Chapter 2 - Yama’s Prayer

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Jaimini said:

1. Then Brahmā hastened to the place where the Lord was present. He then saw the Lord in the same form as was seen at the end of the prayer.

2. On seeing the great Lord, he recognized him and became extremely delighted. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he became the storehouse of excessively wonderful knowledge.

3-7. With his eyes beaming with delight, he began to eulogize when an excellent crow arrived there from somewhere. It plunged into that holy pit full of merciful waters. On seeing Mādhava, the receptacle of mercy, having the lustre of blue gems and jewels,^[1] it cast off its physical body of a crow and rolled on the ground. The Lord with the conch, the discus and the iron club stood at his side.^[2] On seeing that achievement of a creature of lower order, not easily accessible even to eminent Yogins, O sages, Brahmā thought that the creation would gradually wear away. He then began to doubt the truth of the Upaniṣaḍic statement that only humans beings are entitled to salvation. There is nothing in this world which is difficult for a devotee of Viṣṇu to get.

8-11. He was able to see directly the truth of what had been said by the ancient Lord, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. By pronouncing his name a man is liberated from all sins. Is salvation difficult to get, O Brāhmaṇas, on his direct perception? If one casts off one’s life mentally meditating on Viṣṇu, one is liberated. What wonder is there that anyone having the direct perception of the Lord attains salvation?

Wonderful indeed is the greatness of the sacred place named Puruṣottama, where, O Brāhmaṇas, even a crow perceived Hari directly.

Rare indeed is this holy spot that releases even ignorant ones. Wonderful is the greatness of this holy spot bestowing liberation on even a crow. What then in regard to those who are always endowed with calmness, detachment and perfect knowledge!

The sages said:

12-17. What did Brahmā do on seeing Mādhava called Nīla, as well as the crow that destroyed all physical bondage within a moment after seeing him?

Jaimini said:

On seeing that wonderful event, Brahmā began to meditate on Mādhava. By that time Pitṛpati (god of Death, Yama) came hurriedly to that place. He was agitated in the matter of retaining his authority. His face indicated distress. He heaved sighs. On seeing Mādhava on the Nīla mountain, he prostrated before him with eight limbs (touching the ground). He eulogized the Lord for the stabilization of his authority.

Yama said:

Obeisance to you, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, O cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution. All the worlds are fixed and fastened to you like groups of beads strung into a garland. The universe is supported by you, created by you and nourished by you.

18-24a. You always illuminate everything in the form of the Moon and the Sun; I bow down to the Lord of the universe, the source of origin of ail the worlds, the abode of the whole Cosmos, the sire of the worlds, the witness of the entire universe, the Lord devoid of beginning and end. Obeisance to the origin of the universe, to the ocean full of the waters in the form of the highest mercifulness, to the Lord whose power transcends the highest, the lowest and what is beyond the highest.

Obeisance to the Lord who is like the Sun unto the frost of the distress of worldly existence. Hail to the kinsman of the wretched ones, to the Lord who has created all other powerful Lords by means of his own Māyā. Obeisance to Him whose ropes (controlling powers) are Guṇas (like Sattva etc.). I bow to the Lord whose robes are yellow and devoid of impurities like the filaments of a lotus flower; to the discus-bearing Lord whose discus cuts off the shoulders of the enemies in great battles.

Obeisance to the Lord who held the Earth uplifted by means of his curved teeṃ. Obeisance to the Lord, the embodiment of the three Vedas. Obeisance to the Varāha form of Yajña; salute to the Lord whose eyes are the Moon, the Sun and the Fire. Obeisance to the Lord Narasiṃha (Man-Lion), who has driven away the enemies through his fierce form with curved teeth.

24b-30. The creation, sustenance and annihilation of the universe is a graceful sport of his side glance and thereby the creation of the variegated world consisting of beings of higher and lower order takes place frequently. I bow unto that Lord of the lustre of the blue clouds, whose appearance is like that of the precious stone sapphire, whose abode is a cave within the Nīla mountain and who is the storehouse of mercy.

I bow down to the enemy of Mura, the Lord who holds the conch, the discus, the iron club and the lotus, who grants auspiciousness and who dispels the entire mass of sins of those who bow down (to him).

