Madhusudanaya namah

“Irrespective of whether Hari’s name is chanted, knowingly or unknowingly, it has tremendous benefits” with this conclusive statement, Vishnu’s attendants freed Ajāmila not only from the grip of Yama’s attendants but also from the clutches of death! Yama’s attendants approached their master Yama and narrated the entire happenings.

Seeing Vishnu’s attendants by his side Ajāmila was filled with happiness and courage. Totally freed from fear, he reverentially bowed to them. Vishnu’s attendants observed that he was about to say something hence they instantly vanished even as he was watching.

Yama’s attendants had explained Pravṛtti dharma (path of material expansion) which is contained in the Vedas, which is composed of the three attributes of Nature and which has its support in these worldly bondages. Vishnu’s attendants had wonderfully explained the Bhāgavata dharma (relationship between devotee & God and duties therein). Ajāmila had heard the entire conversation with rapt attention.

**Due to listening to the glories of Srihari, devotion towards the Lord intensified in him. **Realization dawned in him. He now regretted his earlier mistakes. Recollecting all his sins he lamented profusely. He grieved, “Oho, due to lack of mind-control I got trapped into terrible sins. I brought upon myself these troubles.”

Swamiji explains: Some people do not have mind-control. When mind-control and tongue-control is lacking, then entire body goes out of control. All their limbs will become defective. Such persons cannot escape hellish punishments. Now Ajāmila was repenting for his past deeds.

“How despicable is my behavior! Infatuated by a low-class prostitute I begot a son through her and discarded my Vedic duties. I fell to the worst levels. For having fallen into this sinful state, I was condemned by all noble, virtuous people. May this world condemn me, who became a stigma to my noble lineage! Abandoning my legally wedded wife who was chaste, innocent and pure, I fell into the sway of a wicked intoxicated woman.

When my parents were suffering due to old age and were lonely with no friend or relative by their side, I, who was totally infatuated by a prostitute, ungratefully neglected them and allowed them to suffer. For being a wretched abominable sinner, I am sure to land in the worst of hells where lustful people who have transgressed Vedic dictates fall. This is the undeniable truth!

Can this wonderful conversation heard by me be really true? I hope it was not a mere dream. Have I really seen it or was it my imagination? Yama’s attendants were here with a noose and were dragging me to hell. Now where have they disappeared? Where have those 4 handsome celestials who rescued me from the noose disappeared?

Whatever be the outcome, even though I am an abominable sinner I was fortunate to have the darshan of celestials. Merely by their appearance these Gods fill our mind with happiness. Perhaps I have some merit (punya) left with me, else how could a sinner like me who associated with a prostitute, chant the Lord’s pure name at the moment of death?” Swamiji explains: To be able to chant the Lord’s name at the time of death is extremely difficult. I have personally seen many such persons. Even when we force them to chant “Narayana”, the Lord’s name will not come out of their lips at that moment. Even at that last moment they want to enjoy the smell of dosa or other food items.

“Without earlier punya, it is impossible to think of the Lord at the time of death. I am a shameless cheat. How could I, the worst detestable sinner who brought shame to the clan of Brahmins, even utter the pure name of that ever-pious Lord at the time of death? I am unfit even to chant His pure, supreme auspicious name.

Henceforth I shall regulate my breath, completely control my mind and my senses and thereby through stringent disciplines protect myself from falling into the worst hells.

**Lack of Self-knowledge is the root for desires to sprout in the person. Fruitive actions closely follow these desires. They in turn trap the person in bondages. **I shall now destroy these bondages. Seeking the well-being of all living entities I shall be completely at peace. I will henceforth develop of feelings of equanimity and total compassion. I will have absolute sense control henceforth.

Alas! What a sinner I am! I fell into the trap laid by Vishnu’s illusion which approached me in the form of a woman and ensured that like a monkey I dance to its tunes. I have to free myself from this illusion.

My mind is trapped in these impermanent worldly comforts. I have to give up feelings of ‘me and mine’ towards this gross body. I will purify my mind by techniques such as chanting Lord’s name and will fix it totally upon Him”.

Maharishi Śuka said, “O Emperor Parikshit! In this way, just by spending a few moments in the company of holy people Ajāmila developed absolute detachment towards this world. He immediately got up and left for Haridwar”.

Please remember that this is a true story. Ajāmila came out from the clutches of death and renounced this world.

“He took shelter in a temple and established himself totally in Yoga. He withdrew the senses from the objects of desire and merged them into the mind. Thereafter he gradually freed the mind from the bodily functions and was established in the Self.

Within his heart he saw the Supreme Lord who was illumining as knowledge. He merged his mind into this Lord. At that moment Ajāmila saw before him those 4 celestials who had rescued him earlier from the clutches of Yama’s attendants. Recognizing them, he reverentially bowed before them. Thereafter he gave up his body on the banks of River Ganga in Haridwar. He was now completely established in Yoga.

He was instantaneously blessed with a celestial body. Together with Vishnu’s attendants he boarded the golden celestial plane and reached Vaikunṭha, the residence of Vishnu”. We have heard the auspicious story of Ajāmila.

Madhusudanaya namah