Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers

Verse 1 (bhagavata.6.3.1)

श्रीराजोवाच निशम्य देवः स्वभटोपवर्णितं प्रत्याह किं तानपि धर्मराजः । एवं हताज्ञो विहतान्मुरारे- र्नैदेशिकैर्यस्य वशे जनोऽयम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca niśamya devaḥ sva-bhaṭopavarṇitaṁ pratyāha kiṁ tān api dharmarājaḥ evaṁ hatājño vihatān murārer naideśikair yasya vaśe jano ’yam

The king said: Having heard this account narrated by his own servants, what did Dharmaraja — under whose sway stand all people — reply to them, his order thus thwarted and himself defeated by the deputies of Murari?

Verse 2 (bhagavata.6.3.2)

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

yamasya devasya na daṇḍa-bhaṅgaḥ kutaścanarṣe śruta-pūrva āsīt etan mune vṛścati loka-saṁśayaṁ na hi tvad-anya iti me viniścitam

O sage, never before has it been heard that a punishment ordained by the god Yama was ever thwarted. O sage, only you can cut through this doubt now troubling the world — of this I am certain.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.6.3.3)

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवत्पुरुषै राजन् याम्याः प्रतिहतोद्यमाः । पतिं विज्ञापयामासुर्यमं संयमनीपतिम् ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bhagavat-puruṣai rājan yāmyāḥ pratihatodyamāḥ patiṁ vijñāpayām āsur yamaṁ saṁyamanī-patim

Shri Shuka said: O king, their efforts thwarted by the Lord's own servants, the messengers of Yama went and informed their master, Yamaraja, lord of the city Samyamani.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.6.3.4)

यमदूता ऊचुः कति सन्तीह शास्तारो जीवलोकस्य वै प्रभो । त्रैविध्यं कुर्वतः कर्म फलाभिव्यक्तिहेतवः ॥ ४ ॥

yamadūtā ūcuḥ kati santīha śāstāro jīva-lokasya vai prabho trai-vidhyaṁ kurvataḥ karma phalābhivyakti-hetavaḥ

The Yamadutas said: O lord, how many rulers are there over this world of living beings — how many causes bring about the manifestation of the fruits of action performed under the three modes of nature?

Verse 5 (bhagavata.6.3.5)

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

yadi syur bahavo loke śāstāro daṇḍa-dhāriṇaḥ kasya syātāṁ na vā kasya mṛtyuś cāmṛtam eva vā

If there were many rulers in this world wielding the rod of punishment, whose judgment would prevail and whose would not — by whom would death be decreed, and by whom immortality?

Verse 6 (bhagavata.6.3.6)

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

kintu śāstṛ-bahutve syād bahūnām iha karmiṇām śāstṛtvam upacāro hi yathā maṇḍala-vartinām

But given the great multitude of workers in this world, there may indeed be many such rulers — just as there are many district governors, each administering under one central authority.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.6.3.7)

अतस्त्वमेको भूतानां सेश्वराणामधीश्वरः । शास्ता दण्डधरो नृणां शुभाशुभविवेचनः ॥ ७ ॥

atas tvam eko bhūtānāṁ seśvarāṇām adhīśvaraḥ śāstā daṇḍa-dharo nṝṇāṁ śubhāśubha-vivecanaḥ

Therefore you alone are the supreme ruler over all beings, including the very gods; you alone are the governor of men, the wielder of the rod of punishment, and the discerner of good and evil.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.6.3.8)

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

tasya te vihito daṇḍo na loke vartate ’dhunā caturbhir adbhutaiḥ siddhair ājñā te vipralambhitā

But now that punishment ordained by you no longer holds sway in this world, for your very command has been overridden by four wondrous, perfected beings.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.6.3.9)

नीयमानं तवादेशादस्माभिर्यातनागृहान् । व्यामोचयन्पातकिनं छित्त्वा पाशान प्रसह्य ते ॥ ९ ॥

nīyamānaṁ tavādeśād asmābhir yātanā-gṛhān vyāmocayan pātakinaṁ chittvā pāśān prasahya te

As we, by your command, were leading that sinner toward the houses of torment, they forcibly severed the ropes and set him free.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.6.3.10)

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

tāṁs te veditum icchāmo yadi no manyase kṣamam nārāyaṇety abhihite mā bhair ity āyayur drutam

We wish to learn from you who they were, if you consider us worthy of knowing. The very instant he uttered the word 'Narayana,' they arrived swiftly, saying, 'Do not fear, do not fear.'

