Title – Who is the supreme controller?
Date of upload – 5 June 2026
Speaker – HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच
विवास्य भगवद्दूतैर्याम्यैः प्रतिहतेच्छया ।
यमो जिज्ञासिते स्वार्थे स्वदूतानामथाकरोत् ॥
(śrī-parīkṣid uvāca
vivāsya bhagavad-dūtair yāmyaiḥ pratihatecchayā
yamo jijñāsite svārthe sva-dūtānām athākarot)

So that is Raja, the king. King Parikshit said, in fact, inquired. He would like to know this demigod.
His servants, Yamaraja’s servants, saw—his own servants were reporting a whole description of their firsthand experience of what just happened must be up there, because they went down there. So from there they could… up there, what just happened.

After hearing the report, and especially the report that his order—Yamaraja’s order—while that was being executed, that order was foiled, was nullified, and his dutas, his representatives, were defeated. And this was done by:
मुरारि-नैष्काः
(murāri-naiṣkāḥ)

—this was done by the Muraris, Mura, the killer of Mura demon. His order carriers defeated and foiled the attempt of bringing Ajamila to the hellish planets. So when all this reporting was done to Yamaraj, what did he have to say?

Right, question is clear. This is, yeah, King Parikshit, he’s asking for our benefit, wants to know more. Okay, Ajamila went back home, but then what happened in the capital of Yamaraj? Please tell.
Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says that although the statements of Yamadutas were fully upheld by Vedic principles, the statements of the Vishnudutas were triumphant. This was confirmed by Yamaraj himself. Although what Yamaraj’s representatives had spoken, it is upheld by Vedic principles—they spoke kind of truths—still the Vishnudutas were triumphant. They were victorious; they had the upper hand, as it was.

And King Parikshit further states that the orders of Yamaraj, and they were defeated, they were foiled. We never ever heard such a thing. This never happened. First time ever we’re hearing such unprecedented news. And this certainly has caused a doubt, well, in my mind, and certainly a lot of people must have similar doubt. Right now they must be doubting, wondering.
And I personally don’t see anyone else competent to shed some light on this matter, clarify this issue. No one other than you could eradicate this doubt. No one else could do, only you. Hence I’m approaching you, please clarify, oh great sage.

Never before has it been heard anywhere that an order of Yamaraj has been baffled. Therefore, I think that people will have doubt about this that no one but you can eradicate. Since that is my firm conviction, kindly explain the reasons for these events.

Yes, Rajan, my dear king:
भगवति पुरुषैः
(bhagavati puruṣaiḥ)

Bhagavati Purushai, Bhagavat Purushai, the Purushas, the people of Bhagavata, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So those four of them, those Vishnudutas, when Vishnudutas had defeated the people, the servants of Yamadutas, then they went straight to:
संयमनीं पतिम्
(saṁyamanīṁ patim)

Samyamani is the name of the capital of Yamaraj, as Amaravati is the capital of Indra. So samyamani-pati, master, master of his capital, and pati also—patim has come twice—patim is also master of so many living entities. So after reaching the capital and approaching their pati, the master, Yamaraj, they saw, they informed him this or thus.
And next, number four, Yamadutas spoke like this. These questions they raised, this how they again…
शास्तारः
(śāstāraḥ)

How many there are śāstāro—the controllers? How many controllers are there? What’s going on? How many controllers are there? Our prabhu or our master, yasyāḥ, planets where human beings reside… How many, how many controllers are there?

And how many causes of the manifestations they act? The living entities in jīva-loke, in the human beings’ planets, they perform activities as per sattva, raja, tama:
त्रैविध्यं कुर्वतां कर्म
(traividhyaṁ kurvatāṁ karma)

So the manifestation of the results, how many causes are there of that result? How many causes are responsible for manifesting various results of activities performed under three modes of material nature? We’ll understand this better as we read the report.

Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says that Yamadutas, the order carriers of Yamaraj, were so disappointed that they asked their master almost in great anger whether there were many masters other than him. Furthermore, because the Yamadutas had been defeated and their master could not protect them, they were inclined to say that there is no need to serve such a master. If a servant cannot carry out the order of his master without being defeated, what is the use of serving such a powerless master? So they are seeing more than one master here. They were thinking he was the one, but doesn’t look like. And the question came: How many are there, masters are there? And they continue their reporting and presentation and questions.

And if there are… if there are many śāstāro, the controllers and persons responsible for taking decision and punishing the culprits, then… If there are more than one, according to Yamadutas, they think this will create a lot of difficulties, even if there are only two or two parties with so many in each party, or just one in each party.

If in this universe there are many rulers and justices who disagree about the punishment and reward, their contradictory actions will neutralize each other. Two judges are fighting with each other, and their judgment may get neutralized and no one will be punished in the process, or rewarded. So that’s one scenario.

