Venue: Germany
Bhagvat saptha (Ajamil Katha series – Forth session)
Bhagvat recitation, this is our third session we are still in the 1st chapter of the 6th canto, with this session, this morning’s 1st session, we will complete the 1st chapter that leaves us with two more chapters. So 2nd chapter we will do today between 2nd and the 3rd session of today, we will complete the 2nd chapter and remaining 3rd chapter we’ll relish here, study tomorrow.
So, Yamadutas have arrived and Vishnudutas also. Yesterday we heard of the brief life sketch. So, brief life sketch and who would study such a lifestyle. The husband is a prostitute’s husband. ‘dasi patir ajamilah’, he was named, he was addressed, introduced as ‘dasi patir ajamilah’. Then we have travelled long distances with great expense and inconvenience leaving asides so many important assignments we have come here just to study the life of dasi pati, the husband of this prostitute. Is it worth? Now you know what the topic is, you better go home, do something more important. So, there’s a contrast, there’s a lesson. Even dasi-pati was such a degraded person, there’s hope for even such a person. That’s the inspiration that we get, that we are not as fallen or not that bad like; we can’t match the style, lifestyle of Ajamila. So such fallen person but he chants Narayan and 4 Vishnudutas come and 3 were already there, 3 Yamadutas and Vishnudutas naturally want to stop the undertaking, the work and action by Yamadutas. It was not necessary, it is irrelevant they were thinking, the Vishnudutas were thinking. This person has chanted the name of Narayan, that’s it. At the time of death he had done so helplessly he cried out ‘bhartur nama maharaja sahasapatan’ (S.B. 6.1.30) when they heard name of their swami, their master Narayan sahasa means suddenly they appeared.
You could see how swiftly they must have moved, not losing even fraction of second. It is said that they are normally here; in the universe they are wandering, protecting Vaishnavas, picking up Vaishnavas, taking Vaishnavas back home back to Godhead, to Vaikuthloka. So, they were around the universe somewhere around the planet, somewhere and when they heard the name, someone chanting name Narayan they all appeared and they looked so beautiful, effulgent, that their appearance dissipated all the darkness and. So we went through description of their clothing and ornaments and the weapons they were carrying and this was just contrary to the ‘vakra-tundan urdhva-romna’ (S.B. 6.1.28), crooked faces and hair were standing on end and ‘ati-darunan’ very horrible looking. So, one coming from hell we could tell. Prabhupada wrote in one of the purports, just by looking at, before even foreigner is introduced, by his look or by his beauty, by his the way he is dressed, of course once he begins talking you would know more about him. He is just dressed or he is a fool no. 1 he is dressed like a gentleman you would find that out but not only they are good looking and well dressed but they are also highly intelligent, very wise persons. So when you would hear them talk or Yamaraja’s hear them speaking, they just left Ajamila behind and they proceeded to abode of Yamaraja. So, we were ‘sri-visnuduta ucuh’, so, Vishnudutas are challenging Yamadutas and they think maybe they are not even the representatives of Yamaraja, if they were truly representatives of Yamaraja they wouldn’t even hear, “Did you not hear the name Narayan that this person chanted?”, “Yes, we did”. “Still you are taking him to abode of Yamaraja? Doesn’t sound like you are Yamaraja’s representatives. You better double check with Yamaraja, telephone him (laughter) what you are doing is right or wrong. We are confident that you shouldn’t be here. You have nothing to do with this case. This is beyond your jurisdiction. What are you doing here? And if you truly are somebody from Yamaraja” then,
“yuyam vai dharma-rajasya yadi nirdesa-karinah
bruta dharmasya nas tattvam yac cadharmasya laksanam” (S.B. 6.1.38)
So, we would like you to bruta, bruta means say…say it, yuyam vai dharma-rajasya yadi, if you are truly Dharmaraj’s, Yamaraja’s nirdesa-karinah, the order carriers nirdesa, Yamaraja gives some order and you execute, if that is what you people are then, bruta-say, dharmasya tattvam- we want to hear the truth about dharma. At the same time, yac cadharmasya laksanam, dharmasya tattvam yac cadharmasya laksanam, dharma, adharma both you have to explain; what is dharma? And what is not dharma? what is religion? What is not religion? Ok hurry up, say it. This enquiry by Vishnudutas to Yamadutas is most important. Prabhupad writes in the purport, a servant must know the instructions of his master. The servants of Yamaraja claimed to be carrying out his orders, and therefore the Visnudutas very intelligently asked them to explain the symptoms of religious and irreligious principles. The questions posed by the Vishnudutas are very suitable. One who represents someone else must fully know that person’s mission. If you are representing Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, if you are representing Srila Prabhupada, representing spiritual masters, then we have to know their mission, Prabhupada is pointing out here. The devotee in Krishna Consciousness Movement therefore must be fully aware of the mission of Krishna and Lord Chaitanya. Otherwise they will be considered foolish. All devotees, especially preachers must know the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness so as not to be embarrassed and insulted when they preach. To avoid the embarrassing, insulting and other kinds of situation, one should equip oneself, especially preachers with the philosophy, with the mission of the master authority that they represent and the next.
