Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 6 · Chapter 3

Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

6.3.1

श्रीराजोवाच निशम्य देव: स्वभटोपवर्णितं प्रत्याह किं तानपि धर्मराज: । एवं हताज्ञो विहतान्मुरारे- र्नैदेशिकैर्यस्य वशे जनोऽयम् ॥ १ ॥

sri-rajovaca nisamya devah sva-bhatopavarnitam pratyaha kim tan api dharmarajah evam hatajno vihatan murarer naidesikair yasya vase jano ’yam

King Pariksit said: O my lord, O Sukadeva Gosvami, Yamaraja is the controller of all living entities in terms of their religious and irreligious activities, but his order had been foiled. When his servants, the Yamadutas, informed him of their defeat by the Visnudutas, who had stopped them from arresting Ajamila, what did he reply?

6.3.2

यमस्य देवस्य न दण्डभङ्ग: कुतश्चनर्षे श्रुतपूर्व आसीत् । एतन्मुने वृश्चति लोकसंशयं न हि त्वदन्य इति मे विनिश्चितम् ॥ २ ॥

yamasya devasya na danda-bhangah kutascanarse sruta-purva asit etan mune vrscati loka-samsayam na hi tvad-anya iti me viniscitam

O great sage, never before has it been heard anywhere that an order from Yamaraja has been baffled. Therefore I think that people will have doubts about this that no one but you can eradicate. Since that is my firm conviction, kindly explain the reasons for these events.

6.3.3

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवत्पुरुषै राजन् याम्या: प्रतिहतोद्यमा: । पतिं विज्ञापयामासुर्यमं संयमनीपतिम् ॥ ३ ॥

sri-suka uvaca bhagavat-purusai rajan yamyah pratihatodyamah patim vijnapayam asur yamam samyamani-patim

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami replied: My dear King, when the order carriers of Yamaraja were baffled and defeated by the order carriers of Visnu, they approached their master, the controller of Samyamani-puri and master of sinful persons, to tell him of this incident.

6.3.4

यमदूता ऊचु: कति सन्तीह शास्तारो जीवलोकस्य वै प्रभो । त्रैविध्यं कुर्वत: कर्म फलाभिव्यक्तिहेतव: ॥ ४ ॥

yamaduta ucuh kati santiha sastaro jiva-lokasya vai prabho trai-vidhyam kurvatah karma phalabhivyakti-hetavah

The Yamadutas said: Our dear lord, how many controllers or rulers are there in this material world? How many causes are responsible for manifesting the various results of activities performed under the three modes of material nature (sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna)?

6.3.5

यदि स्युर्बहवो लोके शास्तारो दण्डधारिण: । कस्य स्यातां न वा कस्य मृत्युश्चामृतमेव वा ॥ ५ ॥

yadi syur bahavo loke sastaro danda-dharinah kasya syatam na va kasya mrtyus camrtam eva va

If in this universe there are many rulers and justices who disagree about punishment and reward, their contradictory actions will neutralize each other, and no one will be punished or rewarded. Otherwise, if their contradictory acts fail to neutralize each other, everyone will have to be both punished and rewarded.

6.3.6

किन्तु शास्तृबहुत्वे स्याद्ब‍हूनामिह कर्मिणाम् । शास्तृत्वमुपचारो हि यथा मण्डलवर्तिनाम् ॥ ६ ॥

kintu sastr-bahutve syad bahunam iha karminam sastrtvam upacaro hi yatha mandala-vartinam

The Yamadutas continued: Since there are many different karmis, or workers, there may be different judges or rulers to give them justice, but just as one central emperor controls different departmental rulers, there must be one supreme controller to guide all the judges.

6.3.7

अतस्त्वमेको भूतानां सेश्वराणामधीश्वर: । शास्ता दण्डधरो नृणां शुभाशुभविवेचन: ॥ ७ ॥

atas tvam eko bhutanam sesvaranam adhisvarah sasta danda-dharo nrnam subhasubha-vivecanah

The supreme judge must be one, not many. It was our understanding that you are that supreme judge and that you have jurisdiction even over the demigods. Our impression was that you are the master of all living entities, the supreme authority who discriminates between the pious and impious activities of all human beings.

