भागवतम कांटो ६

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
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Chapter Three: Yamarâja Instructs His Messengers

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TEXT 1

srî-râjovâca

nisamya devah sva-bhatopavarnitam

pratyâha kim tân api dharmarâjah

evam hatâjno vihatân murârer

naidesikair yasya vase jano 'yam

srî-râjâ uvâca--the King said; nisamya--after hearing; devah--Lord Yamarâja; sva-bhata--of his own servants; upavarnitam--the statements; pratyâha--replied; kim--what; tân--unto them; api--also; dharma-râjah--Yamarâja, the superintendent of death and the judge of religious and irreligious activities; evam--thus; hata-âjnah--whose order was foiled; vihatân--who were defeated; murâreh naidesikaih--by the order carriers of Murâri, Krsna; yasya--of whom; vase--under the subjugation; janah ayam--all the people of the world.

TRANSLATION

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?

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TEXT 2

yamasya devasya na danda-bhangah

kutascanarse sruta-pûrva âsît

etan mune vrscati loka-samsayam

na hi tvad-anya iti me viniscitam

yamasya--of Yamarâja; devasya--the demigod in charge of judgment; na--not; danda-bhangah--the breaking of the order; kutascana--from anywhere; rse--O great sage; sruta-pûrvah--heard before; âsît--was; etat--this; mune--O great sage; vrscati--can eradicate; loka-samsayam--the doubt of people; na--not; hi--indeed; tvat-anyah--anyone other than you; iti--thus; me--by me; viniscitam--concluded.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 3

srî-suka uvâca

bhagavat-purusai râjan

yâmyâh pratihatodyamâh

patim vijnâpayâm âsur

yamam samyamanî-patim

srî-sukah uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; bhagavat-purusaih--by the order carriers of the Lord, the Visnudûtas; râjan--O King; yâmyâh--the order carriers of Yamarâja; pratihata-udyamâh--whose efforts were defeated; patim--their master; vijnâpayâm âsuh--informed; yamam--Yamarâja; samyamanî-patim--the master of the city Samyamanî.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 4

yamadûtâ ûcuh

kati santîha sâstâro

jîva-lokasya vai prabho

trai-vidhyam kurvatah karma

phalâbhivyakti-hetavah

yamadûtâh ûcuh--the order carriers of Yamarâja said; kati--how many; santi--are there; iha--in this world; sâstârah--controllers or rulers; jîva-lokasya--of this material world; vai--indeed; prabho--O master; trai-vidhyam--under the three modes of material nature: kurvatah--performing; karma--activity: phala--of the results; abhivyakti--of the manifestation; hetavah--causes.

TRANSLATION

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]?

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TEXT 5

yadi syur bahavo loke

sâstâro danda-dhârinah

kasya syâtâm na vâ kasya

mrtyus câmrtam eva vâ

yadi--if; syuh--there are; bahavah--many; loke--in this world; sâstârah--rulers or controllers; danda-dhârinah--who punish the sinful men; kasya--of whom; syâtâm--there may be; na--not; vâ--or; kasya--of whom; mrtyuh--distress or unhappiness; ca--and; amrtam--happiness; eva--certainly; vâ--or.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 6

kintu sâstr-bahutve syâd

bahûnâm iha karminâm

sâstrtvam upacâro hi

yathâ mandala-vartinâm

kintu--but; sâstr--of governors or judges; bahutve--in the plurality; syât--there may be; bahûnâm--of many; iha--in this world; karminâm--persons performing actions; sâstrtvam--departmental management; upacârah--administration; hi--indeed; yathâ--just like; mandala-vartinâm--of the departmental heads.

TRANSLATION

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.



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TEXT 7

atas tvam eko bhûtânâm

sesvarânâm adhîsvarah

sâstâ danda-dharo nrnâm

subhâsubh avivecanah

atah--as such; tvam--you; ekah--one; bhûtânâm--of all living beings; sa-îsvarânâm--including all the demigods; adhîsvarah--the supreme master; sâstâ--the supreme ruler; danda-dharah--the supreme administrator of punishment; nrnâm--of human society; subha-asubha-vivecanah--who discriminates between what is auspicious and inauspicious.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 8

tasya te vihito dando

na loke vartate 'dhunâ

caturbhir adbhutaih siddhair

âjnâ te vipralambhitâ

tasya--of the influence; te--of you; vihitah--ordained; dandah--punishment; na--not; loke--within this world; vartate--exists; adhunâ--now; caturbhih--by four; adbhutaih--very wonderful; siddhaih--perfected persons; âjnâ--the order; te--your; vipralambhitâ--surpassed.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 9

nîyamânam tavâdesâd

asmâbhir yâtanâ-grhân

vyâmocayan pâtakinam

chittvâ pâsân prasahya te

nîyamânam--being brought; tava âdesât--by your order; asmâbhih--by us; yâtanâ-grhân--to the torture chambers, the hellish planets; vyâmocayan--released; pâtakinam--the sinful Ajâmila; chittvâ--cutting; pâsân--the ropes; prasahya--by force; te--they.