“katham svid dhriyate dandah kim vasya sthanam ipsitam
dandyah kim karinah sarve aho svit katicin nrnam” (S.B. 6.1.39)
Translation- What is the process of punishing others? Vishnudutas are enquiring, who are the actual candidates for punishment? Are all karmis engaged in furtive activities punishable, or only some of them? So, no one knows, right? These things, so, this we could know. Vishnudutas have enquired for our benefit. So the answer, we could be benefited by the answer. The answer is coming up. Good to know, who is candidate for punishment. So Yamadutas only punish Hindus’ or Germans’ also? One party, followers of buddha, they were part of their conversion campaign they were saying, “We don’t believe in this law of karma like Hindus do. So you should join our dharma. They are giving concession, our dharma is better. We don’t believe in law of karma. Come, please join us. Those who believe they have to suffer; as you sow, so shall you reap. This is a law, law of karma. If someone would tell, no no we don’t believe, so you should join our religion is much easy and you know. So is that the way? If someone says, no no we don’t believe in this law of karma, so is that person free from law of karma? Just because he says, oh! We don’t believe. So, in other words, Yamaduta’s Yamaraj has a jurisdiction over everybody. He’s coming up specially human beings for sure. So Prabhupad is pointing that out in this purport but I just want you to think, may be this question did not come up that Yamaraja and all these Yamadutas is only for Hindus’ and you know Chinese people have nothing to do with this. They have another, someone else, another Yamaraja or another system infrastructure. No, the same thing, its universal. One who has the power to punish others should not punish everyone. Very wise statement Prabhupada is making, one who has the power to punish others should not punish everyone, indiscriminately. There are innumerable living entities, the majority of whom are in the spiritual world and are nitya-mukta, everlastingly liberated. There is no question of judging these liberated living beings. This Yamadutas Yamaraja has no jurisdiction over all those living in the spiritual sky. Only a small fraction of the living entities, perhaps one fourth, are in the material world, right? tri paad vibhuti, one paad vibhuti spiritual sky is like a three forth of the kingdom creation and one forth is material world. So, Prabhupada is saying, perhaps only one fourth of the population, living entities are here. And the major portion of the living entities in the material world — 8,000,000 forms of the 8,400,000 forms of life — are lower than human beings. They are not punishable, for under the laws of material nature they are automatically evolving. So nobody from the spiritual sky is punishable and then out of the 8,400,000, 8,000,000 are other species. So they are also not punishable. A dog is not punished if he crosses when the red light is on, does police arrest the dog? He is just irresponsible. So he would never teach any tricks anything to the dog. So like that, so that’s remaining only 400,000 human beings who are advanced in Krishna Consciousness are responsible but not all of them are punishable. Those engaged in advanced pious activities are beyond punishment. So Prabhupada is just trying to analyze and say who are the only parties punishable. Only those who engage in sinful activities are punishable. Therefore the Visnudutas particularly inquired about who is punishable and why Yamaraja has to be designated to discriminate between who is punishable and who is not. How is one to be judged? What is the basic principle of authority? These are the questions raised by the Visnudutas. So this is very advance knowledge. So good to know these things. ‘Yamaduta ucuh’ okay now is the turn…so this morning we’ll just spend time listening to the Yamadutas (laughs) We have only time, that’s how the chapter ends the 1st chapter. Now we begin talking with the text no. 40 to text no. 68, there are 29 verses these Yamaduta ucuh. Why ucuh? Many. If it was only one Yamadut, only one then uvach. Then you see sometimes ucuh means many are speaking. Ucuh uvach so plural number gets ucuh. Yamaduta ucuh. Now you know. So it’s done. That ignorance is out. Now your knowledge, for rest of your life you know whenever there’s ucuh right? Next 30 40 years you know ucuh means many persons are speaking. Easy, right? Just spend 1 minute or half minute to understand something and then you know once and for all.