6.3.8

तस्य ते विहितो दण्डो न लोके वर्ततेऽधुना । चतुर्भिरद्भ‍ुतै: सिद्धैराज्ञा ते विप्रलम्भिता ॥ ८ ॥

tasya te vihito dando na loke vartate ’dhuna caturbhir adbhutaih siddhair ajna te vipralambhita

But now we see that the punishment ordained under your authority is no longer effective, since your order has been transgressed by four wonderful and perfect persons.

6.3.9

नीयमानं तवादेशादस्माभिर्यातनागृहान् । व्यामोचयन्पातकिनं छित्त्वा पाशान प्रसह्य ते ॥ ९ ॥

niyamanam tavadesad asmabhir yatana-grhan vyamocayan patakinam chittva pasan prasahya te

We were bringing the most sinful Ajamila toward the hellish planes, following your order, when those beautiful persons from Siddhaloka forcibly cut the knots of the ropes with which we were arresting him.

6.3.10

तांस्ते वेदितुमिच्छामो यदि नो मन्यसे क्षमम् । नारायणेत्यभिहिते मा भैरित्याययुर्द्रुतम् ॥ १० ॥

tams te veditum icchamo yadi no manyase ksamam narayanety abhihite ma bhair ity ayayur drutam

As soon as the sinful Ajamila uttered the name Narayana, these four beautiful men immediately arrived and reassured him, saying, Do not fear. Do not fear We wish to know about them from Your Lordship. If you think we are able to understand them, kindly describe who they are.

6.3.11

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच इति देव: स आपृष्ट: प्रजासंयमनो यम: । प्रीत: स्वदूतान्प्रत्याह स्मरन् पादाम्बुजं हरे: ॥ ११ ॥

sri-badarayanir uvaca iti devah sa aprstah praja-samyamano yamah pritah sva-dutan pratyaha smaran padambujam hareh

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thus having been questioned, Lord Yamaraja, the supreme controller of the living entities, was very pleased with his order carriers because of hearing from them the holy name of Narayana. He remembered the lotus feet of the Lord and began to reply.

6.3.12

यम उवाच परो मदन्यो जगतस्तस्थुषश्च ओतं प्रोतं पटवद्यत्र विश्वम् । यदंशतोऽस्य स्थितिजन्मनाशा नस्योतवद्यस्य वशे च लोक: ॥ १२ ॥

yama uvaca paro mad-anyo jagatas tasthusas ca otam protam patavad yatra visvam yad-amsato ’sya sthiti-janma-nasa nasy otavad yasya vase ca lokah

Yamaraja said: My dear servants, you have accepted me as the Supreme, but factually I am not. Above me, and above all the other demigods, including Indra and Candra, is the one supreme master and controller. The partial manifestations of His personality are Brahma, Visnu and Siva, who are in charge of the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this universe. He is like the two threads that form the length and breadth of a woven cloth. The entire world is controlled by Him just as a bull is controlled by a rope in its nose.

6.3.13

यो नामभिर्वाचि जनं निजायां बध्नाति तन्‍त्र्यामिव दामभिर्गा: । यस्मै बलिं त इमे नामकर्म- निबन्धबद्धाश्चकिता वहन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

yo namabhir vaci janam nijayam badhnati tantryam iva damabhir gah yasmai balim ta ime nama-karma- nibandha-baddhas cakita vahanti

Just as the driver of a bullock cart ties ropes through the nostrils of his bulls to control them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead binds all men through the ropes of His words in the Vedas, which set forth the names and activities of the distinct orders of human society (brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra). In fear, the members of these orders all worship the Supreme Lord by offering Him presentations according to their respective activities.

6.3.14-15

अहं महेन्द्रो निऋर्ति: प्रचेता: सोमोऽग्निरीश: पवनो विरिञ्चि: । आदित्यविश्वे वसवोऽथ साध्या मरुद्गणा रुद्रगणा: ससिद्धा: ॥ १४ ॥ अन्ये च ये विश्वसृजोऽमरेशा भृग्वादयोऽस्पृष्टरजस्तमस्का: । यस्येहितं न विदु: स्पृष्टमाया: सत्त्वप्रधाना अपि किं ततोऽन्ये ॥ १५ ॥

aham mahendro nirrtih pracetah somo ’gnir isah pavano virincih aditya-visve vasavo ’tha sadhya marud-gana rudra-ganah sasiddhah anye ca ye visva-srjo ’maresa bhrgv-adayo ’sprsta-rajas-tamaskah yasyehitam na viduh sprsta-mayah sattva-pradhana api kim tato ’nye

I, Yamaraja; Indra, the King of heaven; Nirrti; Varuna; Candra, the moon-god; Agni; Lord Siva; Pavana; Lord Brahma; Surya, the sun-god; Visvasu; the eight Vasus; the Sadhyas; the Maruts; the Rudras; the Siddhas; and Marici and the other great rsis engaged in maintaining the departmental affairs of the universe, as well as the best of the demigods headed by Brhaspati, and the great sages headed by Bhrgu are all certainly freed from the influence of the two base material modes of nature, namely passion and ignorance. Nevertheless, although we are in the mode of goodness, we cannot understand the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What, then, is to be said of others, who, under illusion, merely speculate to know God?