TRANSLATION

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

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TEXT 10

tâms te veditum icchâmo

yadi no manyase ksamam

nârâyanety abhihite

mâ bhair ity âyayur drutam

tân--about them; te--from you; veditum--to know; icchâmah--we wish; yadi--if; nah--for us; manyase--you think; ksamam--suitable; nârâyana--Nârâyana; iti--thus; abhihite--being uttered; mâ--do not; bhaih--fear; iti--thus; âyayuh--they arrived; drutam--very soon.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 11

srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

iti devah sa âprstah

prajâ-samyamano yamah

prîtah sva-dûtân pratyâha

smaran pâdâmbujam hareh

srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; devah--the demigod; sah--he; âprstah--being questioned; prajâ-samyamanah yamah--Lord Yamarâja, who controls the living entities; prîtah--being pleased; sva-dûtân--to his own servants; pratyâha--replied; smaran--remembering; pâda-ambujam--the lotus feet; hareh--of Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 12

yama uvâca

paro mad-anyo jagatas tasthusas ca

otam protam patavad yatra visvam

yad-amsato 'sya sthiti janma-nâsâ

nasy otavad yasya vase ca lokah

yamah uvâca--Yamarâja replied; parah--superior; mat--than me; anyah--another; jagatah--of all moving things; tasthusah--of nonmoving things; ca--and; otam--crosswise; protam--lengthwise; patavat--like a woven cloth; yatra--in whom; visvam--the cosmic manifestation; yat--of whom; amsatah--from the partial expansions; asya--of this universe; sthiti--the maintenance; janma--the creation; nâsâh--the annihilation; nasi--in the nose; ota-vat--like the rope; yasya--of whom; vase--under the control; ca--and; lokah--the whole creation.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 13

yo nâmabhir vâci janam nijâyâm

badhnâti tantryâm iva dâmabhir gâh

yasmai balim ta ime nâma-karma-

nibandha-baddhâs cakitâ vahanti

yah--He who; nâmabhih--by different names; vâci--to the Vedic language; janam--all people; nijâyâm--which has emanated from Himself; badhnâti--binds; tantryâm--to a rope; iva--like; dâmabhih--by cords; gâh--bulls; yasmai--unto whom; balim--a small presentation of taxes; te--all of them; ime--these; nâma-karma--of names and different activities; nibandha--by the obligations; baddhâh--bound; cakitâh--being fearful; vahanti--carry.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 14-15

aham mahendro nirrtih pracetâh

somo 'gnir îsah pavano virincih

âditya-visve vasavo 'tha sâdhyâ

marud-ganâ-rudra-ganâh sasiddhâh

anye ca ye visva-srjo 'maresâ

bhrgv-âdayo 'sprsta-rajas-tamaskâh

yasyehitam na viduh sprsta-mâyâh

sattva-pradhânâ api kim tato 'nye

aham--I, Yamarâja; mahendrah--Indra, the King of heaven; nirrtih--Nirrti; pracetâh--Varuna, the controller of water; somah--the moon; agnih--fire; îsah--Lord Siva; pavanah--the demigod of the air; virincih--Lord Brahmâ; âditya--the sun; visve--Visvâsu; vasavah--the eight Vasus; atha--also; sâdhyâh--the demigods; marut-ganâh--masters of the wind; rudra-ganâh--the expansions of Lord Siva; sa-siddhâh--with the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; anye--others; ca--and; ye--who; visva-srjah--Marîci and the other creators of the universal affairs; amara-îsâh--the demigods like Brhaspati; bhrgu-âdayah--the great sages headed by Bhrgu; asprsta--who have not been contaminated; rajah-tamaskâh--by the lower modes of material nature (rajo-guna and tamo-guna); yasya--of whom; îhitam--the activity; na viduh--do not know; sprsta-mâyâh--who are illusioned by the illusory energy; sattva-pradhânâh--chiefly in the mode of goodness; api--although; kim--what to speak of; tatah--than them; anye--others.

TRANSLATION

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?