“veda-pranihito dharmo hy adharmas tad-viparyayah
vedo narayanah saksatsvayambhur iti susruma” (S.B. 6.1.40)
So, they have defined it is veda-pranihito, the vedas. What is prescribed in the vedas or done things as per prescriptions of vedas that is dharma. And tad-viparyayah just opposite of that is adharma, irreligion. They are defining like this. Vedo narayanah saksat, vedas are sakshat Narayan, this is Sanskrit. We should be capable to understand this much. Vedas are sakshat narayan, ya directly Narayan. ‘Sakshat haritven samasta shastrey’ we sing every day. Sakshat hari, sakshat means Himself directly. So vedas are sakshat Narayan. ‘Svayambhur iti susruma’ and ya we have heard this. We have heard this from Yamaraja.
Purport – The servants of Yamaraja replied quite properly. Prabhupada is giving his judgment, Prabhupad is satisfied; Yamarajas’ replies quite properly. They did not manufacture principles of religion or irreligion, no manufacturing. Instead, they explained what they had heard from the authority Yamaraja. ‘Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah’: one should follow the Mahajana, the authorized person. Yamaraja is one of twelve authorities. They said susruma, Prabhupada is writing. They said right? This word susruma. They said we have heard this. But but we saying this to you that this vedo narayanah saksat iti susruma – we have heard this. Ofcourse we have heard this from Yamaraja. Susruma, so this is the right way to acquire knowledge. Injunction of dharma emanate from breathing of Narayan. And Srila Madhvacarya also makes a comment here, the transcendental words of the Vedas emanated from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the Vedic principles should be understood to be Vaishnava principles because Vishnu is the origin of the Vedas. The Vedas contain nothing besides the instructions of Vishnu, and one who follows the Vedic principles is a Vaishnava. So Vedas are also known as ‘apaurushaya’ they call ‘apaurushaya’ means not spoken by a ordinary human being ‘apaurushaya’. Yamadutas continue
“yena sva-dhamny ami bhava rajah-sattva-tamomayah
guna-nama-kriya-rupair vibhavyante yatha-tatham” (S.B. 6.1.41)
Yena sva-dhamny ami – this is Narayan. Narayan resides in His own abode, they say. And although He resides in His own abode through the agency of rajah-sattva-tamo, He is creating this whole existence which is full of guna that is qualities, nama that is names, kriya that is activities, rupair that is forms. This world full of forms, qualities, activities is a creation of Narayan which He creates with the help of sattva-rajah-tamo. Although He is not personally here, yena sva-dhamny although in His own abode, He’s creating everything. All these manifestations are, thus Narayan is the cause of entire cosmic manifestation. Is that correct also? These Yamarajas are they correct? Not correct? Getting good marks. He is able to remain in His own abode, Prabhupada is writing, He (i.e. Narayan) is able to remain in His own abode and without endeavor supervise and manipulate the entire cosmic manifestation through the interaction of the three modes of material nature — sattva, rajo and tamo. These interactions create different forms, bodies, activities and changes, which all occur perfectly. This is Lord’s creation, everything’s perfect and having said that much now Yamadutas are going to list of witnesses. So when one commit sin, before they are sent to carry out the order whether he is to be punished or rewarded to which body he gets next. This all has to depend on, you know, the actual facts about that person’s dealings, activities. So there has to be witnesses. Someone to witness the activity of that person. So they say, so please take note of the witnesses. Lot of times we just look around, there’s no one here, just me and then we go. Just do it. You feel good, just do it, don’t even think. Just see no one around, ok no one around. But the Yamadutas say
“suryo gnih kham marud devah somah sandhyahani disah
kam kuh svayam dharma iti hy ete daihyasya saksinah” (S.B. 6.1.42)
Sakshi Gopal, you know, Sakshi Gopal, witness Gopal. Gopal who witnessed. So saksinah, daihyasya saksinah, daihi- we are daihi, embodied. So of daihi that is daihyasya. Daihyasya saksinah – these are the witnesses of the activities performed by the conditioned soul. so who are they; surya-sun, agni-fire, kham-ether, shabdah khe, marud sound is in ether, shabdah khe, khe means ‘in’, so in ether there is sound that’s another statement of Krishna from the 10th chapter of Bhagvat Gita. So marud-air, wherever you are there’s always air right? Could you go to somewhere where there’s no air? You could go but not come back (laughter). So even air is a witness. Air is given, you think air is just passing by but air gathered all the news (laughs) That air will go to Yamaraja and somehow pass the news on to him. Devah-demigod, somah-moon, sandhya-evening, sandhya-evening time sandhyakal, ahani-the day, dishah-directions, how many directions are there? 10; purva, pashchim, dakshin, uttar, agneya, nairrti, vayavya, ishanya, urdhva, adho. These are the ten names of ten directions. So, the ten directions, they are also witness. Kam i.e. water, kuh i.e. land, svayam dharma Yamaraja himself is also witness. So like these are the witnesses.