6.3.16

यं वै न गोभिर्मनसासुभिर्वा हृदा गिरा वासुभृतो विचक्षते । आत्मानमन्तर्हृदि सन्तमात्मनां चक्षुर्यथैवाकृतयस्तत: परम् ॥ १६ ॥

yam vai na gobhir manasasubhir va hrda gira vasu-bhrto vicaksate atmanam antar-hrdi santam atmanam caksur yathaivakrtayas tatah param

As the different limbs of the body cannot see the eyes, the living entities cannot see the Supreme Lord, who is situated as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. Not by the senses, by the mind, by the life air, by thoughts within the heart, or by the vibration of words can the living entities ascertain the real situation of the Supreme Lord.

6.3.17

तस्यात्मतन्त्रस्य हरेरधीशितु: परस्य मायाधिपतेर्महात्मन: । प्रायेण दूता इह वै मनोहरा- श्चरन्ति तद्रूपगुणस्वभावा: ॥ १७ ॥

tasyatma-tantrasya harer adhisituh parasya mayadhipater mahatmanah prayena duta iha vai manoharas caranti tad-rupa-guna-svabhavah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is self-sufficient and fully independent. He is the master of everyone and everything, including the illusory energy. He has His form, qualities and features; and similarly His order carriers, the Vaisnavas, who are very beautiful, possess bodily features, transcendental qualities and a transcendental nature almost like His. They always wander within this world with full independence.

6.3.18

भूतानि विष्णो: सुरपूजितानि दुर्दर्शलिङ्गानि महाद्भ‍ुतानि । रक्षन्ति तद्भ‍‌क्तिमत: परेभ्यो मत्तश्च मर्त्यानथ सर्वतश्च ॥ १८ ॥

bhutani visnoh sura-pujitani durdarsa-lingani mahadbhutani raksanti tad-bhaktimatah parebhyo mattas ca martyan atha sarvatas ca

The order carriers of Lord Visnu, who are worshiped even by the demigods, possess wonderful bodily features exactly like those of Visnu and are very rarely seen. The Visnudutas protect the devotees of the Lord from the hands of enemies, from envious persons and even from my jurisdiction, as well as from natural disturbances.

6.3.19

धर्मं तु साक्षाद्भ‍गवत्प्रणीतं न वै विदुऋर्षयो नापि देवा: । न सिद्धमुख्या असुरा मनुष्या: कुतो नु विद्याधरचारणादय: ॥ १९ ॥

dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam na vai vidur rsayo napi devah na siddha-mukhya asura manusyah kuto nu vidyadhara-caranadayah

Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rsis who occupy the topmost planes cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyadharas and Caranas.

6.3.20-21

स्वयम्भूर्नारद: शम्भु: कुमार: कपिलो मनु: । प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर्वैयासकिर्वयम् ॥ २० ॥ द्वादशैते विजानीमो धर्मं भागवतं भटा: । गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं यं ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ॥ २१ ॥

svayambhur naradah sambhuh kumarah kapilo manuh prahlado janako bhismo balir vaiyasakir vayam dvadasaite vijanimo dharmam bhagavatam bhatah guhyam visuddham durbodham yam jnatvamrtam asnute

Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhisma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and I myself know the real religious principle. My dear servants, this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhagavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature. It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead.

6.3.22

एतावानेव लोकेऽस्मिन् पुंसां धर्म: पर: स्मृत: । भक्तियोगो भगवति तन्नामग्रहणादिभि: ॥ २२ ॥

etavan eva loke ’smin pumsam dharmah parah smrtah bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nama-grahanadibhih

Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.