Verse 11 (bhagavata.6.3.11)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच इति देवः स आपृष्टः प्रजासंयमनो यमः । प्रीतः स्वदूतान्प्रत्याह स्मरन् पादाम्बुजं हरेः ॥ ११ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca iti devaḥ sa āpṛṣṭaḥ prajā-saṁyamano yamaḥ prītaḥ sva-dūtān pratyāha smaran pādāmbujaṁ hareḥ

Shri Badarayani said: Thus questioned, the god Yama, controller of all living beings, remembering the lotus feet of Hari and pleased at heart, replied to his own messengers.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.6.3.12)

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

yama uvāca paro mad-anyo jagatas tasthuṣaś ca otaṁ protaṁ paṭavad yatra viśvam yad-aṁśato ’sya sthiti-janma-nāśā nasy otavad yasya vaśe ca lokaḥ

Yamaraja said: There is one supreme being, higher than even me, above all that moves and all that does not, in whom this universe is woven together crosswise and lengthwise like a cloth. From His partial expansion come this world's maintenance, birth and dissolution; the entire creation is under His control, just as a bull is controlled by the rope through its nose.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.6.3.13)

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

yo nāmabhir vāci janaṁ nijāyāṁ badhnāti tantryām iva dāmabhir gāḥ yasmai baliṁ ta ime nāma-karma- nibandha-baddhāś cakitā vahanti

He who, through the names given in His own Vedic speech, binds all people just as bulls are tethered with cords to a rope — to Him alone all these beings, bound by the obligations of their names and duties, fearfully bring their offerings.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.6.3.14)

अहं महेन्द्रो निऋर्तिः प्रचेताः सोमोऽग्निरीशः पवनो विरिञ्चिः । आदित्यविश्वे वसवोऽथ साध्या मरुद्गणा रुद्रगणाः ससिद्धाः ॥ १४ ॥

ahaṁ mahendro nirṛtiḥ pracetāḥ somo ’gnir īśaḥ pavano viriñciḥ āditya-viśve vasavo ’tha sādhyā marud-gaṇā rudra-gaṇāḥ sasiddhāḥ

I myself, Mahendra, Nirriti, Pracheta (Varuna), Soma, Agni, Isha (Shiva), Pavana, Virinchi (Brahma), Aditya, the Vishvedevas, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Maruts and the Rudras — together with the Siddhas —

Verse 15 (bhagavata.6.3.15)

अन्ये च ये विश्वसृजोऽमरेशा भृग्वादयोऽस्पृष्टरजस्तमस्काः । यस्येहितं न विदुः स्पृष्टमायाः सत्त्वप्रधाना अपि किं ततोऽन्ये ॥ १५ ॥

anye ca ye viśva-sṛjo ’mareśā bhṛgv-ādayo ’spṛṣṭa-rajas-tamaskāḥ yasyehitaṁ na viduḥ spṛṣṭa-māyāḥ sattva-pradhānā api kiṁ tato ’nye

— and the other creator-gods, and sages like Bhrigu, untouched by rajas and tamas — even they, though predominantly in sattva, cannot know His workings once touched by His maya; what then of anyone else?

Verse 16 (bhagavata.6.3.16)

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

yaṁ vai na gobhir manasāsubhir vā hṛdā girā vāsu-bhṛto vicakṣate ātmānam antar-hṛdi santam ātmanāṁ cakṣur yathaivākṛtayas tataḥ param

Whom living beings can never perceive by their senses, mind, vital breath, heart or speech — He who dwells within the heart as the innermost Self of all selves, yet remains beyond them all, just as the body's other limbs can never behold the eye.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.6.3.17)

तस्यात्मतन्त्रस्य हरेरधीशितुः परस्य मायाधिपतेर्महात्मनः । प्रायेण दूता इह वै मनोहरा- श्चरन्ति तद्रूपगुणस्वभावाः ॥ १७ ॥

tasyātma-tantrasya harer adhīśituḥ parasya māyādhipater mahātmanaḥ prāyeṇa dūtā iha vai manoharāś caranti tad-rūpa-guṇa-svabhāvāḥ

Of that self-sufficient, supreme Hari, the ruler of even maya, the Great Soul — His messengers, sharing His own form, qualities and nature and utterly captivating to behold, wander freely through this world.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.6.3.18)

भूतानि विष्णोः सुरपूजितानि दुर्दर्शलिङ्गानि महाद्भुतानि । रक्षन्ति तद्भक्तिमतः परेभ्यो मत्तश्च मर्त्यानथ सर्वतश्च ॥ १८ ॥

bhūtāni viṣṇoḥ sura-pūjitāni durdarśa-liṅgāni mahādbhutāni rakṣanti tad-bhaktimataḥ parebhyo mattaś ca martyān atha sarvataś ca