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TEXT 16

yam vai na gobhir manasâsubhir vâ

hrdâ girâ vâsu-bhrto vicaksate

âtmânam antar-hrdi santam âtmanâm

caksur yathaivâkrtayas tatah param

yam--whom; vai--indeed; na--not; gobhih--by the senses; manasâ--by the mind; asubhih--by the life breath; vâ--or; hrdâ--by thoughts; girâ--by words; vâ--or; asu-bhrtah--the living entities; vicaksate--see or know; âtmanâm--the Supersoul; antah-hrdi--within the core of the heart; santam--existing; atmanam--of the living entities; caksuh--the eyes; yathâ--just like; eva--indeed; âkrtayah--the different parts or limbs of the body; tatah--than them; param--higher.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 17

tasyâtma-tantrasya harer adhîsituh

parasya mâyâdhipater mahâtmanah

prâyena dûtâ iha vai manoharâs

caranti tad-rûpa-guna-svabhâvâh

tasya--of Him; âtma-tantrasya--being self-sufficient, not dependent on any other person; hareh--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adhîsituh--who is the master of everything; parasya--the Transcendence; mâyâ-adhipateh--the master of the illusory energy; mahâ-âtmanah--of the Supreme Soul; prâyena--almost; dûtâh--the order carriers; iha--in this world; vai--indeed; manoharâh--pleasing in their dealings and bodily features; caranti--they move; tat--of Him; rûpa--possessing the bodily features; guna--the transcendental qualities; svabhâvâh--and nature.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 18

bhûtâni visnoh sura-pûjitâni

durdarsa-lingâni mahâdbhutâni

raksanti tad-bhaktimatah parebhyo

mattas ca martyân atha sarvatas ca

bhûtâni--living entities or servants; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; sura-pûjitâni--who are worshiped by the demigods; durdarsa-lingâni--possessing forms not easily seen; mahâ-adbhutâni--greatly wonderful; raksanti--they protect; tat-bhakti-matah--the devotees of the Lord; parebhyah--from others who are inimical; mattah--from me (Yamarâja) and my order carriers; ca--and; martyân--the human beings; atha--thus; sarvatah--from everything; ca--and.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 19

dharmam tu sâksâd bhagavat-pranîtam

na vai vidur rsayo nâpi devâh

na siddha-mukhyâ asurâ manusyâh

kuto nu vidyâdhara-câranâdayah

dharmam--real religious principles, or bona fide laws of religion; tu--but; sâksât--directly; bhagavat--by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pranîtam--enacted; na--not; vai--indeed; viduh--they know; rsayah--the great rsis such as Bhrgu; na--not; api--also; devâh--the demigods; na--nor; siddha-mukhyâh--the chief leaders of Siddhaloka; asurâh--the demons; manusyâh--the inhabitants of Bhûrloka, the human beings; kutah--where; nu--indeed; vidyâdhara--the lesser demigods known as Vidyâdharas; cârana--the residents of the planets where people are by nature great musicians and singers; âdayah--and so on.

TRANSLATION

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 planets 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.

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TEXT 20-21

svayambhûr nâradah sambhuh

kumârah kapilo manuh

prahlâdo janako bhîsmo

balir vaiyâsakir vayam



dvâdasaite vijânîmo

dharmam bhâgavatam bhatâh

guhyam visuddham durbodham

yam jnâtvâmrtam asnute

svayambhûh--Lord Brahmâ; nâradah--the great saint Nârada; sambhuh--Lord Siva; kumârah--the four Kumâras; kapilah--Lord Kapila; manuh--Svâyambhuva Manu; prahlâdah--Prahlâda Mahârâja; janakah--Janaka Mahârâja; bhîsmah--Grandfather Bhîsma; balih--Bali Mahârâja; vaiyâsakih--Sukadeva, the son of Vyâsadeva; vayam--we;

dvâdasa--twelve; ete--these; vijânîmah--know; dharmam--real religious principles; bhâgavatam--which teach a person how to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhatâh--O my dear servants; guhyam--very confidential; visuddham--transcendental, not contaminated by the material modes of nature; durbodham--not easily understood; yam--which; jnâtvâ--understanding; amrtam--eternal life; asnute--he enjoys.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 22

etâvân eva loke 'smin

pumsâm dharmah parah smrtah

bhakti-yogo bhagavati

tan-nâma-grahanâdibhih

etâvân--this much; eva--indeed; loke asmin--in this material world; pumsâm--of the living entities; dharmah--the religious principles; parah--transcendental; smrtah--recognized; bhakti-yogah--bhakti-yoga, or devotional service; bhagavati--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (not to the demigods); tat--His; nâma--of the holy name; grahana-âdibhih--beginning with chanting.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 23

