Shloka 15
Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name
अहं महेन्द्रो निऋर्ति: प्रचेता: सोमोऽग्निरीश: पवनो विरिञ्चि: । आदित्यविश्वे वसवोऽथ साध्या मरुद्गणा रुद्रगणा: ससिद्धा: ॥ १४ ॥ अन्ये च ये विश्वसृजोऽमरेशा भृग्वादयोऽस्पृष्टरजस्तमस्का: । यस्येहितं न विदु: स्पृष्टमाया: सत्त्वप्रधाना अपि किं ततोऽन्ये ॥ १५ ॥
ahaṁ mahendro nirṛtiḥ pracetāḥ somo ’gnir īśaḥ pavano viriñciḥ āditya-viśve vasavo ’tha sādhyā marud-gaṇā rudra-gaṇāḥ sasiddhāḥ
Et d’autres seigneurs célestes chargés des affaires de l’univers, ainsi que les grands sages tels Bhṛgu—intacts de rajas et tamas—ne connaissent pas non plus les līlās de Celui-là, même lorsque sattva prédomine; que pourront donc savoir les autres, touchés par māyā ?
The men and other living entities within this cosmic manifestation are controlled by the three modes of nature. For the living entities controlled by the base qualities of nature, passion and ignorance, there is no possibility of understanding God. Even those in the mode of goodness, like the many demigods and great ṛṣis described in these verses, cannot understand the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, one who is situated in the devotional service of the Lord is transcendental to all the material qualities. Therefore the Lord personally says that no one can understand Him but the bhaktas, who are transcendental to all material qualities ( bhaktyā mām abhijānāti ). As stated by Bhīṣmadeva to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.16) :
FAQs
This verse states that even great devas and sages—Indra, Brahmā, Śiva, and others—cannot fully know the Supreme Lord’s intention, because all are, to some extent, influenced by His māyā.
Yamarāja corrects the Yamadūtas after they were stopped by the Viṣṇudūtas in Ajāmila’s case, teaching them that real dharma and judgment belong to the Supreme Lord, whose will even exalted beings cannot completely grasp.
It encourages humility: instead of assuming we fully understand fate, karma, or God’s plan, we should align our actions with bhakti and dharma, trusting the Lord’s higher guidance.