Shloka 28
Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name
तानानयध्वमसतो विमुखान् मुकुन्द- पादारविन्दमकरन्दरसादजस्रम् । निष्किञ्चनै: परमहंसकुलैरसङ्गै- र्जुष्टाद्गृहे निरयवर्त्मनि बद्धतृष्णान् ॥ २८ ॥
tān ānayadhvam asato vimukhān mukunda- pādāravinda-makaranda-rasād ajasram niṣkiñcanaiḥ paramahaṁsa-kulair asaṅgair juṣṭād gṛhe niraya-vartmani baddha-tṛṣṇān
Meine Diener, bringt mir zur Bestrafung nur jene, die sich vom Honignektar der Lotosfüße Mukundas abwenden, keinen Umgang mit den besitzlosen, ungebundenen Paramahaṁsas pflegen und, von Begierde gefesselt, am Hausstand und weltlichem Genuss hängen – dem Weg zur Hölle.
After warning the Yamadūtas not to approach the devotees, Yamarāja now indicates who is to be brought before him. He specifically advises the Yamadūtas to bring him the materialistic persons who are attached to household life merely for sex. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham: people are attached to household life for sex only. They are always harassed in many ways by their material engagements, and their only happiness is that after working very hard all day, at night they sleep and indulge in sex. Nidrayā hriyate naktaṁ vyavāyena ca vā vayaḥ: at night, materialistic householders sleep or indulge in sex life. Divā cārthehayā rajan kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā: during the day they are busy trying to find out where money is, and if they get money they spend it to maintain their families. Yamarāja specifically advises his servants to bring these persons to him for punishment and not to bring the devotees, who always lick the honey at the lotus feet of the Lord, who are equal to everyone, and who try to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of sympathy for all living entities. Devotees are not liable to punishment by Yamarāja, but persons who have no information of Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be protected by their material life of so-called family enjoyment. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says (2.1.4):
FAQs
This verse states that those who are averse to Mukunda and never relish the nectar of His lotus feet—remaining bound by craving and attached to a hellish path—are to be brought by the Yamadūtas.
After the Ajāmila episode, Yamarāja clarifies proper jurisdiction: devotees of Mukunda are not to be touched, while those devoid of bhakti and saintly association fall under the Yamadūtas’ authority.
Regularly cultivate taste for Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet through nāma-japa, kīrtana, and hearing Bhāgavatam; this inner “nectar” reduces compulsive craving and loosens unhealthy attachment.