Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, 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
我が使者たちよ、我がもとへ連れて来るのは、舌でシュリー・クリシュナの聖名と徳を讃えず、心で一度もその蓮華の御足を想起せず、頭を一度も主クリシュナに礼拝して下げない罪人だけにせよ。ヴィシュヌへの奉仕という務めを果たさぬ者どもを連れて来い。
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.