6.3.23

नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं हरे: पश्यत पुत्रका: । अजामिलोऽपि येनैव मृत्युपाशादमुच्यत ॥ २३ ॥

namoccarana-mahatmyam hareh pasyata putrakah ajamilo ’pi yenaiva mrtyu-pasad amucyata

My dear servants, who are as good as my sons, just see how glorious is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The greatly sinful Ajamila chanted only to call his son, not knowing that he was chanting the Lord’s holy name. Nevertheless, by chanting the holy name of the Lord, he remembered Narayana, and thus he was immediately saved from the ropes of death.

6.3.24

एतावतालमघनिर्हरणाय पुंसां सङ्कीर्तनं भगवतो गुणकर्मनाम्नाम् । विक्रुश्य पुत्रमघवान् यदजामिलोऽपि नारायणेति म्रियमाण इयाय मुक्तिम् ॥ २४ ॥

etavatalam agha-nirharanaya pumsam sankirtanam bhagavato guna-karma-namnam vikrusya putram aghavan yad ajamilo ’pi narayaneti mriyamana iyaya muktim

Therefore it should be understood that one is easily relieved from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of the Lord and chanting of His qualities and activities. This is the only process recommended for relief from sinful reactions. Even if one chants the holy name of the Lord with improper pronunciation, he will achieve relief from material bondage if he chants without offenses. Ajamila, for example, was extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted the holy name, and although calling his son, he achieved complete liberation because he remembered the name of Narayana.

6.3.25

प्रायेण वेद तदिदं न महाजनोऽयं देव्या विमोहितमतिर्बत माययालम् । त्रय्यां जडीकृतमतिर्मधुपुष्पितायां वैतानिके महति कर्मणि युज्यमान: ॥ २५ ॥

prayena veda tad idam na mahajano ’yam devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam trayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam vaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah

Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajnavalkya and Jaimini and other compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system of the twelve mahajanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Because their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas—especially the Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Rg Veda—their intelligence has become dull. Thus they are busy collecting the ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation to Svargaloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the sankirtana movement; instead, they are interested in dharma, artha, kama and moksa.

6.3.26

एवं विमृश्य सुधियो भगवत्यनन्ते सर्वात्मना विदधते खलु भावयोगम् । ते मे न दण्डमर्हन्त्यथ यद्यमीषां स्यात् पातकं तदपि हन्त्युरुगायवाद: ॥ २६ ॥

evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhava-yogam te me na dandam arhanty atha yady amisam syat patakam tad api hanty urugaya-vadah

Considering all these points, therefore, intelligent men decide to solve all problems by adopting the devotional service of chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart and who is a mine of all auspicious qualities. Such persons are not within my jurisdiction for punishment. Generally they never commit sinful activities, but even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion they sometimes commit sinful acts, they are protected from sinful reactions because they always chant the Hare Krsna mantra.

6.3.27

ते देवसिद्धपरिगीतपवित्रगाथा ये साधव: समद‍ृशो भगवत्प्रपन्ना: । तान्नोपसीदत हरेर्गदयाभिगुप्तान् नैषां वयं न च वय: प्रभवाम दण्डे ॥ २७ ॥

te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha ye sadhavah samadrso bhagavat-prapannah tan nopasidata harer gadayabhiguptan naisam vayam na ca vayah prabhavama dande

My dear servants, please do not approach such devotees, for they have fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are equal to everyone, and their narrations are sung by the demigods and the inhabitants of Siddhaloka. Please do not even go near them. They are always protected by the club of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore Lord Brahma and I and even the time factor are not competent to chastise them.

6.3.28

तानानयध्वमसतो विमुखान् मुकुन्द- पादारविन्दमकरन्दरसादजस्रम् । निष्किञ्चनै: परमहंसकुलैरसङ्गै- र्जुष्टाद्गृहे निरयवर्त्मनि बद्धतृष्णान् ॥ २८ ॥

tan anayadhvam asato vimukhan mukunda- padaravinda-makaranda-rasad ajasram niskincanaih paramahamsa-kulair asangair justad grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trsnan

Paramahamsas are exalted persons who have no taste for material enjoyment and who drink the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me for punishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do not associate with paramahamsas and who are attached to family life and worldly enjoyment, which form the path to hell.

6.3.29

जिह्वा न वक्ति भगवद्गुणनामधेयं चेतश्च न स्मरति तच्चरणारविन्दम् । कृष्णाय नो नमति यच्छिर एकदापि तानानयध्वमसतोऽकृतविष्णुकृत्यान् ॥ २९ ॥

jihva na vakti bhagavad-guna-namadheyam cetas ca na smarati tac-caranaravindam krsnaya no namati yac-chira ekadapi tan anayadhvam asato ’krta-visnu-krtyan

My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krsna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krsna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krsna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Visnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.

