Ajamilana - Lord Yama's Reply

Srimad Bhagavatam - Dialogue Between Messengers of Lord Yama and his Messengers  

Messengers of Yama return back with a failed mission of not getting Ajamilana's life as messengers of Maha Vishnu releases Ajamilana from Yama's noose.

On returning back, messengers of Yama ask the following questions to Lord Yama:

1. Humans perform three kinds of action viz., virtuous, sinful, and a mix of both these. Who else other than you is responsible for the dispensation of the fruits of action of human beings?

2. If there is more than one ruler, there may arise inequality with regard to punishment and forgiveness. Does it not lead to injustice?

3. Your authority has been superseded by someone else? Who could be such a person? If we are deemed to get an appropriate reason, please tell us why a sinner like Ajamilana was left free.

Lord Yama's said:   

1. There is a supreme Lord by whom the entire universe stands pervaded. He is the Lord of all animate and inanimate things. Through his manifestation creation, maintenance and destruction take place.

2. He controls all our actions just as a bullock is controlled by a human using a nose string.

3. He apportions men into divergent class and assigns appropriate duties and obligations as is enjoined in Veda.

4. Myself, Indra, Nirrti, Varuna, Moon, Sun, Fire god, Brahma, Lord Shiva, the eight Vasus, Gandarvas, Rudras, Siddhas, Sages are all bound by Him.

5. Even Seers and Gods can perceive the virtues of Lord Narayana. What can you expect from humans and rest all?

6. Only 12 of us - Brahma, Sage Narada, Lord Shiva, Sage Sanakas, Lord Kapila, Swayambu Manu, Prahlada, King Janaka, Bhishma, Raja Bali, Sage Suka and I have understandings about Dharma. It's pure, secret, and very difficult to even comprehend.

7. To develop loving attachment to the Lord through the utterance of His name alone is declared as the paramount duty of men.

8. The mind can't be purified through fasting or through devotion.

9. He who enjoys the sweetness of Srihari's feet delights no more in the delusional offerings of Maya.

10. A sin committed inadverence is also extinguished through the utterance of the name of the Lord. The sinful Ajamilana did attain liberation by recalling his son's name 'Narayana' at the time of demise when he wasn't in control of his faculties.

Attendants of Yama were surprised to hear and realize the glory of the Lord. Thenceforth, they didn't meddle with devotees of Lord Narayana. 

Sukamuni said to King Parikshit that this secret legend was narrated to him by pious sage Agastya at Mount Malaya.

Ajamilana, upon realizing his blunders, proceeded to Haridwar and engaged in penance. When his time in this mortal world elapsed, the attendants of Maha Vishnu led him to Vishnuloka.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Ajamilana - Discourse on Dharma

Srimad Bhagavatam - Ajamilana (2)

Messengers of Yama answer queries on Dharma to Messengers of MahaVishnu.

1. What is Dharma?

Dharma (righteousness) is that which is enjoined by the Veda. That which is forbidden by the Veda is Adharma.

Veda is emanated from Bhagavan Narayana Himself (it flows from nostrils by the way of respiration).

2. What are means of ascertaining Dharma?

The sun, the fire, the sky, the air, Indriyas (sense of perception and sense of action), the moon, the morning and evening twilights, day and night, the four quarters, water, the earth, Time and Dharma are witnesses (evidences)of good and evil actions of a Jiva (embodied soul).

3. How is the punishment meted out? Is there any distinction while meting out the punishment?

Unrighteousness, ascertained by the above evidence, determines appropriate punishment. There is no distinction while considering punishment for sinful action.

4. How good and bad deeds are associated with action?

Good or evil deeds are associated with action either with one's mind, body, or speech. Action is associated with 3 gunas (modes of prakriti) - sattva, rajas, and tamas.

Virtuous or sinful action done in this world is rewarded or punished in the same manner and to the same extent in the other world.

5. Is there heterogeneity in one's life, and what is it?

Yes, there is heterogeneity in one's life. For example:

1. Those living a life of ease, those leading a miserable life and those who are partly happy and partly miserable.

2. Those who are tanquil by nature, those who are ferocious and those who are dull.

3. Those who are pious by temperament, those who are vicious by nature and those who are of mixed temperament.

These three types of people severally performed meritorious, sinful, or mixed deeds in the past. It is inferred that they will reap the three corresponding types of fruit in another life.

