should be followed by each individuals, if anyone does not follow the scriptures would undergo punishment in the hell, therefore, you have the right the punish people for their sins performed by words, mind, and deed.  It is new to our knowledge that there is another punisher too, therefore kindly elaborate to us.  If all the sinners attain the supreme abode by reciting sacred names, what would happen to the hell? It will become empty very soon.  Therefore two punishers for the sins will not work effectively; there must be one punisher for all the sins.  We were fastening Ajamila to take him to your abode; immediately there appeared the Vishnu Parshadhas who has the appearance of Lord Vishnu and caused impediments, therefore we had to unfasten him.  Oh! Rajan kindly narrates the reason behind this incident in detail.”

Lord Yama replied “ Oh! Emissaries, you have witnessed the attendants of the supreme Lord.  The Supreme Lord Vishnu who is beyond description or perception, he is the controller of Universe and its living beings, he has no birth or death, he is beyond the perception of Bhrama, Rudra, Maruthganas, Agni, Vayu, Prachethas, etc.  The mind has originated from him; it should take the refugee under him like the rivers merge with the ocean.  Therefore the mind has to unite with the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in all the living beings.  He is supreme Lord who is free from illusion, he is Lord of Maya, he is worshiped by all the deities, he is not visible, and he is Mahathbhudha, therefore whoever taking refuge at his lotus feet are protected by him.  Therefore the Vishnuparshadhas are right, Ajamila is not deserved to be in hell.  Lord Vishnu symbolizes supreme knowledge, and absolute truth as well, it is known for only very few of illustrious Rishis, Sages, Siddhas,  Swayambhu/Bhrama,  Swayambhuva Manu, Narada, Shambhu, Kumaras, Kapila,  Prahlada, Janaka, Bheeshma, Bali, Shuka Bhramam, and myself.  It is very complex to understand, it purifies the soul and mind, it reveals the absolute truth if it is understood it could provide nectar-like eternal bliss.  Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran teaches the supreme Dharma, it is recited or listened constantly by the intellectuals.  Ajamila attained liberation with the constant recitation and remembrance of the Lord.  Oh!  Vathsa, recite the sacred names of Lord to get relieved from the noose of Lord Yama.  In this way, Ajamila with his constant contemplation upon supreme Lord Narayana, washed off all the sins committed knowingly and unknowingly, finally attained liberation.  It is unfortunate that humans do not know the value of their birth, after several births they have attained the body of a human; they are not prepared to contemplate upon the supreme Lord who is the creator and protector as well.  Unfortunately, they indulge in sensual pleasures, remain under the clutches of Maya, constantly seeking sensual pleasures, with no ultimate purpose of life, not contemplating upon Lord or reciting Veda, and performing all Kamya Karma/performance of rituals for a specific purpose. There are two categories of people are not deserved to be punished 1) the intellectuals who are constantly reciting the sacred names of Lord unite their mind with the soul, such people are not deserved to be punished in hell.  2) The people who have committed any sin knowingly or unknowingly and regrets for their mistakes and contemplates upon the supreme Lord are not deserved to be punished.”

The emissaries asked “Oh! Prabho, who are deserved to be punished?”

Lord Yama replied “ People who are reluctant to take refuge at the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda, people who have no faith or devotion upon the supreme Lord, people who are constantly worried about the physical and mental afflictions without the knowledge of supreme soul, people who are completely immersed in worldly matters,  people who are not willing to be in the association of saintly people,  people who have not uttered the sacred names of Lord Krishna, even though capable to speak, but always engages in seeking pleasures with their tongue. The people who are not willing to remember the glories of supreme Lord Narayana with their intellect who is the source of our intellect, people who are not willing to prostrate before supreme Lord Narayana.  Oh! Children/emissaries,  you have committed a grave sin, do not indulge in those kinds of sins, people who contemplates upon supreme Lord Narayana should not be punished,  therefore ask for forgiveness to Lord Narayana who is supreme Purusha is compassionate.  Oh! Supreme Lord Narayana, Oh! Supreme Purusha, I shall prostrate before you, kindly forgive the mistake of my emissaries/children.  Whoever recites or listens to the glories of the Supreme Lord Vishnu who symbolizes auspiciousness, with intense devotion and faith, would bring an abundance of piousness, it is considered as highest of the pious deed to the austerities and vow.”

The emissaries of Lord Yama after listening to the speeches of their Master promised that they will not hurt the devotees of Lord Achyutha.  This legend was narrated by Sage Agasthya in the Mount Malaya.