6.3.30

तत् क्षम्यतां स भगवान् पुरुष: पुराणो नारायण: स्वपुरुषैर्यदसत्कृतं न: । स्वानामहो न विदुषां रचिताञ्जलीनां क्षान्तिर्गरीयसि नम: पुरुषाय भूम्ने ॥ ३० ॥

tat ksamyatam sa bhagavan purusah purano narayanah sva-purusair yad asat krtam nah svanam aho na vidusam racitanjalinam ksantir gariyasi namah purusaya bhumne

(Then Yamaraja, considering himself and his servants to be offenders, spoke as follows, begging pardon from the Lord.) O my Lord, my servants have surely committed a great offense by arresting a Vaisnava such as Ajamila. O Narayana, O supreme and oldest person, please forgive us. Because of our ignorance, we failed to recognize Ajamila as a servant of Your Lordship, and thus we have certainly committed a great offense. Therefore with folded hands we beg Your pardon. My Lord, since You are supremely merciful and are always full of good qualities, please pardon us. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

6.3.31

तस्मात् सङ्कीर्तनं विष्णोर्जगन्मङ्गलमंहसाम् । महतामपि कौरव्य विद्ध्यैकान्तिकनिष्कृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

tasmat sankirtanam visnor jagan-mangalam amhasam mahatam api kauravya viddhy aikantika-niskrtam

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.

6.3.32

श‍ृण्वतां गृणतां वीर्याण्युद्दामानि हरेर्मुहु: । यथा सुजातया भक्त्या शुद्ध्येन्नात्मा व्रतादिभि: ॥ ३२ ॥

srnvatam grnatam viryany uddamani harer muhuh yatha sujataya bhaktya suddhyen natma vratadibhih

One who constantly hears and chants the holy name of the Lord and hears and chants about His activities can very easily attain the platform of pure devotional service, which can cleanse the dirt from one’s heart. One cannot achieve such purification merely by observing vows and performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.

6.3.33

कृष्णाङ्‌घ्रिपद्ममधुलिण् न पुनर्विसृष्ट- मायागुणेषु रमते वृजिनावहेषु । अन्यस्तु कामहत आत्मरज: प्रमार्ष्टु- मीहेत कर्म यत एव रज: पुन: स्यात् ॥ ३३ ॥

krsnanghri-padma-madhu-lin na punar visrsta- maya-gunesu ramate vrjinavahesu anyas tu kama-hata atma-rajah pramarstum iheta karma yata eva rajah punah syat

Devotees who always lick the honey from the lotus feet of Lord Krsna do not care at all for material activities, which are performed under the three modes of material nature and which bring only misery. Indeed, devotees never give up the lotus feet of Krsna to return to material activities. Others, however, who are addicted to Vedic rituals because they have neglected the service of the Lord’s lotus feet and are enchanted by lusty desires, sometimes perform acts of atonement. Nevertheless, being incompletely purified, they return to sinful activities again and again.

6.3.34

इत्थं स्वभर्तृगदितं भगवन्महित्वं संस्मृत्य विस्मितधियो यमकिङ्करास्ते । नैवाच्युताश्रयजनं प्रतिशङ्कमाना द्रष्टुं च बिभ्यति तत: प्रभृति स्म राजन् ॥ ३४ ॥

ittham svabhartr-gaditam bhagavan-mahitvam samsmrtya vismita-dhiyo yama-kinkaras te naivacyutasraya-janam pratisankamana drastum ca bibhyati tatah prabhrti sma rajan

After hearing from the mouth of their master about the extraordinary glories of the Lord and His name, fame and attributes, the Yamadutas were struck with wonder. Since then, as soon as they see a devotee, they fear him and dare not look at him again.

6.3.35

इतिहासमिमं गुह्यं भगवान् कुम्भसम्भव: । कथयामास मलय आसीनो हरिमर्चयन् ॥ ३५ ॥

itihasam imam guhyam bhagavan kumbha-sambhavah kathayam asa malaya asino harim arcayan

When the great sage Agastya, the son of Kumbha, was residing in the Malaya Hills and worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I approached him, and he explained to me this confidential history.