Category:Yamaraja's Servants
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the specific role and experiences of Yamarāja's servants, commonly known as the Yamadūtas. As the order carriers of the cosmic magistrate, they strictly follow the standard religious principles they have heard from their master and execute their duties of punishing materialistic, sinful living entities. However, they initially lacked a higher understanding of transcendental devotional service. This ignorance is exposed when they mistakenly attempt to arrest the sinful Ajāmila, only to be completely baffled and stopped by the powerful Viṣṇudūtas because Ajāmila chanted the holy name. Returning to Yamaloka in confusion, they receive ultimate enlightenment from Yamarāja. Taking full responsibility for his servants' offense against a Vaiṣṇava, Yamarāja begs forgiveness from the Supreme Lord and strictly orders his servants never to approach surrendered devotees again, completely exempting them from their penal jurisdiction.
- The Dutiful Order Carriers: Yamarāja's servants act as the fierce constables of the universe, perfectly echoing the codes of material religion and irreligion they have heard from their authorized master.
- Baffled by Transcendence: Accustomed to absolute authority over the sinful, the servants of Yamarāja were utterly bewildered when the Viṣṇudūtas defeated them and prevented the arrest of Ajāmila.
- Seeking Supreme Guidance: Defeated and confused, the servants returned to their master, prompting Yamarāja to enlighten them about the supreme position of Lord Kṛṣṇa over all universal judges.
- Instructions Regarding Devotees: Taking full responsibility for their offense, Yamarāja strictly warned his servants to offer obeisances to any Vaiṣṇava and to never approach a surrendered soul again.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Instructions to Yamarāja's Servants Regarding Devotees.
Pages in category "Yamaraja's Servants"
The following 27 pages are in this category, out of 27 total.
A
- A glossary of some of the important words in this chapter (SB 4th Canto, Ch 28): Vidarbha-rajasimha - The best of persons who are expert in fruitive activities, Virya - One who has mercy, Yavana - The servant of Yamaraja
- A servant must know the instructions of his master. The servants of Yamaraja claimed to be carrying out his orders, and therefore the Visnudutas very intelligently asked them to explain the symptoms of religious and irreligious principles
- Although Yamaraja is above offenses, his servants, practically with his permission, went to arrest Ajamila, which was a great offense
H
- Having been released from the nooses of Yamaraja's servants, the brahmana Ajamila, now free from fear, came to his senses and immediately offered obeisances to the Visnudutas by bowing his head at their lotus feet
- He (Ajamila) was extremely pleased by their (Visnudutas) presence, for he had seen them save his life from the hands of the servants of Yamaraja
I
- If a person deviates from the path of the Vedas in the absence of an emergency, the servants of Yamaraja put him into the hell called Asi-patravana, where they beat him with whips
- If a servant makes a mistake, the master is punishable because he is responsible for the offense. Taking this seriously, Yamaraja, along with his servants, prayed with folded hands to be excused by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana
- It (svayambhur naradah sambhuh (SB 6.3.20)) was spoken by Yamaraja to the servants who went to take Ajamila to hellish condition of life, and he was saved by the Visnuduta. Because at the end of his life he chanted - Narayana
S
- Since the Yamadutas are servants of Yamaraja, who is also one of the siddha-sattamas, they knew that a siddha-sattama is above the demigods and sub-demigods and, indeed, above all the living entities within this material world
- Srila Yamaraja, the supreme controller of the living entities in terms of their pious and impious activities, was very pleased with his servants because they had chanted the holy name of Narayana in his dominion
T
- That chanting alone has already freed him from the reactions of all sinful life. Therefore, O servants of Yamaraja, do not try to take him to your master for punishment in hellish conditions
- The blessed messengers of Lord Visnu, the Visnudutas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamaraja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion
- The servants of Yamaraja replied quite properly. They did not manufacture principles of religion or irreligion. Instead, they explained what they had heard from the authority Yamaraja
- The Visnudutas smiled, thinking, "What is this nonsense they (the Yamadutas) are speaking? If they are actually servants of Yamaraja they should know that Ajamila is not a suitable candidate for them to carry off
- The Visnudutas were also surprised that the Yamadutas, although claiming to be servants of Yamaraja, the supreme judge of religious principles, were unaware of the principles of religious action
- The word pratyuditah is very significant (in SB 6.2.21). The servants of Yamaraja are so powerful that they can never be hindered anywhere, but this time they were baffled and disappointed in their attempt to take away a man they considered sinful
- They (the servants of Yamaraja) were baffled and disappointed in their attempt to take away a man they considered sinful. Therefore they immediately returned to Yamaraja and described to him everything that had happened
Y
- Yamaraja also advised his servants never to approach the devotees. On the contrary, he instructed his messengers that if they meet a devotee they should offer their respectful obeisances
- Yamaraja has specifically described the qualities of the Visnudutas to convince his own servants not to be envious of them
- Yamaraja said: My dear servants, you have accepted me as the Supreme, but factually I am not. Above me, and above all the other demigods, including Indra and Candra, is the one supreme master and controller
- Yamaraja specifically advises his servants not to bring the devotees, who always lick the honey at the lotus feet of the Lord, who are equal to everyone, and who try to preach Krsna consciousness because of sympathy for all living entities
- Yamaraja warned his servants, My dear servants, despite what you may have done previously to disturb the devotees, henceforward you should stop
- Yamaraja, considering himself and his servants to be offenders, spoke as follows, begging pardon from the Lord: O my Lord, my servants have surely committed a great offense by arresting a Vaisnava such as Ajamila