Now Prabhupada is writing the purport – once we had a discussion with a learned Christian professor who argued that although people are generally punished after the witnesses of their misdeeds are examined, after the witnesses of their misdeeds are examined, ok, witnesses are examined. Someone committed misdeed and then witnesses are there right? Yes I was there, I saw, I took the photograph also and recording, I was right there. So when all these witnesses are examined then there should be punishment. This was the argument of this Christian gentleman who was talking with Prabhupada, arguing with Prabhupada, where are the witnesses responsible for one’s suffering reactions of past karma? Oh! Your Yamaraja punishes people, Hindu people or all the people but you know where are the witnesses are? We committed sin, may be in a cave, in a secluded place or here there wherever. So how they have to examine the witnesses, gather correct facts then only the judgement is going to be right otherwise it will go wrong. Understand the argument of this priest; if you understand the argument of the priest then you will understand the reply. Ya understood? His point was normally the judgment comes after hearing the witnesses about someone’s misdeed. So many people, so many living entities they are punished but where are the witnesses? So judgment is not going to be wrong. It is going to be wrong according to him.
Ok then Prabhupada is now, to such a person the answer by the Yamadutas is given here. Prabhupada is not giving any answer himself. The Yamadutas have given answer to the question or argument of this Christian professor, a conditioned soul thinks that he is working stealthily. Stealthily? Stealing you know stealing like a thief. Stealthily is working without anybody noticing while any action is being performed. So soul thinks, conditioned soul thinks that he is working stealthily and that no one can see his sinful activities, but we can understand from the sastras that there are many witnesses, we just find out from sastras witness is like sun, fire, like that, sky, air, moon and like that but doesn’t different witnesses. Where is the dearth of witnesses? The witnesses and the Supreme Lord both exist, and therefore so many living entities are elevated to higher planetary systems or degraded to lower planetary systems, including hellish planets. There are no discrepancies, for everything is arranged perfectly by the management of the Supreme God (svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca). See how the creation of God works. we get to know this. Ok, they continue
“etair adharmo vijnatah sthanam dandasya yujyate
sarve karmanurodhena dandam arhanti karinah” (S.B. 6.1.43)
Translation – The candidates for punishment are those who are confirmed by these many witnesses to have deviated from their prescribed regulative duties. Everyone engaged in furtive activities is suitable to be subjected to punishment according to his sinful acts. Questions were raised, who are the candidates for punishment? And Yamadutas say that everyone engaged in furtive activities is going to be punished according to the sinful acts. So the witnesses, the different ones, they say yes yes we know that this person deviated from the prescribed regulative duties. He is a brahmin and this prescribed duty and he is kshatriya, he is a brahmachari, here’s this, here’s that and each one has prescribed duty and all these personalities appointed to act as witnesses, they have been trained, they know what are the regulative principles, what is dharma and what is not dharma and all that. So through the eyes of the scriptures and keeping all these prescribed duties, knowledge in forefront of their mind, they are looking at different personalities. And as soon as they go against, they deviate from the prescribed duty, immediately who is sleeping there in middle of Bhagvatam this will be reported right? Speaker may not take notice but there is, the witnesses are around. The news is all the time the communication is and for each one of us there is one file. Yamaraja has super computer and the data is all the time updated and plus minus because person may leave anytime so report has to be ready (laughter). Not that he is dead and pending file and do review and do all calculations who knows. No as soon as the person is no more which could be anytime, so the data has to be ever ready, perfect. Prabhupada just said, Lord’s management is perfect, no delays.
