Shloka 37
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्ते यमदूतैस्ते वासुदेवोक्तकारिण: । तान् प्रत्यूचु: प्रहस्येदं मेघनिर्ह्रादया गिरा ॥ ३७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ity ukte yamadūtais te vāsudevokta-kāriṇaḥ tān pratyūcuḥ prahasyedaṁ megha-nirhrādayā girā
Śukadeva Gosvāmī prosseguiu: Assim interpelados pelos mensageiros de Yamarāja, os servos de Vāsudeva sorriram e responderam com voz profunda, como o ribombar das nuvens, dizendo o seguinte.
The Yamadūtas were surprised to see that the Viṣṇudūtas, although polite, were hindering the rule of Yamarāja. Similarly, the Viṣṇudūtas were also surprised that the Yamadūtas, although claiming to be servants of Yamarāja, the supreme judge of religious principles, were unaware of the principles of religious action. Thus the Viṣṇudūtas smiled, thinking, “What is this nonsense they are speaking? If they are actually servants of Yamarāja they should know that Ajāmila is not a suitable candidate for them to carry off.”
FAQs
They are the divine messengers of Vāsudeva (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) who act strictly according to His command and protect surrendered souls from the agents of punishment.
Because the Yamadūtas spoke from the standpoint of ordinary karmic justice, while the Viṣṇudūtas knew the higher principle of the Lord’s protection of devotees—so they confidently responded with calm authority.
Take shelter of bhakti—especially remembrance and chanting of the Lord’s names—because divine grace and spiritual identity are higher than fear-based guilt and mere karmic calculation.