nâmoccârana-mâhâtmyam

hareh pasyata putrakâh

ajâmilo 'pi yenaiva

mrtyu-pâsâd amucyata

nâma--of the holy name; uccârana--of the pronouncing; mâhâtmyam--the exalted position; hareh--of the Supreme Lord; pasyata--just see; putrakâh--O my dear servants, who are like my sons; ajâmilah api--even Ajâmila (who was considered greatly sinful); yena--by the chanting of which; eva--certainly; mrtyu-pâsât--from the ropes of death; amucyata--was delivered.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 24

etâvatâlam agha-nirharanâya pumsâm

sankîrtanam bhagavato guna-karma-nâmnâm

vikrusya putram aghavân yad ajâmilo 'pi

nârâyaneti mriyamâna iyâya muktim

etâvatâ--with this much; alam--sufficient; agha-nirharanâya--for taking away the reactions of sinful activities; pumsâm--of human beings; sankîrtanam--the congregational chanting; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna--of the transcendental qualities; karma-nâmnâm--and of His names according to His activities and pastimes; vikrusya--crying to without offense; putram--his son; aghavân--the sinful; yat--since; ajâmilah api--even Ajâmila; nârâyana--the Lord's name, Nârâyana; iti--thus; mriyamânah--dying; iyâya--achieved; muktim--liberation.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 25

prâyena veda tad idam na mahâjano 'yam

devyâ vimohita-matir bata mâyayâlam

trayyâm jadî-krta-matir madhu-puspitâyâm

vaitânike mahati karmani yujyamânah

prâyena--almost always; veda--know; tat--that; idam--this; na--not; mahâjanah--great personalities besides Svayambhû, Sambhu and the other ten; ayam--this; devyâ--by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vimohita-matih--whose intelligence is bewildered; bata--indeed; mâyayâ--by the illusory energy; alam--greatly; trayyâm--in the three Vedas; jadî-krta-matih--whose intelligence has been dulled; madhu-puspitâyâm--in the flowery Vedic language describing the results of ritualistic performances; vaitânike--in the performances mentioned in the Vedas; mahati--very great; karmani--fruitive activities; yujyamânah--being engaged.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 26

evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante

sarvâtmanâ vidadhate khalu bhâva-yogam

te me na dandam arhanty atha yady amîsâm

syât pâtakam tad api hanty urugâya-vâdah

evam--thus; vimrsya--considering; su-dhiyah--those whose intelligence is sharp; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anante--the unlimited; sarva-âtmanâ--with all their heart and soul; vidadhate--take to; khalu--indeed; bhâva-yogam--the process of devotional service; te--such persons; me--my; na--not; dandam--punishment; arhanti--deserve; atha--therefore; yadi--if; amîsâm--of them; syât--there is; pâtakam--some sinful activity; tat--that; api--also; hanti--destroys; urugâya-vâdah--the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Lord.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 27

te deva-siddha-parigîta-pavitra-gâthâ

ye sâdhavah samadrso bhagavat-prapannâh

tân nopasîdata harer gadayâbhiguptân

naisâm vayam na ca vayah prabhavâma dande

te--they; deva--by the demigods; siddha--and the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; parigîta--sung; pavitra-gâthâh--whose pure narrations; ye--who; sâdhavah--devotees; samadrsah--who see everyone equally; bhagavat-prapannâh--being surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tân--them; na--not; upasîdata--should go near; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gadayâ--by the club; abhiguptân--being fully protected; na--not; esâm--of these; vayam--we; na ca--and also not; vayah--unlimited time; prabhavâma--are competent; dande--in punishing.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 28

tân ânayadhvam asato vimukhân mukunda-

pâdâravinda-makaranda-rasâd ajasram

niskincanaih paramahamsa-kulair asangair

justâd grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trsnân

tân--them; ânayadhvam--bring before me; asatah--nondevotees (those who have not taken to Krsna consciousness); vimukhân--who have turned against; mukunda--of Mukunda, the Supreme personality of Godhead; pâda-aravinda--of the lotus feet; makaranda--of the honey; rasât--the taste; ajasram--continuously; niskincanaih--by persons completely free from material attachment; paramahamsa-kulaih--by the paramahamsas, the most exalted personalities; asangaih--who have no material attachment; justât--which is enjoyed; grhe--to household life; niraya-vartmani--the path leading to hell; baddha-trsnân--whose desires are bound.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 29