“yena yavan yathadharmo dharmo veha samihitah
sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte tatha tavad amutra vai” (S.B. 6.1.45)
‘Yena yavan yathadharmo dharmo veha samihitah’ so according to the activities dharmic-religious or irreligious we perform then that persons gets the phalam-the fruit, either bitter fruit or sweeter sweet fruit, amutra vai-in the next life accordingly he gets the body. ‘Karmana daiva netrena sat asat janma yonishu’, karmana daiva netrena- the karma, they have eyes, daiva netrena, sat asat janma yonishu- yoni means specie sat means higher specie, asat means lower specie. According to one’s karma, one gets higher body or lower body. In proportion to the extent of one’s religious actions in this life, one must enjoy or suffer corresponding actions of this karma in the next. Srila Prabhupada is quoting verse from Bhagvat Gita, “urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha madhye tisthanti rajasah jaghanya guna vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah” (Bhagavad-gita 14.18). Urdhvam gacchanti- upwards go, sattva-stha- person situated in mode of goodness they go upwards. Then madhye- in the middle, tisthanti rajasah- persons in the mode of passion, they stay in the middle and adho gacchanti- adho means down gacchanti means go tamasah- people in mode of ignorance go down mode of passion stay? Where? Middle and Goodness upwards. So goodness means pious activity so they go to heaven, the tamasic sinful activity they go the hellish planets and rajasah the passionate ones, they stay in the middle, this planet, we know the planet system. So this is 14th chapter 18th verse of Bhagvat Gita. So Prabhupada has quoted that verse supporting Yamaduta’s statement. Like that they just as the spring time the omnipotent Yamaraja is as good as Brahma they say, they talk about their master Yamaraja. For while situated in his own abode or in everyone’s heart like Paramatma, he mentally observes past activities of a living entity and thus understands how living entity will act in future lives. Such is a power of Yamaraja, he could just think of his present and past activities and he could immediately visualize that he would act like this in future and then accordingly he has given the bodies. One should not consider Yamaraja an ordinary living being, he is as good as Lord Brahma, he has competent, co-operation of Supreme Lord who is situated in everyone’s heart and therefore by the grace of Supersoul, he can see the past, present and future of all living beings from within, from within himself, he could see this. The actual decisions concerning next lives of entities are made by Supersoul and they are carried out by Yamaraja. So there is a co-operation, they work as a team or Lord has a final say, Supersoul has a final say in the matter then Yamaraja does the execution of the will of the Lord. We are skipping some verses here for some time constraints are there. So,
“pancabhih kurute svarthan panca vedatha pancabhih
ekas tu sodasena trin svayam saptadaso ’snute” (S.B. 6.1.50)
The living entity enjoys or suffer. They say conditioned soul has five working senses, five objects of senses are there and five knowledge acquiring senses i.e. fifteen; five, five, five and then what is the sixteenth item is mind and seventeenth is a living entity himself. So like that, the seventeen together they have connection with the subtle body and so according to knowledge acquired and particular kind of knowledge acquired, actions perform they enjoy or suffer differently. So some enjoy shoka that’s lamentation, harsha, bhaya, artidam (S.B. 6.1.51). The subtle body is endowed with sixteen parts — the five knowledge-acquiring senses, the five working senses, the five objects of sense gratification, and the mind. This subtle body is an effect of the three modes of material nature. It is composed of insurmountably strong desires, and therefore it causes the living entity to transmigrate from one body to another in human, animal life and life as a demigod.
So, and there are few more verses, no, they are not many more but few, just then replying to the questions raised by Vishnudutas and towards the end now, last 10 verses. Vishnudutas are going to describe in more detail, giving some more details of the life, sinful life of Ajamila, this dasi-pati Ajamila. And then in conclusion they say yes, this is the reason, this is the reason we want to bring him to Yamaloka. So they want to make their case. So they have given some reading through philosophical explanations and now life history again. We are studying the life of this dasi-patir ajamilah.