6. What is meant by subtle elements and how it is associated with Jiva, the soul?

When a soul leaves the body, it carries with 16 subtle elements viz., the 10 indriyas, the mind, and 5 objects of senses. These subtle elements are a product of 3 gunas. These are exceedingly attached. This leads Jiva again and again to transmigration (rebirth cycle).

Messengers of Yama question their Lord Yama on who is supreme, you or anyone else. Lord Yama explains the power of Lord Narayana 's name. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Story of Ajamilana

Srimad Bhagavatham - Ajamilana Upakanya ( 1)

In the city of Kanyakubja (kannauj) lived a brahmana by name Ajamilana. Though married, he associated with Sudra woman and had cast to the winds the pious conduct enjoined on a Brahmana householder.

He made his living on robbery, gambling, cheating, and theft. As years rolled out, he maintained his existence for almost 88 years. He had 10 children, and was fond of his youngest son, Narayana, an infant. 

When the end was nearing, Yama's three messengers came to take his life. Ajamilana was not prepared but understood that his end had come and was struggling with associated trouble. He couldn't bear the separation of his infant son and loudly called ‘Narayana ‘in full length. However he had no intention to remember Bhagavan Narayana but uttered his name only to call his son.

This loud call of Narayana alerted messengers of Maha Vishnu, and they immediately appeared before Ajamilana. Messengers of Yama were in the process of pulling the life (prana vayu) but were stopped by messengers of Maha vishnu. These messengers question Yama's messengers on various topics related to dharma.

The messengers of Mahavishnu say, 'Ajamilana uttered, though unintentionally, ‘Narayana’ when he was about to die. This single act has wiped out all his not only of this life but even sins committed by him through millions of lives.

When a person articulates the Lord's name when he is about to die, all his sins will be wiped, and the chances of doing evil deeds do not arise.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Story of King Puranjana- Journey of the Soul

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Puranjana Upaakanya 

Who is Puranjana? Why did Sage Narada narrate the journey of the Soul to Prachinabarhi? 

Puranjana is an illusionary person created by Sage Narada to explain Prachinabarhi, the journey of the soul in a birth. This story is part of bhagavatha detailed in length in Chapter 4.

Prachinabarhi is descent of Dhruva, son of Uttanapada and grandson of Prajapathi Manu.

Prachinabarhi kept on performing yajna and converted entire earth into yagnashala. He was unaware of the pros and cons of it. Sage Narad decided to educate him and, in the process, narrates a story and later the concept of it.

The story, in gist, goes this way:

Puranjana, a king along with his friend, goes around the globe in search of a suitable place to establish his kingdom and finds a place near the Himalayas.

A beautiful and clever lady welcomes him just outside the kingdom and assures him all necessary support along with her contingent. King is impressed and proposes to marry her, for which she readily agrees. He forgets his dear friend altogether.

Puranjana meanwhile establishes his kingdom with the help of his wife, her 5 male companions, 5 female companions, a mighty warrior, and 5 hooded serpent. The kingdom has 9 gates and can give protection for 100 years. Family grows, so also responsibilities. Puranjana enjoyed every moment of it.

One day, he goes to hunting without informing anyone, including his wife. He kills innumerable animals and birds and returns home exhausted and without any remose. His wife is unhappy but never spoke a word. Puranjana realises his mistake and apologizes to his wife.

As years went, the kingdom got ignored. Utilizing this opportunity, Gandharvas enters through the gates and attacks him successfully. Finally, the kingdom is defeated.

What is the concept of Narada's story?

It is the journey of the soul in a birth. The soul goes around to find a suitable body to live in, expecting a period of 100 years.

'Body' is his wife who welcomes him and provides all sorts of sensuous comforts. Male companions are 5 internal sense of perception and 5 sense organs of action are female companions.

Nine gates are holes in the body (2 eyes, 2 nose, 2 ears, 1 mouth ,penis, and anus). Vital air is 5 hooded serpent, and a mighty warrior is the mind.