jihvâ na vakti bhagavad-guna-nâmadheyam

cetas ca na smarati tac-caranâravindam

krsnâya no namati yac-chira ekadâpi

tân ânayadhvam asato 'krta-visnu-krtyân

jihvâ--the tongue; na--not; vakti--chants; bhagavat--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna--transcendental qualities; nâma--and the holy name; dheyam--imparting; cetah--the heart; ca--also; na--not; smarati--remembers; tat--His; carana-aravindam--lotus feet; krsnâya--unto Lord Krsna through His Deity in the temple; no--not; namati--bows; yat--whose; sirah--head; ekadâ api--even once; tân--them; ânayadhvam--bring before me; asatah--the nondevotees; akrta--not performing; visnu-krtyân--duties toward Lord Visnu.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 30

tat ksamyatâm sa bhagavân purusah purâno

nârâyanah sva-purusair yad asat krtam nah

svânâm aho na vidusâm racitânjalînâm

ksântir garîyasi namah purusâya bhûmne

tat--that; ksamyatâm--let it be excused; sah--He; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purusah--the Supreme Person; purânah--the oldest; nârâyanah--Lord Nârâyana; sva-purusaih--by my own servants; yat--which; asat--impudence; krtam--performed; nah--of us; svânâm--of my own men; aho--alas; na vidusâm--not knowing; racita-anjalînâm--folding our hands together to beg Your pardon; ksântih--forgiveness; garîyasi--in the glorious; namah--respectful obeisances; purusâya--unto the person; bhûmne--supreme and all-pervading.

TRANSLATION

[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.

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TEXT 31

tasmât sankîrtanam visnor

jagan-mangalam amhasâm

mahatâm api kauravya

viddhy aikântika-niskrtam

tasmât--therefore; sankîrtanam--the congregational chanting of the holy name; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; jagat-mangalam--the most auspicious performance within this material world; amhasâm--for sinful activities; mahatâm api--even though very great; kauravya--O descendant of the Kuru family; viddhi--understand; aikântika--the ultimate; niskrtam--atonement.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 32

srnvatâm grnatâm viryâny

uddâmâni harer muhuh

yathâ sujâtayâ bhaktyâ

suddhyen nâtmâ vratâdibhih

srnvatâm--of those hearing; grnâtam--and chanting; vîryâni--the wonderful activities; uddâmâni--able to counteract sin; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muhuh--always; yathâ--as; su jâtayâ--easily brought forth; bhaktyâ--by devotional service; suddhyet--may be purified; na--not; âtmâ--the heart and soul; vrata-âdibhih--by performing ritualistic ceremonies.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 33

krsnânghri-padma-madhu-lin na punar visrsta-

mâyâ-gunesu ramate vrjinâvahesu

anyas tu kâma-hata âtma-rajah pramârstum

îheta karma yata eva rajah punah syât

krsna-anghri-padma--of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; madhu--the honey; lit--one who licks; na--not; punah--again; visrsta--already renounced; mâyâ-gunesu--in the material modes of nature; ramate--desires to enjoy; vrjina-avahesu--which brings distress; anyah--another; tu--however; kâma-hatah--being enchanted by lust; âtma-rajah--the sinful infection of the heart; pramârstum--to cleanse; îheta--may perform; karma--activities; yatah--after which; eva--indeed; rajah--the sinful activity; punah--again; syât--appears.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 34

ittham svabhartr-gaditam bhagavan-mahitvam

samsmrtya vismita-dhiyo yama-kinkarâs te

naivâcyutâsraya janam pratisankamânâ

drastum ca bibhyati tatah prabhrti sma râjan

ittham--of such power; sva-bhartr-gaditam--explained by their master (Yamarâja); bhagavat-mahitvam--the extraordinary glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His name, fame, form and attributes; samsmrtya--remembering; vismita-dhiyah--whose minds were struck with wonder; yama-kinkarâh--all the servants of Yamarâja; te--they; na--not; eva--indeed; acyuta-âsraya janam--a person sheltered by the lotus feet of Acyuta, Lord Krsna; pratisankamânâh--always fearing; drastum--to see; ca--and; bibhyati--they are afraid; tatah prabhrti--beginning from then; sma--indeed; râjan--O King.

TRANSLATION

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.

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TEXT 35

itihâsam imam guhyam

bhagavân kumbha-sambhavah

kathayâm âsa malaya

âsîno harim arcayan

itihâsam--history; imam--this; guhyam--very confidential; bhagavân--the most powerful; kumbha-sambhavah--Agastya Muni, the son of Kumbha; kathayâm âsa--explained; malaye--in the Malaya Hills; âsînah--residing; harim arcayan--worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

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.