“Ayam hi sruta-sampannah sila-vrtta-gunalayah” (S.B. 6.1.56)
He was…ya, so pay attention, important details are there. So do not miss anything, Yes so they say he was sruta-sampannah- means he used to hear a lot from right sources ‘Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam’ (SB 7.5.23). He was doing this, nityam Bhagvat sevaya, studying shastras, vedas, he was doing this regularly. Sila-vrtta-gunalayah- he was well behaved, he had a very bright character and he was full of so many good qualities, dhrta-vrato- following so many vows, he used to fast on ekadashi and like that. We have also taken vrat, what is our vrat? Katha vrat, katha-vrati, we have katha-vrati. Right now we are following vrat of katha, katha vrat. There is brahmachari vrat, ekadashi vrat, different vratas. Right now there is a month of ‘Purushottam mass’. You heard of that? ‘Purushottam mas’ every after 3 years, one additional month appears called Purushottam and lot of people if you go to Vrindavan now, it’s so crowded. Started 3 weeks ago, 1 more week to go. So this month is considered very very auspicious especially for hearing and chanting. People drop their routine businesses and go to the holy places, stay there for whole month, following different vows, eating; they follow lot of eating restrictions. If you don’t eat salt, you’ll have a sweet voice and this and that, if you don’t drink milk, it gives benefit like that. So people follow lot of different vows and minimize their bodily demands and increase the spiritual practices during this month. All the holy places are crowded right now in India. Go to any and every holy place, people are coming in big numbers for darshan of the deities and taking holy dip, of course that’s the favorite pastime. Let’s take a holy dip, as soon as they come they want to find where have to take bath, bathing ghat, bathing ghat, snan, there’s a snan ghat, bathing ghat.
So, different vratas. Purushottam mass follow, this is also another vrat. So he was ‘dhrta-vrato’- he used to follow lots of vows. And ‘mrdur’- he was very mild person. Now he was arrogant but one time and ‘dantah’- he was sense and mind controller and he had mind and controlled his mind and senses to great extent and ‘satya-van mantra-vic chucih’ (S.B. 6.1.56)- yes he was very clean, always speaking truthfully, speaking truth, no lies, talking about the previous, before coming in contact with the prostitute, he was like that and they have information about that. How are they saying this? How did Yamadutas came to know this? How? Supersoul? Witnesses, Yes, so many witnesses, good news also, they are informed, not that only sinful activities, someone is doing good, that is also reported, that is also on the computer screen, that also appears. And he used to be very respectful and he had service attitude. “Guru-agny-atithi-vrddh” (SB 6.1.57) four parties mentioned he used to serve, be respectful, serving Gurus, fire, guests and old people and other parties and these people respecting agni is what? Light the fire and do swaha swaha or use the fire for cooking for the Lord i.e. worshipping, serving fire and guests should be treated as God, old people are wise people hence they are useful people in Vedic culture. So they should be respected, looked after not because they have become old now, just kill them it’s useless you know; get a gun wipe them out, no…old is gold, they have so much experience and so they could just sit down, they cannot run around so much but they can…they have brain they have experience in Vedic times. So they have been practicing how they overcame different difficulties in their life, this obstacle that maya, this that so they are seasoned so they could share their knowledge. So that’s a wealth to have such access. Sometimes we say in our Krishna Consciousness movement, we don’t have grand old mothers, grand old fathers, mostly young people or just 1st generation or one and half generation only but…so we are lacking to some extent and we have Prabhupada, the whole living experienced people gone through ups and downs and thick and thin of the life. Such people they help us, advice us, guide us, inspire us.
So this Ajamila used to be very respectful. As soon as old person walks into the bus, young people should stand up and please take the seat or some Sanyasi comes, now they don’t care (Maharaj laughs) we keep standing they don’t know, they don’t even know this is Sanyasi, they see he is carrying dand, they think he is also going for fishing (laughter) they don’t know what he is carrying, fishing rod fishing rod. We say yes yes fishing. This is an ocean of material, this is ocean so we fish, fish out people of this ocean so fisherman. So they don’t even know we are Sanyasi what to speak of respecting him or offering a seat or anything of service. So that’s the state of affairs. So more of his qualities are mentioned here that he was non envious- anasuyakah and mita-vag and there’s a mita-bhuk, vag means speach mita-vag means just speaking only when it is necessary. He was not just talkative, talking talking he was mita-vag. They say because God has given us two ears and how many mouths? One mouth. So hearing should be twice compared to talk. Normally we do other way round. We talk more, hear less. We don’t want to hear, we only talk. So this person, he was mita-vag. Sarva-bhuta-suhrt – he was very friendly to all living entities and sadhur – was very gentle person. So these are…that’s why he is said, described as sruta-sampannah – he was sampanna, well educated in Vedic knowledge. So having described his good qualities during his youthful days, now comes, so then what happened, ekada (S.B. 6.1.58) once upon a time he vanam yatah he was going into the forest garden pitr-sandesa-krd dvijah and he was going there because his father had sent him to do what? Adaya tata avrttah- to go and collect some phala- friuts puspa- flowers and grass samit then kusan there are two kinds of grasses required for the puja.
