A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 30

SKANDHA VI.

THE STORY OF AJaMILA

*SKANDHA VI. CHAP. 1-3.*

Raja Pariks.h.i.+t 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 pa.s.sions 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 k.u.mara, 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.

THE PROGENY OF DAKSHA.

*SKANDHA VI. CHAP. 4-6.*

[We left the line of Uttanapada with Daksha, the son of the Prachetas brothers. We were told of his work of creation in the Chakshasha Manvantara. But we have to take up the line just now, to introduce the story of Visva Rupa.]

Daksha first carried on the work of creation by Manasic reproduction.

But he found this sort of reproduction was not adequate for the enlargement of creation. He went to a place near the Vindhyas and prayed hard to Vishnu. Vishnu became pleased with his prayers and advised him to marry Asikni, the daughter of Praj.a.pati Panchajana. "Take her for your wife and have s.e.xual intercourse with her. By s.e.xual reproduction, you shall have a large progeny and that form of reproduction shall prevail among your sons too".

By Asikni, Daksha had at first 10 thousand sons called Haryasva. He asked them to take up the work of creation. They went westwards to where the river Sindhu falls into the ocean. They began to make Tapas there for their progeny. Narada appeared before them and dissuaded them from Pravritti Marga. He gave them instructions for obtaining Moksha and they followed the path of its attainment.

Daksha heard that his sons were killed by Narada and he became very sorry.

He again had one thousand sons names Subalasva. They also went out to the very same place and prayed to Vishnu for progeny. Narada again dissuaded them and they never returned to their father.

Daksha became restless in sorrow and thus cursed Narada on meeting him.

"Thou shalt roam all over Triloki and shalt find no resting place."

Daksha had then 60 daughters. Ten he gave to Dharma, 13 to Kasyapa, 27 to the Moon, two each to Bhuta, Angirasa, and Krisasva and four to Tarksha.

THE PROGENY OF DHARMA.

(1) _By Bhanu_: - Devar-shabha or the chief Devas.

(2) _By Lamba_: - Vidyota (flash of lightning) The clouds.

(3) _By Kakud_: - Sankata Kikata (the elementals presiding over earth-cavities).

(4) _By Yami_: - Svarga.

Nandi.

(5) _By Visva_: - The Visvadevas (Vedic-G.o.ds).

(6) _By Sadhya_: - The Sadhyas - attainment of desires.

(7) _By Mavutvati_: - Marutvat and Jayanta, otherwise called Upendra.

(8) _By Muhurta_: - The Muhurta Devas or Devas presiding over the moments.

(9) _By Sankalpa_: - Sankalpa (Desire).

(10) _By Vasu_: The eight Vasus (Vedic-G.o.ds), _viz_

(_a_) Drona = Abhimati --+---------+---+----- Harsha (Joy) Soka (Sorrow) &c.

(_b_) Prana = Urjasvati --+---------------+-----+-----+--- Saha (strength) ayus (age) Purojava.

(_c_) Dhruva=Dharani Different towns.

(_d_) Arka = Vasana (tendency) ---+-----+------+-- Tarsha (desire) &c.

(_e_) Agni (Fire) = Dhara --+----------------------+--+------------+-- Skanda Dravinaka &c.

(otherwise known as (Gold, wealth) Kartikeya, the son of Siva by Krittika) Visakha &c.