Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 29
Prāyaścitta, the ‘Elephant Bath’ Problem, and the Opening of Ajāmila-Upākhyāna
स पाशहस्तांस्त्रीन्दृष्ट्वा पुरुषानतिदारुणान् । वक्रतुण्डानूर्ध्वरोम्ण आत्मानं नेतुमागतान् ॥ २८ ॥ दूरे क्रीडनकासक्तं पुत्रं नारायणाह्वयम् । प्लावितेन स्वरेणोच्चैराजुहावाकुलेन्द्रिय: ॥ २९ ॥
sa pāśa-hastāṁs trīn dṛṣṭvā puruṣān ati-dāruṇān vakra-tuṇḍān ūrdhva-romṇa ātmānaṁ netum āgatān
阿阇弥罗看见三名可怖之人，手执绳索，面容扭曲，毛发倒竖，前来要把他带往阎摩王之境。他惊惶不已；因迷恋在远处玩耍、名为“那罗延”的儿子，便含泪高声呼唤——于是圣名“那罗延”从他口中脱口而出。
A person who performs sinful activities performs them with his body, mind and words. Therefore three order carriers from Yamarāja came to take Ajāmila to Yamarāja’s abode. Fortunately, even though he was referring to his son, Ajāmila chanted the four syllables of the hari-nāma Nārāyaṇa, and therefore the order carriers of Nārāyaṇa, the Viṣṇudūtas, also immediately arrived there. Because Ajāmila was extremely afraid of the ropes of Yamarāja, he chanted the Lord’s name with tearful eyes. Actually, however, he never meant to chant the holy name of Nārāyaṇa; he meant to call his son.
FAQs
In this verse they are portrayed as terrifying messengers of Yama who come with nooses to seize the departing soul and take him for judgment.
Ajāmila had accumulated grave sinful reactions; at the time of death the Yamadūtas arrived to take him for punishment according to karma.
The narrative teaches preparation through remembrance of the Lord and devotion, so that consciousness at death turns to Nāma and Nārāyaṇa rather than fear.