So while he was out there on a mission of collecting flowers and fruits and special grass required for puja, something happened. Dadarsa (S.B. 6.1.59) he saw “kaminam kancic shudram saha bhujisyaya” he saw one shudra- person in company of a prostitute and the prostitute has been described here as a “pitva ca madhu maireyam madaghurnita-netraya” and she had taken, she had drunk so much vodka, vodka? Russia what do they drink, vodka vodka or German bear she had taken so much “pitva ca madhu maireyam” that her eyes were rolling, she was just intoxicated like anything eyes were rolling. He was seeing this; this person was seeing all this. “Mattaya vislathan-nivya vyapetam nirapatrapam” (S.B. 6.1.60) and as a result her body was not…she was not even aware which part of her body is covered with clothes which parts are naked and vyapetam nirapatrapam – she was shameless. So either under the influence of the intoxication, the drink she had drunk, she had taken so much of that or purposely she was just not covering herself properly and what else? Kridantam – she was playful and gayantam – she was singing glories of the sudra, this person, low class person, oh how beautiful how this how that hasantam – laughing, anayantike – so together all they were busy like that. Does that sound familiar? Yes, we don’t have to read in Bhagvatam. This is…just go down the street and it is all there, worse than this. Prabhupada writes, while traveling along the public way, Ajamila came upon a fourth-class, not even third-class, fourth-class man and a prostitute, who are vividly described here. The drunkenness was sometimes manifest even in bygone ages, although not very frequently. Previous ages some drunkenness would manifest. In this Age of Kali, however, such sin is to be seen everywhere, for people all over the world have become shameless.
Long ago, when he saw the scene of the drunken sudra and the prostitute, Ajamila who was a perfect brahmacari, was affected. Nowadays such sin is visible in so many places, and we must consider the position of a brahmacari student who sees such behavior, Prabhupada is concerned. For such a brahmacari to remain steady is very difficult unless he is extremely strong in following the regulative principles. Nevertheless, if one takes to Krishna consciousness very seriously, he can withstand the provocation created by sin. In our Krishna consciousness movement we prohibit illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. In Kali-yuga, a drunk, half-naked woman embracing a drunken man is a very common sight, especially in the Western countries, and restraining oneself after seeing such things is very difficult. Nevertheless, if by the grace of Krishna one adheres to the regulative principles and chants the Hare Krishna mantra, Krishna will certainly protect him. So, difficult but not impossible, Prabhupada is trying to…like that, things are difficult.
“drstva tam kama-liptena bahuna parirambhitam
jagama hrc-chaya-vasam sahasaiva vimohitah” (S.B. 6.1.61)
So drstva tam kama – so first he was described what a nice person he was full of so many qualities. The next thing is seen. He had to see this sudra and prostitute embracing that scene. Drstva – by seeing this kama-liptena – full of kama, full of lust and parirambhitam i.e. hand, arms, they were embracing each other jagama hrc-chaya-vasam – he followed that, his thoughts went, he contemplated and he was taken over by this scene, the desire aroused within him and he became bewildered. Thus see what more he is doing.
“stambhayann atmanatmanam yavat sattvam yatha-srutam
na sasaka samadhatummano madana-vepitam” (S.B. 6.1.62)
So he was trying to use his intelligence. What he was seeing, he was trying to stay transcendental. Atmanatmanam, atmana means using his intelligence, he was trying to ‘uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet’ (B.G 6.5) in 6th chapter of Bhagvat Gita Krishna advices that one should lift himself, not physically but use of intelligence ‘atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet’ – make sure you we don’t fall down. ‘Atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah’ – the mind is one’s best friend or the mind could be best enemy, this is 6th chapter Bhagvat Gita. So with the mind one should try to, with the intelligence try to keep oneself on higher level and make sure mind is not degrading oneself ourself, this is Krishna’s advice. So mind could be enemy, mind could be friend. So under the circumstances he is trying he struggled used all his spiritual strength. Yatha-srutam – because he was trained he was told he had been hearing katha and all that. So all the techniques, all the knowledge under the circumstances what to do he was trying to apply that to this particular situation. Na sasaka samadhatum – however he did not become successful, he fall prey to the strong maya situation and mano madana-vepitam – his mind started more hesitation, fluctuation and it became stronger than the intelligence. Intelligence stopped functioning, mind took over madana i.e. lust, madana-vepitam, madanamohan. This kama the arrows pierced and he couldn’t take them out and then,