Those servants of Vishnu, worshiped even by the gods, whose forms are rarely glimpsed and most wondrous, protect His devotees from every enemy, from me, and indeed from every kind of danger.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.6.3.19)

धर्मं तु साक्षाद्भगवत्प्रणीतं न वै विदुऋर्षयो नापि देवाः । न सिद्धमुख्या असुरा मनुष्याः कुतो नु विद्याधरचारणादयः ॥ १९ ॥

dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ na vai vidur ṛṣayo nāpi devāḥ na siddha-mukhyā asurā manuṣyāḥ kuto nu vidyādhara-cāraṇādayaḥ

But that true dharma, ordained directly by the Lord Himself, is known neither by the great sages nor by the gods, nor by the chiefs of the Siddhas, the asuras or men — how, then, could the Vidyadharas, the Charanas and such beings ever know it?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.6.3.20)

स्वयम्भूर्नारदः शम्भुः कुमारः कपिलो मनुः । प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर्वैयासकिर्वयम् ॥ २० ॥

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vayam

Svayambhu (Brahma), Narada, Shambhu (Shiva), the Kumaras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhishma, Bali, Vyasa's son Shukadeva, and I myself —

Verse 21 (bhagavata.6.3.21)

द्वादशैते विजानीमो धर्मं भागवतं भटाः । गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं यं ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ॥ २१ ॥

dvādaśaite vijānīmo dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute

— we twelve alone truly know this devotional dharma, O my servants, which is deeply confidential, utterly pure and hard to comprehend — knowing which, one attains immortality.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.6.3.22)

एतावानेव लोकेऽस्मिन् पुंसां धर्मः परः स्मृतः । भक्तियोगो भगवति तन्नामग्रहणादिभिः ॥ २२ ॥

etāvān eva loke ’smin puṁsāṁ dharmaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ

This alone is recognized as the supreme dharma for human beings in this world — devotion (bhakti-yoga) to the Supreme Lord, beginning with the chanting of His holy name.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.6.3.23)

नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं हरेः पश्यत पुत्रकाः । अजामिलोऽपि येनैव मृत्युपाशादमुच्यत ॥ २३ ॥

nāmoccāraṇa-māhātmyaṁ hareḥ paśyata putrakāḥ ajāmilo ’pi yenaiva mṛtyu-pāśād amucyata

Behold, my dear sons, the glory of uttering the name of Hari — by which even Ajamila was released from the very noose of death.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.6.3.24)

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

etāvatālam agha-nirharaṇāya puṁsāṁ saṅkīrtanaṁ bhagavato guṇa-karma-nāmnām vikruśya putram aghavān yad ajāmilo ’pi nārāyaṇeti mriyamāṇa iyāya muktim

This alone is sufficient to remove the sins of a person — the chanting of the Lord's qualities, deeds and names — for even the sinful Ajamila, though merely calling out to his son, attained liberation at the moment of death by uttering 'Narayana.'

Verse 25 (bhagavata.6.3.25)

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

prāyeṇa veda tad idaṁ na mahājano ’yaṁ devyā vimohita-matir bata māyayālam trayyāṁ jaḍī-kṛta-matir madhu-puṣpitāyāṁ vaitānike mahati karmaṇi yujyamānaḥ

Even such a learned person mostly does not know this, his mind utterly bewildered by the Lord's illusory power, his intellect dulled by the flowery, honeyed language of the three Vedas, and engrossed instead in grand ritualistic sacrifices.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.6.3.26)

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

evaṁ vimṛśya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante sarvātmanā vidadhate khalu bhāva-yogam te me na daṇḍam arhanty atha yady amīṣāṁ syāt pātakaṁ tad api hanty urugāya-vādaḥ

Reflecting thus, the wise take up, with their whole being, the discipline of loving devotion to the infinite Lord; such persons do not deserve my punishment, and even should some residual sin remain in them, the chanting of the widely-glorified Lord's name destroys that too.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.6.3.27)

ते देवसिद्धपरिगीतपवित्रगाथा ये साधवः समदृशो भगवत्प्रपन्नाः । तान्नोपसीदत हरेर्गदयाभिगुप्तान् नैषां वयं न च वयः प्रभवाम दण्डे ॥ २७ ॥

te deva-siddha-parigīta-pavitra-gāthā ye sādhavaḥ samadṛśo bhagavat-prapannāḥ tān nopasīdata harer gadayābhiguptān naiṣāṁ vayaṁ na ca vayaḥ prabhavāma daṇḍe

Those saintly souls, whose pure stories are sung by gods and Siddhas, who look upon all beings equally and have taken refuge in the Lord — never go near them, for they are guarded by Hari's own mace; neither we nor even time itself has any power to punish them.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.6.3.28)

