CHAPTER TWO
Ajamila Delivered by the Visnuditas

In this chapter the messengers from Vaikuntha explain to the Yamaditas
the glories of chanting the holy name of the Lord. The Visnuditas said,
‘‘Now impious acts are being performed even in an assembly of devotees,
for a person who is not punishable is going to be punished in the assem-
bly of Yamaraja. The mass of people are helpless and must depend upon
the government for their safety and security, but if the government
takes advantage of this to harm the citizens, where will they go? We see
perfectly that Ajamila should not be punished, although you are attempt-
ing to take him to Yamaraja for punishment.”

It was due to Ajamila’s glorifying the holy name of the Supreme Lord
that he was not punishable. The Visnudiatas explained this as follows:
“Simply by once chanting the holy name of Narayana, this brahmana
has become free from the reactions of sinful life. Indeed, he has been
freed not only from the sins of this life, but from the sins of many, many
thousands of other lives. He has already undergone true atonement for
all his sinful actions. If one atones according to the directions of the
Sdstras, one does not actually become free from sinful reactions, but if
one chants the holy name of the Lord, even a glimpse of such chanting
can immediately free one from all sins. Chanting the glories of the Lord’s
holy name awakens all good fortune. Therefore there is no doubt that
Ajamila, being completely free from all sinful reactions, should not be
punished by Yamaraja.”

As they were saying this, the Visnuditas released Ajamila from the
ropes of the Yamaditas and left for their own abode. The brahmana
Ajamila, however, offered his respectful obeisances to the Visnuditas.
He could understand how fortunate he was to have chanted the holy
name of Narayana at the end of his life. Indeed, he could realize the full
significance of this good fortune. Having thoroughly understood the dis-
cussion between the Yamaditas and the Visnuditas, he became a pure
devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He lamented very much
for how very sinful he had been, and he condemned himself again and
again.

89
