॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 26 December 2022 VI.03 - Yama explains to his messengers the truth behind Ajamila's emancipation.
***
यमस्य देवस्य न दण्डभङ्गः कुतश्चनर्षे श्रुतपूर्व आसीत्
T: Nobody had ever heard of anyone being able to avert or veto Lord Yama's dispensation.
This is the question on Parikshit's mind. Yama is asked the same question by his messengers who rush to him very flustered after Ajamila was freed from their binds by those "divine" beings. They ask even this question: Does creation accommodate more than one law-giver? Can two law-givers cancel each other's orders? If yes, how can there be a uniform law of Karma and Dharma in this world?
Yama smiles and answers them.
परो मदन्यो जगतस्तस्थुषश्च ओतं प्रोतं पटवद्यत्र विश्वम्
T: "Dear fellows, know that indeed there is One, other than me, under whose order the world runs. Indeed it is like a fabric woven with His threads of influence."
Yama lists all the gods including himself, the Trinity, Indra, Agni, Chandra, Surya and so on, all of whom have been given positions of authority and responsibility to function under the regime of the Supreme Being, Ishwara. In the apparent social order of Varna and Ashrama, the Dharma organisation, all such arrangements are only mini ropes binding men like cattle tied with ropes. But these mini ropes are all tied to a giant master rope pulled by Ishwara whose rule is final.
तस्यात्मतन्त्रस्य हरेरधीशितुः परस्य मायाधिपतेर्महात्मनः
T: That Bhagavan Hari is supreme, the master of all rules. As per His rule runs the universe, under the influence of His Maya. His messengers are always everywhere, overseeing that the hierarchy of creation from gods to humans and animals are all functioning as per His will. So these messengers can overturn anyone's intent or order subordinate to His will.
स्वयम्भूर्नारद: शम्भु: कुमार: कपिलो मनु: । प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर्वैयासकिर्वयम् ॥
द्वादशैते विजानीमो धर्मं भागवतं भटा: । गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं यं ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ॥
T: "Only Brahma, Narada, Shiva, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhishma, Bali, Shuka, and I are privy to this matter that Maha Vishnu's messengers are up and about to see that His will prevails. No one else can even see them, for their sight itself is grace enough to confer liberation!"
नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं हरे: पश्यत पुत्रका: । अजामिलोऽपि येनैव मृत्युपाशादमुच्यत ॥
T: "See this wonder, my dear boys, the wonderful power of Sri Hari's name! A fallen one like Ajamila himself was saved from certain death and hellish punishment waiting for him, on account of uttering the Lord's name!"
"It is a greater wonder that Vedic scholars and ritualists miss the hidden power of chanting His name. That is the effect of His Maya!"
एवं विमृश्य सुधियो भगवत्यनन्ते सर्वात्मना विदधते खलु भावयोगम् ।
ते मे न दण्डमर्हन्त्यथ यद्यमीषां स्यात् पातकं तदपि हन्त्युरुगायवाद: ॥
T: "The wise ones understand this, and devote their entire being to worshipping the Lord and practising Bhakti Yoga. They are therefore spared the rod of my punishment. Even if they do some wrong, they can quickly atone for it by singing the glories of the Lord."
Sage Shuka concludes this wonderful story of Ajamila by saying that he has heard it from Sage Agastya.
***
Now a question arises. Is this not like that confession box which makes everyone easily escape the consequences of their misdeeds by simply paying lip service to the Lord? A cheap atonement!
No way!
I will give you my two pennies. Ajamila was a good man. He fell into wrong ways and ruined himself. He was about to be taken to hell. By uttering "Narayana", he drew the merciful attention of Maha Vishnu's messengers, who freed him from Yama. But all this happened within his direct experience, much like a policeman's warning. That meant he got a second chance to mend his ways. He then went to Haridwar and did enough to save himself.
Point 1: He got a warning. Point 2: He mended his ways. Point 3: He was saved.
If we see carefully, every moment, God, Ishwara, Paramatma, who is within each Jiva, is giving us a chance, telling us to change our worldly ways. Do we listen? This is also strongly reinforced in the Bhagavadgita.
***