Otherwise, if their contradictory acts fail to neutralize each other, then everyone will have to be both punished and rewarded. Like if there were two temple authorities and they’re fighting over a bhakta. One says, “No, no, you should stay.” Other one says, “No, out, my way or the highway!” You’ve heard of that? “My way or the highway.” They’re fighting it out. If actions will neutralize each other on these two authorities, then they neither stay… is neither staying or neither leaving. But if the acts fail to neutralize, or these two ISKCON authorities each other, then that bhakta will have to go and stay. This is quite confusion, even to understand this is quite confusion, what’s going on here.

So because the Yamadutas had been unsuccessful in carrying out the order of Yamaraj, they doubted whether Yamaraj actually had the power to punish the sinful. Although they had gone to arrest Ajamila following orders, Yamaraja’s orders, they found themselves unsuccessful because of the order of some higher authority. Therefore, they were unsure of whether there are many authorities or only one.

If there are many authorities who gave different judgments which could be contradictory, a person might be wrongly punished or wrongly rewarded, or he might be neither punished nor rewarded. According to our experience in the material world, a person punished in the court may appeal to another. Thus, the same man may be either punished or rewarded according to different judgments.

However, in the law of nature or court of Supreme Personality of Godhead, there cannot be such contradictory judgments. Judges and their judgments must be perfect and free from contradiction.
Actually, the position of Yamaraj was very awkward in the case of Ajamila, because Yamadutas were right in attempting to arrest Ajamila, but the Vishnudutas had baffled them. Although Yamaraj under these circumstances was accused by both Vishnudutas and Yamadutas, he is perfect in administering justice because he is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, he will explain what his real position is and how everyone is controlled by Supreme Controller, the Personality of Godhead.

Even his judgment was right according to him, but now he’s going to explain that it is not just me, you know, there is someone other than me and that was His decision, so I’m helpless. And this will clarify the doubt of his servants, because they always thought he was the only one—no one equal to him, no one above him. But now their boss, the master, is going to reveal unto them, “No, no, that’s not the case. I mean, this was my decision, but my boss intervened and Vishnudutas were there and it’s perfectly all right with me.”

So they’re thinking, I mean, fine, there could be more than one judge, different judges, but there should be one judge above all these different judges. They are thinking that would be appropriate. Since there are many different karmis or workers, there may be different judges or rulers to give them justice. But as one central emperor controls different departmental rulers, there must be one supreme controller to guide all the judges.

And there is one, which they don’t know, or they thought they knew and they were thinking that was Yamaraj. But that’s not the case. Yamaraj is going to correct them: “And yes, yes, such is the arrangement. There are so many controllers, I’m just one of them, and there is one supreme above all of us.”

In the government management, Srila Prabhupada writes, there may be a departmental official to give justice to different persons, but the law must be one and that central law must control everyone. Yamadutas could not imagine that two judges could have two different verdicts in the same case, and therefore they wanted to know who the central judge is. Yamadutas were certain Ajamila was a most sinful man, but although Yamaraj wanted to punish him, the Vishnudutas excused him. This was a puzzling situation that Yamadutas wanted Yamaraj to clarify.

Yeah, they say, “We always thought you are the only one.” All the living entities, you are the only controller, śāstā. The rod meant for punishment and you are:
शुभाशुभ-विवेचनकः
(śubhāśubha-vivecanakaḥ)

Of all the human beings, śubha (pious), aśubha (impious) activities, you take into consideration and discriminate and come to the judgment. And we thought that was you, you are the only one. But… so that was our understanding, we assumed like that. But now they say…

But from what we experience today is something different. We were convinced that you are the one, but your orders ordained by you, some direction, some assignment, “Oh, go bring that person, this person to me,” that doesn’t work anymore. Your orders are not final, this is our experience, firsthand experience. We were just there and someone else came and sounded like they had come from another authority, higher authority. So your orders are not final anymore, they are being foiled and defeated.

And they say this was done, we saw, and those four persons came, they were, they were amazing siddhas, they seemed the perfect personalities. And they had another order contrary to yours, and they surpass:

विपरीतम्
(viparītam)

—they surpass your orders. And so we have come to conclusion that your rule doesn’t work out anymore.
And they further state: We were just bringing him to you, Mr. J, and this was, we thought this was your order and we were bringing him right to the:
यातना-गृहान्
(yātanā-gṛhān)

—the torture chambers. We were bringing him to the capital Samyamani and bringing him to the torture chambers, but…
But they were liberated, this sinful person. As we had tied him with a rope, this… Those four persons came, they were amazing, effulgent, powerful, authoritative. And you know, they just cut the ropes:
छित्त्वा
(chittvā)

—they just cut the ropes:
प्रसह्य
(prasahya)

—by force, and we were helpless. We could do nothing, we just had to come empty-handed, leaving that most sinful, wretched person behind.
And now what they really are interested to know is this. They say they’re only thinking all the way to Yamaraja’s abode, and while being there and only thinking and thinking of those four persons, they couldn’t get them off, out of their head and mind. Out of, although they were out of sight, they were on their mind, in their mind stuck. And they look very beautiful, powerful, and…
So it is our desire to know, we want to know about them. And if you think we are competent or qualified, deserving candidates to know about these matters, then only of course it is up to you. If you think we are fit and it’s appropriate that we know this, then please explain about those people.

