Bhagwat Session 39

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana Synopsis of the Thirty Ninth Session

Bhagavata Shastha Skanda (Book Six)

Chapter 1 to 2 

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Pariksit Asks:

How a man in this world can manage to escape from hell which is full of various horrible tortures?

Sukhdevji Replies:

If a man does not atone during his very life time and in the proper way, as laid down by the scriptures (Shastras) for the sins committed by him, with his mind, speech and hand, he inevitably and actually goes after death to the infernal regions (Hell) and has to bear severe tortures.

Pariksit Asks: 

A man knows after what he hears and reads, as to what is sinful, he repents and atones, but due to lack of control, commits the sin again. He is stuck in this vicious circle - absolving from the sin and then doing it again. How does he ever get rids of these sins then?

“The elephant goes and take a nice bath, just to come and throw dust on its body again.”

Sukhdevji Replies:

Now, the counteraction of a sinful act, by another act of goodness is not a radical remedy. 

“Even a number of holy rivers combined can not purify a Jar of wine.”

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Story

There was a Learned Brahmin named Ajamila, a very pious person and belonged to a very pious family. He had a young devoted wife. He and his family lived an exemplary life. 

One day he was walking past a jungle when he saw a drunk man indulging sexually with a prostitute. He stood watching and he felt an urge to experience the same sensual bliss. He understood that this was wrong and this was nothing but an attack by his senses and mind. Yet, he was unable to reason himself out of this burning desire.

He forced himself home, but the next day, visited the jungle and met this prostitute and soon he got her home. He forgot about his parent and his pious wife. He left them all and started living with her. He would do everything to make her happy and fulfilled her unending demands. To the extent that this learned Brahmin became a thief, a dacoit and later a murder. Such horrendous became his life, that no one would every come near their house.

Time went by, he had 10 sons and even at the age of 88 he was not free from the clutches of sensual pleasures. One day when he had gone out to fend for his family, a sage passing by, when he saw a little boy playing. He asked the boy his name, to this his mother answered that they had not named him yet. The sage asked her to call him Narayan.

Ajamila was very attached to Narayan, he would not eat, drink or sleep without his beloved son. He would go around calling out for Narayan every minute. Soon the time for his death arrived, as he laid on his bed, he saw some hideous looking creatures come down and they were trying to tear his soul from his body. 

He shouted out for his son, Narayan come to me, Oh Narayan come to me. The minute the servants of Lord Narayan heard his name and someone calling for him, the immediately descended. When they saw the messengers of Yamaraj, pulling Ajamila’s soul. They stopped them saying they had no right over his soul. 

Poor Ajamila could see and hear, the dialogue bettween the 4 servants of Narayan and the 4 Servants of Yamaraj, as to who would take his soul. There followed a long dialogue, which started with the servants of Narayan asking, Yama’s servant;

- What is the true characteristics of Dharma? - How is the punishment given and to whom? - Are all doers subject to punishment or only some?

To which Yama’s messengers answered;

- Dharma is that which is enjoined by the Veda...