*SKANDHA VI. CHAP. 1-3.*
Raja Parikshit asked how men could avoid Naraka.
SUKA replied: -- It is by Prayaschitta (expiation) that men can avoid
Naraka. But it is not Vedic Prayaschitta, not fasting by Chandrayana and
other Vratas. These Vedic performances cannot root out vicious
tendencies, for the performer is seen again to indulge in vices. They do
not purify the mind. They simply counteract the Karmic effect of the act
for which Prayaschitta is performed. The real Prayaschitta is devotion
to Vishnu.
Ajamila was the son of a Brahmana. He was dutiful, virtuous, modest,
truthful, and regular in the performance of Vedic injunctions. One day
in obedience to his father he went into the forests and there collected
fruits, flowers, sacrificial wood and _Kusa_ -- on returning he saw a
Sudra in company with a slave-girl. He tried much to subdue his passions
but did not succeed. He spent the whole of his patrimony to win the love
of that girl. He gave up his own wife and kept company with that slave
girl. He had by her several sons of whom the youngest was Narayana.
Ajamila lost all his good qualities in low company and he forgot his
daily practices. To support the woman and her children, he had recourse
to all sorts of vicious and unlawful acts. Narayana was the favorite
among his sons. He caressed him always. At last his end approached. He
thought even then of his youngest son who was playing at a distance.
Three fierce-looking messengers of Yama appeared, with ropes in hand.
Terrified at the sight Ajamila cried out "Narayana, Narayana." Instantly
the Messengers of Vishnu appeared. At the time when the servants of Yama
were drawing out the Jiva from the heart of Ajamila, the attendants of
Vishnu stopped them with a strong voice. "But who are you" said they "to
interfere with the just sway of Yama." The bright attendants of Vishnu
only smiled and asked: "What is Dharma? Does your lord Yama hold the
sceptre of punishment against all who perform Karma? Is there no
distinction made?"
The astral messengers replied: -- "The performance of Vedic Injunctions
is Dharma and their disregard is Adharma. This Ajamila in his earlier
days duly respected the Vedas. But in company with the slave-girl, he
lost his Brahmanism, disregarded the Vedas and did things which a
Brahmana should not do. He justly comes for punishment to Yama."
The attendants of Vishnu expressed wonder at these words. "And you are
servants of him, who is called the king of Dharma, and you do not know
that there is something above the Vedas too. This Ajamila consciously or
unconsciously took the name of Narayana and that saved him from your
clutches. It is in the nature of fire to consume fuel and so it is in
the nature of Vishnu's name to destroy all sins. If one unconsciously
takes some powerful medicine, does it not have effect? It matters not
whether Ajamila meant his youngest son or not but still he took the name
of Narayana. So you must retire."
Wonder-struck the servants of Yama left their hold over Ajamila. They
went away and complained to their Master. "There must be one law and one
dispenser of that law. Otherwise some will be punished and others not.
Why should there be this difference? We know Thee to be the sole
dispenser of the Law for the vicious. But just now the attendants of
Vishnu came and wrested from our hands a transgressor against the
Vedas."
"True my sons", replied Yama, "there is some one above me and it is
Vishnu. His ways are mysterious.
"The whole Universe is in Him. His attendants always save His votaries.
Only twelve of us know his Dharma, which is Bhagavata and no one else.
These twelve are Brahma, Siva, Sanat Kumara, Narada, Kapila, Manu,
Prahlada, Janaka, Bhishma, Bali, Suka and myself."
Ajamila heard the conversation between the messengers of Yama and
Vishnu. He became sorely penitent (the repentance is strongly
described). He overcame his attachments, left the house and went to
Haridvara. There he meditated on Vishnu with concentrated mind. The
former attendants of Vishnu appeared once more and took him on a chariot
to Vishnu Loka.