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

tān ānayadhvam asato vimukhān mukunda- pādāravinda-makaranda-rasād ajasram niṣkiñcanaiḥ paramahaṁsa-kulair asaṅgair juṣṭād gṛhe niraya-vartmani baddha-tṛṣṇān

Bring before me only those unrighteous ones who have turned their backs on the ceaseless nectar of Mukunda's lotus feet, savored by the possessionless, unattached paramahamsas — those instead whose thirst remains bound to household life, which is itself the road to hell.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.6.3.29)

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

jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi tān ānayadhvam asato ’kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān

Bring me those unrighteous ones whose tongue never utters the Lord's qualities and name, whose heart never once recalls His lotus feet, and whose head has never once bowed before Krishna — those who neglect their duty toward Vishnu altogether.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.6.3.30)

तत् क्षम्यतां स भगवान् पुरुषः पुराणो नारायणः स्वपुरुषैर्यदसत्कृतं नः । स्वानामहो न विदुषां रचिताञ्जलीनां क्षान्तिर्गरीयसि नमः पुरुषाय भूम्ने ॥ ३० ॥

tat kṣamyatāṁ sa bhagavān puruṣaḥ purāṇo nārāyaṇaḥ sva-puruṣair yad asat kṛtaṁ naḥ svānām aho na viduṣāṁ racitāñjalīnāṁ kṣāntir garīyasi namaḥ puruṣāya bhūmne

May that Supreme Person, the ancient Narayana, forgive whatever wrong has been done by our own servants — mere ignorant men of mine. Alas, we, His own, now stand before Him with folded hands; forgiveness toward one's own is the mark of true greatness. Obeisances to that all-pervading Supreme Person.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.6.3.31)

तस्मात् सङ्कीर्तनं विष्णोर्जगन्मङ्गलमंहसाम् । महतामपि कौरव्य विद्ध्यैकान्तिकनिष्कृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

tasmāt saṅkīrtanaṁ viṣṇor jagan-maṅgalam aṁhasām mahatām api kauravya viddhy aikāntika-niṣkṛtam

Therefore, O descendant of Kuru, know that the chanting of Vishnu's name is the very auspiciousness of the whole world, and is the ultimate, sure atonement even for the gravest of sins.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.6.3.32)

शृण्वतां गृणतां वीर्याण्युद्दामानि हरेर्मुहुः । यथा सुजातया भक्त्या शुद्ध्येन्नात्मा व्रतादिभिः ॥ ३२ ॥

śṛṇvatāṁ gṛṇatāṁ vīryāṇy uddāmāni harer muhuḥ yathā sujātayā bhaktyā śuddhyen nātmā vratādibhiḥ

For those who continually hear and chant of Hari's boundless, glorious deeds, the soul is purified through such naturally-arising devotion far more than it is ever purified by vows and similar practices.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.6.3.33)

कृष्णाङ्घ्रिपद्ममधुलिण् न पुनर्विसृष्ट- मायागुणेषु रमते वृजिनावहेषु । अन्यस्तु कामहत आत्मरजः प्रमार्ष्टु- मीहेत कर्म यत एव रजः पुनः स्यात् ॥ ३३ ॥

kṛṣṇāṅghri-padma-madhu-liṇ na punar visṛṣṭa- māyā-guṇeṣu ramate vṛjināvaheṣu anyas tu kāma-hata ātma-rajaḥ pramārṣṭum īheta karma yata eva rajaḥ punaḥ syāt

One who tastes the honey of Krishna's lotus feet no longer delights in those already-renounced modes of maya, which bring only misery; but another, still driven by desire, may strive to cleanse the dust of the self through ritual action — from which that same dust only arises once again.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.6.3.34)

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

itthaṁ svabhartṛ-gaditaṁ bhagavan-mahitvaṁ saṁsmṛtya vismita-dhiyo yama-kiṅkarās te naivācyutāśraya-janaṁ pratiśaṅkamānā draṣṭuṁ ca bibhyati tataḥ prabhṛti sma rājan

O king, recalling this glorious account of the Lord as spoken by their own master, the servants of Yama were struck with wonder, and from that day onward, filled with apprehension, they have feared even to look upon anyone sheltered at the feet of Achyuta.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.6.3.35)

इतिहासमिमं गुह्यं भगवान् कुम्भसम्भवः । कथयामास मलय आसीनो हरिमर्चयन् ॥ ३५ ॥

itihāsam imaṁ guhyaṁ bhagavān kumbha-sambhavaḥ kathayām āsa malaya āsīno harim arcayan

This confidential history was told to me by the illustrious sage Agastya, born of the pot, as he sat in the Malaya hills, worshiping Hari.