Shloka 29
Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name
जिह्वा न वक्ति भगवद्गुणनामधेयं चेतश्च न स्मरति तच्चरणारविन्दम् । कृष्णाय नो नमति यच्छिर एकदापि तानानयध्वमसतोऽकृतविष्णुकृत्यान् ॥ २९ ॥
jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi tān ānayadhvam asato ’kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān
Ô mes serviteurs, amenez-moi seulement les pécheurs dont la langue ne chante pas le saint nom et les qualités de Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dont le cœur ne se souvient pas une seule fois de Ses pieds de lotus, et dont la tête ne s’incline jamais devant le Seigneur Kṛṣṇa. Amenez ceux qui n’accomplissent pas leur devoir envers Viṣṇu.
The word viṣṇu-kṛtyān is very important in this verse because the purpose of human life is to please Lord Viṣṇu. Varṇāśrama-dharma is also meant for that purpose. As stated in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.8.9):
FAQs
This verse states that those who never chant the Lord’s names and qualities, never remember His lotus feet, never bow to Kṛṣṇa, and never perform service to Viṣṇu are to be brought by the Yamadūtas.
After the Yamadūtas were checked by the Viṣṇudūtas in the Ajāmila episode, Yamarāja clarifies the proper scope of their authority: they should seize the non-devotional, sinful persons—not the devotees of the Lord.
Make daily space for nāma-japa or kīrtana, consciously remember the Lord’s feet through prayer, and cultivate humility (bowing) and service—these bhakti practices reshape the mind and protect one from degrading habits and fear at death.