And they want to say a little more about those people. You know, what they did was not, you know… As this person, he said “Nara…”, you know, they came quickly, instantly, they arrived as soon as this Ajamila said Nārāyaṇāya, Nārāyaṇāya, they were there, dūtam. They did not lose a second, and upon their arrival, they took the side of this Ajamila. And they said, “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, no fear, we are here.” They were comforting him and they said, “Don’t be afraid, do not fear.” So we want to know about these people and other matters that we are concerned and confused.
Purport: The order carriers of Yamaraj, being very much aggrieved because of their defeat by the four Vishnudutas, wanted to bring them before Yamaraj and, if possible, punish them. Otherwise, they desired to commit suicide. Whether they were desiring to commit suicide, they were not punished. And before pursuing either course, however, they wanted to know about Vishnudutas from Yamaraj, who is also omniscient. So Yamaraj is all-knower, so he wanted to know this. So if you would not satisfy, then we are going to commit suicide, he better explain to us or we’re going to resign. Here is our letter of resignation, we resign here, we’ll find another master, job, some powerful one whose orders we could follow and execute like this.
It means like this, questioned, when he was questioned, the master of Yamadutas, when he was questioned like this:
प्रियः
(priyaḥ)

—he seemed very pleased:
स्व-दैत्यान्
(sva-daityān)

—with his own dutas, his representatives, his order carriers. He seemed very pleased with them and:
प्रत्याह
(pratyāha)

—he spoke, he was now about to give the reply.
And he’s replying how Yamaraj, their boss, is not surprised or he’s not furious. “Hey, what? This happened? Okay, let’s go, I also join you. I’m very much disturbed with these developments, my orders are not final anymore, someone else interferes.” This wasn’t the response. He was not angry, that was their idea or their expectation. Yamadutas were expecting that when Yamaraj listens to this, he’s going to be finally understanding what we are talking about and he’s going to be furious, he’s going to take some action and he’s going to back us up.

But nothing of the sort. Instead, they see a smile on his face, he’s smiling, he’s happy, pleased with all this reporting. And not only that, he’s remembering someone, praying to somebody. His mood changes, he goes internal, his feelings, and suggests while remembering the lotus feet of Hari. Now what’s a reply? Not just whimsically or… First of all, now is an important task, so it has to be accompanied by the prayer and remembrance of the Lord, so that the judgment, his words would be full of truth, full of knowledge. He wants to connect with the source of knowledge, with the Lord, and then he is now…

Yes, and as soon as he begins to speak, first thing Yamaraj says, admits, “Yes.” “Yes, I want to make it very clear in my opening dialogue, yes, yes, there is someone, is another one above me. Yes, such person exists. You have some doubt about this, but I want to confirm yes, there is someone above me, and he’s all-pervading, all-powerful, is everywhere filling up this universe.”
Like he says, like in the cloth, there are some threads going this way, some threads are going that way:

प्रोतं ओतं
(protaṁ otam)

The threads are everywhere, some this way and that way throughout the cloth there are threads. Using this example, says, “My Lord, my boss, someone above me, he is protaṁ otam like that, his, that is his position.”

And just his partial expansions, they undertake big, big tasks like creation of this entire cosmic manifestation:
जन्म-नाशाः
(janma-nāśāḥ)

The creation, maintenance, and destruction is just handled by his expansions, he doesn’t even have to take part in this, he’s that powerful personality.
And like a big, powerful bull, ox is controlled by putting:
नासि
(nāsi)

—the rope through the nostrils, bullock cart, ox cart, the plowman could easily control the bulls just handling the rope. Likewise, all the planets and their controllers, like we have this rope in our nose and ropes are in his hand. He is, he’s a boss, we are just a puppets, just oxen that is just has to turn this way, turn that way, we are order carriers.

Purport: Yamaraj suspected that there was a ruler even above Yamaraj. To eradicate their doubts, Yamaraj immediately replied, “Yes, there is one supreme controller above everything.” Yamaraj is in charge of some of the moving living entities, namely human beings, but animals who also move are not under his control, not under his control. Only human beings have consciousness of right and wrong, and among them, only those who perform sinful activities come under the control of Yamaraj. Therefore, although Yamaraj is a controller, he’s only a departmental controller of a few living entities. There are other demigods who control many other departments, but above them all is one supreme controller, Krishna.