Shloka 32

Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

ऊचुर्निषेधितास्तांस्ते वैवस्वतपुर:सरा: । के यूयं प्रतिषेद्धारो धर्मराजस्य शासनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

ūcur niṣedhitās tāṁs te vaivasvata-puraḥsarāḥ ke yūyaṁ pratiṣeddhāro dharma-rājasya śāsanam

Translation

ఇలా నిరోధింపబడిన వైవస్వత (యమరాజ) దూతలు పలికిరి—ఓ మహానుభావులారా, ధర్మరాజుని ఆజ్ఞను ప్రతిషేధించుటకు ధైర్యపడిన మీరు ఎవరు?

Synonyms

• ūcuḥ: they said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन — ‘they said’

• niṣedhitāḥ: (you) restrained
• niṣedhitāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni√sidh (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘having been restrained/forbidden’ (addressing them)

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — ‘them’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘they/those’ (referring to the speakers)

• vaivasvata-puraḥsarāḥ: the foremost attendants of Vaivasvata (Yama)
• vaivasvata-puraḥsarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक) + puraḥsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘वैवस्वतस्य पुरःसराः’ (leaders/foremost of Vaivasvata=Yama); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — apposition to ‘te’

• ke: who
• ke: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — interrogative ‘who?’

• yūyam: you
• yūyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘you (pl.)’

• pratiṣeddhāraḥ: obstructors/forbidders
• pratiṣeddhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati√sidh (धातु) + dhātṛ/āra (कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक नाम (agent noun) ‘प्रतिषेधकर्ता’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — predicate nominative

• dharma-rājasya: of Dharmarāja
• dharma-rājasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ‘धर्मः एव राजा’; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — ‘of Dharmarāja (Yama)’

• śāsanam: command/order
• śāsanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — object ‘command’

Purport

According to the sinful activities of Ajāmila, he was within the jurisdiction of Yamarāja, the supreme judge appointed to consider the sins of the living entities. When forbidden to touch Ajāmila, the order carriers of Yamarāja were surprised because they had never been hindered in the execution of their duty by anyone within the three worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Yamarāja (Vaivasvata, Dharmarāja)
• Yamadūtas
• Viṣṇudūtas

FAQs

Who are the Vaivasvata-puraḥ-sarāḥ mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.32?

They are the chief Yamadūtas—the leading messengers of Vaivasvata, Yamarāja—who enforce the laws of karma and punishment.

Why did the Yamadūtas challenge the Viṣṇudūtas in Bhagavatam 6.1.32?

Because the Viṣṇudūtas stopped them from taking Ajāmila, and the Yamadūtas demanded to know who could lawfully obstruct Dharmarāja’s command.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 6.1.32 for modern life?

Divine protection can override fear of punishment when one turns toward sincere devotion; it encourages taking shelter of Bhagavān and living responsibly under dharma.