Hail to you whose eyes are consecrated by contact with the outer corners of the eyes of Kamalā, to you whose chest is broad, fascinating to the minds and shining on account of the Śrīvatsa^[3] and the gem Kaustubha.

Śrī possesses prosperity and glory by resorting to the pair of lotus-like feet of the Lord. On being resorted to by the people, Śrī grants them separately prosperity and perpetual glory.

Lakṣmī is Prakṛti and is of two different forms, viz. the Parā (superior) and the Aparā (inferior). Because of your desire to create, the Supreme Brahman without any modification or change has been immediately created (transformed) into one characterized by changes. I bow down unto that Lakṣmī who is full of all good characteristics, who is marked with auspicious features and who is permanently stationed on the chest of Viṣṇu.

Jaimini said:

31. Śrīkānta (Lord Viṣṇu) who was thus propitiated by Dharmarāja (Yama) directed Śrī who was at his side with the lute in her hands. The Lord gave the directive by means of the outer corner of his eyes.

32. Honoured by him, Lakṣmī, the destroyer of the misery of worlds, sportingly said to Yama for the sake of the welfare of all the people:

Lakṣmī said:

33. The object with which you eulogize us both in this holy place is indeed difficult to be acquired. This sacred spot of Śrīpuruṣottama cannot be abandoned by us.

34-39a. Even at the close of the Kalpa this abode is sustained by Parameṣṭhin. Brahma, the Lords of the Quarters etc. have no jurisdiction over this place.

Fruition of Karmas cannot take place here. (Sins) of men staying here, even if they be wicked, as well as of the creatures of lower order are burned like a heap of cotton in a blazing fire. Formerly you were created as the restrainer of those who, day and night, are fettered by the shackles of sin and merit. But (now) one is liberated from the bondage of Karma by seeing Lord Nārāyaṇa here, who has taken up a physical form and is as beautiful as sapphire. O son of Sun, your authority is restricted to the land of Karma (which is) other than this place. O Yama, do not be disheartened by this restriction being imposed on your jurisdiction so far as this holy spot is concerned.

39b-42. Brahmā, the grandfather (of the universe), is a Lord superior to you. He watches out of curiosity the lower animals attaining identity with Viṣṇu. This Lotus-born Lord knows the ripening of Karmas of everyone. After knowing the greatness of this holy place, he eulogizes Lord Gadādhara. Creatures which come under your jurisdiction do not remain here. O son of Sun, those who are liberated while living and those who are desirous of liberation reside here.

On being addressed thus by her, by Viṣṇu in female form, Yama who was devoid of pride and shyness (?) spoke these words:

Yama said:

43-46. O Mother, what has been ordered by you now has never before been heard by me. I am overwhelmed by ignorance. How can I know the excellent secret? I am deluded by egotism. How can I understand the greatness of that Lord whose form neither Brahmā nor the Vedas know? O Goddess of Suras, it has been commanded by you that this holy spot is the bestower of salvation due to the presence of Vāsudeva. God’s will cannot be resisted. Viṣṇu who causes bondage elsewhere grants salvation here.

47-49. He is the creator of hells under my control as well as of heaven. If all those who die here attain salvation, O Mother, tell me in detail all these things: e.g. the area of the holy land; the situation; the benefit of residing there; what are the various Tīrthas that are present here; if there is any thing by way of secret etc.; who is the presiding deity of this (particular) holy spot? Recount all these, so that I can move about fearlessly avoiding (what should be avoided).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Nila-mādhava: The ancient form of Jagannātha as originally worshipped by Śabaras was an idol of azure blue stone and not the present wooden form.

[2]:

This crow was named Bhuṣaṇḍa [Bhuṣuṇḍa?] Kāka and is installed near the Rohiṇa Kuṇḍa inside Jagannātha Temple. The crow image has four hands holding a disc, a conch-shell, a club and a lotus-like Lord Viṣṇu. In view of this, the line may be interpreted “The crow as transfigured as holder of a conch-shell, discus and iron-club.”

[3]:

Śrīvatsa is the curl of hair on the chest of Viṣṇu.