Puranjana hunting venture is acts done without thinking. As age grows, the body becomes weak and is attacked by diseases, fear of old age, and death (gates are not protected well).

Puranjana forgets his friend, Paramatma, the God. Both jeevathma and paramatma have to be together so that jeevathma doesn't get attached to the body. This realization 'I am not the body' is vital.

Narada, through this illusionary tale, illustrates that the soul is independent of the body and one can realize God through penance. He also tells yajnas and yagas yield few results, and too much of it is not good for humanity.

Prachinabarhi agrees to act upon but is not willing to do it immediately. He wanted to wait till his 10 sons (collectively called Pracetas, because they had similar looks, had similar views and did things together) return from tapas. 

Narad again narrates an anecdote.

A deer lives in a forest, establishes its own territory, and lives with its family happily. It isn't aware that a wolf on one side is hiding to capture it, and on the other, a lion is watching to kill it.

Deer is unaware of this danger. Wolf represents old age and disease, and lion the death. Lion is waiting for the designated time.

Prachinabarhi understood that his time had almost arrived. He relinquished his kingdom and went to the forest for penance and reached his goal.

Take away: Truth is we represent deer. Ignorant. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Rishabhadeva’s Teachings

Srimad Bhagavatam - Rishabhadeva’s Teachings 

How does Rishabhadeva describe the relationship between devotion and bondage? How should we be vigilant towards bondage, the storage of karma? What is the second knot?

Rishabhadeva, the incarnation of Mahavishnu, was born to King Nabhi and Merudevi. He had a hundred mind-born sons. The eldest among them was Bharata.

 

Rishabhadeva’s children were well-disciplined and were greatly devoted to their father. Before retiring to the forest, he convened a gathering and advised his children as follows:

The mortal body does not deserve to be given up to only sensuous pleasures, unlike swine, dogs, or animals.

Adherence to austerities purifies the mind and, in turn, leads to Moksha. Service rendered to an exalted soul leads to liberation. 

They alone are great who are even-minded, exceptionally calm, free from anger, kindly hearted, treat devotion to God as the purpose of life, and take no delight in worldly things.

So long as there is no devotion towards God, the soul does not get rid of its identification with the body. The real nature of the soul remains hidden due to ignorance. 

So long as actions continue, the mind is tied to activity, and the soul is tied to the body. 

The union of husband and wife of a man and woman is another knot binding their hearts together (apart from the subtle knot in the form of identification of the soul with the body). 

It is due to the second knot a man erroneously regards house, family, and relationships as his own. When this hard knot gets loosened, he frees himself from all bondage and merges with God. 

By depending on God, adoring him, hearing his stories every day, singing his praise, and through even-mindedness and tranquillity, one sheds the veil of ego. 

A person should be ever vigilant of bondage in the shape of a knot that constitutes a storehouse of karma for many births. 

Rishabhadeva thenceforth installed Bharata as King and adapted a life of a recluse, traversed all across as recluse unattached to worldly things and His own mortal body.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga 2

 King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga (2)

Sage Jagadkaru Seeks Alms

The Sage Jagadkaru said,” Is there anyone who is willing to give me a bride in kanyadhan”. Shortly, Vasuki, the serpent head, met the Sage and agreed to offer his sister, Jagadkaru, in kanyadhan to him. As all his conditions were met, the Sage agreed to marry Jagadkaru, sister of Vasuki. A son, Aastika, was born to them out of wedlock. Aastika was well versed in Vedas and was revered. 

Aastika Maharishi Makes a Request

Aastika Maharishi went to King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga and was welcomed by the King with honours. The King politely asked him the purpose of his visit. When Serpent King Takshaka was about to fall into the Homa kund, Aastika Maharishi stopped him from falling. 

Maharishi said to King Janamejaya, “I request you to stop this Yaga in order to protect the remaining snakes belonging to my mother’s relatives”. The king agreed, and thus, snake species were protected.

Serpent Adishesha’s Frustration

Adishesha was the first born serpent of Kadru. When Kadru made an unrighteous demand upon her progeny, Adishesha got frustrated and went away, severing ties with his mother and siblings. He undertook strenuous tapas. Brahma was pleased by the tapas of Adishesha and asked him to seek a boon. 