“tan-nimitta-smara-vyaja- graha-grasto vicetanah
tam eva manasa dhyayan sva-dharmad virarama ha” (S.B. 6.1.63)
So in the same way that the sun and moon are eclipsed by a low planet, the brahmana lost all his good sense. Taking advantage of this situation, he always thought of the prostitute, and within a short time he took her as a servant in his house. Haribol, done deal, deal closed. Means lot more happened, he contemplated, he bewildered and then he took all the necessary steps, all the actions and he took her into his house, abandoned all the regulative principles of a brahmana and as prostitute entered his home, that was end of all the brahmanical practices at home. By speaking this verse, Sukadeva Gosvami wants to impress upon the mind of the reader that Ajamila’s exalted position as a brahmana was vanquished by his association with the prostitute, so much so that he forgot all his brahmanical activities. At the end of his life, by chanting the four syllables of the name Narayana, he was saved from the gravest danger of falling down. ‘Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat’ (B.G 2.40) so only because he had performed those activities, pious and some spiritual activities before coming in contact with prostitute. So that, some progress that he had made, he was saved. He was able to chant and Lord saved him. So he has chanted, he has chanted Narayan few times, finished. I am going to do the same thing, now I know; like that people give some ideas. In India, people say, ohh…so practice low then forget it all and then say Narayan Narayan, when Yamadutas come, Narayan Narayan. Go back to Godhead. It may not work like that (laugh) that is cheating. That’s not the lesson this Bhagvatam is teaching us. Ok, few more verses. Thus Ajamila began spending whatever money he had inherited from his father to satisfy the prostitute with various material presentations so that she would remain pleased with him. He gave up all his brahmanical activities to satisfy the prostitute. Pitryenarthena (S.B. 6.1.64) – his father’s property, father’s money and he spend that on his prostitute.
“vipram sva-bharyam apraudham kule mahati lambhitam
visasarjacirat papah svairinyapanga-viddha-dhih” (S.B. 6.1.65)
Now, so ya, he married. He was already married to a brahmana’s daughter. So he threw her out, Brahmana’s daughter he threw her out and replaced her with the prostitute. This is what Yamadutas are saying this, that’s why we want to punish him. He even gave up the company of his very beautiful young wife, who came from a very respectable brahmana family. Although born of a brahmana family, this rascal…this rascal, bereft of intelligence because of the prostitute’s association, earned money somehow or other, regardless of whether properly or improperly, and used it to maintain the prostitute’s sons and daughters. ‘Nyayato ’nyayato dhanam’ (S.B. 6.1.66) legal illegal means he earned money and spend it on. So they say this brahmana irresponsibly spent his long lifetime transgressing all the rules and regulations of the Holy Scripture, living extravagantly and eating food prepared by a prostitute. Therefore he is full of sins. He is unclean and is addicted to forbidden activities. (S.B. 6.1.67). Purport – Food prepared by an unclean, sinful man or woman, especially a prostitute, is extremely infectious. Ajamila ate such food, and therefore he was subject to be punished by Yamaraja. And here is the final statement and conclusion of proposal by Yamadutas.
“tata enam danda-paneh sakasam krta-kilbisam
nesyamo ’krta-nirvesam yatra dandena suddhyati” (S.B. 6.1.68)
We want to purify him, but how? Yama-danda, the stick of Yamaraja. When he gets all the beating, then he’ll come to the senses. Want to straighten him out, that’s the only way he could be cured and rectified. This man Ajamila did not undergo atonement. Therefore because of his sinful life, we must take him into the presence of Yamaraja for punishment. There, according to the extent of his sinful acts, he will be punished and thus purified. So they are sticking to their proposal, they are convinced. This is what to be done with this Ajamila. The Visnudutas had forbidden the Yamadutas to take Ajamila to Yamaraja, and therefore the Yamadutas explained that taking such a man to Yamaraja was appropriate. Since Ajamila had not undergone atonement for his sinful acts, he was to be taken to Yamaraja to be purified. When a man commits murder he becomes sinful, and therefore he also must be killed; otherwise after death he must suffer many sinful reactions. Similarly, punishment by Yamaraja is a process of purification for the most abominable sinful persons. Therefore the Yamadutas requested the Visnudutas not to obstruct their taking Ajamila to Yamaraja.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, First Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The History of the Life of Ajamila.”
So take a break for one hour and then…so you could digest this much. Contemplate on the life of Ajamila and then when you come back we will now listen to Vishnudutas. Vishnudutas are going to give befitting reply. Just see how they could sort this out.