Lord Brahma Consoles Adishesha 

Adishesha says, "I am not interested in seeking boon, but I am concerned with the adharmic activity of my mother, Kadru, and infighting among his siblings”. 

Brahma consoles him and says King Janamejaya's Sarpa yaga is destined, and none can stop it. Further, Brahma said to Adishesha later Aastika Maharshi would help stop the sarpa yaga, and all dharmic serpents would be protected. 

Brahma assigned Adishesha the job of holding the earth stable on his head, a task that none other could do. 

Serpent Vasuki’s Concern

Vasuki, the second son of Kadru, was worried about King Janamejaya’s Yaga and was devising ways to protect snakes from extinction. Some snakes suggested killing King Janamejaya, but such a suggestion was not accepted. Thenceforth snakes decided to seek advice from Father Sage Kashyapa.

Serpent Ellapatru Narrates Secretive Dialogue Between Devatas and Brahma 

Just then one serpent by name Ellapatru said, “When this curse was pronounced, I was young and sleeping on Mother Kadru's lap. I heard a secretive dialogue between Devatas and Lord Brahma. Devatas asked Brahma how come a mother be so cruel towards her own sons. 

Brahma said, “The curse on serpents would in time prove good as their reproduction rate is very high. Snakes by their very nature are aggressive, and hence, their excessive population is not good for the welfare of humanity. When time comes Astika Maharishi would help stop the sarpa yaga, and enable survival of dharmic snakes.

Brahma said, “Aastika Maharishi would be born as the son of Sage Jagadkaru. Sage Jagadkaru would fulfill his ancestors' wish for progeny, he would marry a girl bearing the same name. Vasuki would give his sister Jagadkaru in marriage to Sage Jagadkaru”.

Vasuki Awaits Sage Jagadkaru's Call For Bride

Vasuki was relieved of his undue worries and thenceforth asked the serpents to ascertain the whereabouts of Sage Jagadkaru. He told the snakes to wait until the Sage sought help to find a bride and keep him informed about developments. In course of time the Sage Jagadkaru loudly called for a bride as a gift, and Vasuki was duly informed. Vasuki approached Sage Jagadkaru and agreed to give his sister in marriage to him.  

Snakes blessed Aastika Maharishi and said, “Those who read, hear or narrate your story would be protected from fear of snakes.

Extracts From Mahabharatha - Adi Parva 

Lord Narayana descend as Rishabha Deva

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Lord Narayana's descent as Rishabha Deva   

Rishabha Deva (one of the 21 avatars of Lord Narayana) was born to King Nabhi and Merudevi. King Nabhi is the son of Agnidhra, grandson of Priyavrata and great-grandson of Prajapati Swayambhu Manu.

Desirous of obtaining a son, King Nabhi performed a sacrifice with full devotion. Pleased with his devotion, Srihari appeared in His beautiful form with crown, ornaments, conch, lotus, lotus, and discus.  

The priests performing the Yagna offered prayers to the Lord and requested him to grant progeny to their king who would be equivalent to Him. The Lord said “Since none can be equivalent to Him, I shall descend and be born as his son.   

At the designated time, a baby boy was born to Merudevi with marks of divinity (figure of a thunderbolt, goad in the soles). Seeing His glory and strength, King Nabhi named him Rishabha, the foremost. He was also known as Aja.

The Brahmanas, Gods and people were eager to see Him rule over the world. King Nabhi, at the appropriate time, installed Rishabha Deva as the king and left for the woods. 

Once Indra envied Him and did not rain in his land. Rishabha deva, on knowing it, laughed heartily which led to downpour throughout his land. Hence this land was known as Ajanabha.  

Rishabha Deva married Jayanthi, the daughter of Indra, and had a hundred sons, the eldest being Bharata. 

Rishabha Deva was eternally free from all evils through performing actions like an ordinary mortal. He taught by His own example the duties that have been forgotten over time. For, as a rule, the world blindly follows whatever is done by the leader. 

When Rishabha deva ruled nobody ever sought for one’s own use on any account whatsoever from another. They had a profound love for their ruler. None envied another's property.

His sons were self-controlled, thoroughly disciplined by virtue and devoted to their divine father. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana