3 -Yama goes to the Region of Brahma.

It is an interesting introduction to the story of Rukmangada and Mohini. This chapter emphasizes the efficacy of the Ekadashi Vrata by describing how Yama has to close his Office as all men, being compelled to observe Ekadashi by Rukmangada, straightway went to Vaikuntha

The sages said:

1. Kindly narrate in detail the rite of propitiating Vishnu, whereby he becomes satisfied and bounteously bestows the cherished desire.

2. The Lord of the Universe, the consort of Lakshmi, is the destroyer of all the vast multitudes of sins. By what rite will he be pleased alongwith all the mobile and immobile creation (which he pervades through his omni-presence).

Sauti said:

3.Hrushikesa (Vishnu) can be captivated by devotion and not by riches. O Ruler of the Earth, Vishnu when duly worshipped with devotion, grants all desires.

4. Hence, O Brahmanas, the devotion to the discus­ bearing Lord should always be practised. The Lord of the universe worshipped even by ordinary people, shall be the destroyer of distress.

5. Just as a thirsty man immediately derives satisfaction with water, so is the Lord pleased immediately (with activities of devotion). O Brahmanas, in this connection, a mythological narrative that is destructive of sins, is heard.

6. It is in the course of conversation between Rukmangada and sage Gautama.

There was a king named Rukmangada.¹ He was an Emperor endowed with the quality of patience and forgiveness.

1.      Rukmangada the son of Rutadhvaja, the King of Vidisha He is the hero of this story.

7. He was a beloved devotee of the deity lying in the Milk Ocean (i.e. Vishnu). He was devoted to the day of Hari (i.e. Ekadashi). The Lord of the Earth does not see anyone other than Padmanabha (Vishnu), Lord of the Devas.

8-11. On the day of Hari (Ekadashi), he used to proclaim through his servants by beating a drum kept on an elephant- “If any man (or woman) aged more than eight years and less than eighty-five years takes food on the day of Vishnu, that stupid fellow will be punished, killed or banished out of the city, even if it be my father, brother, son, wife or friend. The person who takes food on the day of Padmanabha (i.e. Vishnu) will be worthy of being punished like a robber.² Give gifts to leading Brahmanas, have your holy dip in the waters of Jahnavi. Listen to my words and enjoy my kingdom.”

2. Hemadri on Kala (p. 172) quotes these verses with a slight difference, but in Kalanirnaya (p. 257) a different text of the same import is quoted as from the NP. The verse is as follows:

atra Naradah

ashtabdad adhiko marutyo hyapurnashiti-hayanah |

bhunkte yo manav0 mohad ekadashyam sa papakrut ||

12. Thus on every day of vishnu (Ekadashi day) in the bright half of the month and especially in the dark half also, the king proclaimed thus through the drums with golden coverings.

13. O excellent Brahmanas, when this was announced by the king throughout the land, the pathway leading to Hari’s world (Vaikuntha) was thronged by the people going there.

14. All the men who died in the realm of the king (observing Ekadashi) whether knowingly or through error, went to the abode of Hari.

15. O Brahmanas, the world of vishnu is definitely attained by men even if they fraudulently observe the rite of Ekadashi that is destructive of sins.

16. He who takes food on the day of Hari consumes the sin of the whole of the Earth. He who does not eat food on the day of Hari, attains the virtue (religious merit) of the entire Earth.

17. The Smruti following the Vedas says:

“A Brahmana should not be killed so also Food should not be taken on the Ekadashi day in both the fortnights.”

18. O excellent Brahmanas, the king, the son of the Sun (i.e. Yama) became embarrassed. Chitragupta¹ had ample rest in his writing activity.

1. Chitragupta-the record-keeper of merits and sins of human beings, in Yama’s Office.

19. Everything that had been written by him based on the activities of the previous births was erased and struck off by him (since) the men instantaneously went over to vishnu abode through their holy rites.

20. All the hells became devoid of sinful creatures. The pathway leading to Yama’s world became scorched by the twelve Adityas and delapidated.

21. All the people went to Hari’s region riding on Garuda. The worlds of the Devas also became vacant and tenantless.

22. The sacrifices to the Pitris and the Devas, pilgrimage to holy centres, charitable gifts and other holy rites became out of vogue. Excepting Ekadashi, men did not know any other Vrata.

23. When the heaven and the hell became empty, Narada went to Dharmaraja (Yama) and said: -

Narada said:

24. O “King, no cry is heard in your court-yard and in the hells. Nothing is being noted down in writing about the evil-doers.

25. This Citragupta¹ is sitting silent like a sage. What is the reason whereby no sinner comes to your abode?

26-27a. No one engaged in wicked actions comes to your threshold. None in the grip of deception and arrogance comes to your abode.”

When these words were uttered by the noble-souled Narada, Vaivasvata (son of the Sun), the king of the world of Death said with a little disconcertedness

Yama said:

27b-28. O Narada, the King who is now ruling over the Earth is a great devotee of Hrushikesha (Lord Vishnu). This leading king instructs the people announcing on the beating of the drum.

29. “Nothing should be eaten, nothing should be eaten at all on the day of Hari. The men who take food shall be liable to punishment.”

30-31. Being afraid of him, all the people observe fast on the Ekadashi day. O excellent sage, those who even fraudulently observe fast on the Ekadashi day, go to the world of vishnu which is devoid of burning and dissolution (at the end of Kalpa). By resorting to Ekadashi (Vrata) people go to Hari’s palace.

32. O excellent Brahmana, the paths leading to my world have been made empty by that king now. The hells as well as the worlds of heaven-dwellers have been made vacant by him.

33. The writers (Yama’s accountants of deeds of men) are taking rest. O excellent Brahmana, what has been already written is erased and written off, thanks to the greatness of the fast on the Ekadashi day.

34. O Brahmana, without experiencing the fruits of Brahmana-slaughter and other sins, people go to Hari’s mansion by observing fast on the day of Vishnu.

35. O great sage, I have become one resembling a wooden deer. I am like a person devoid of eyes and ears, like a Brahmana who has eschewed Sandhya prayers.

36. I am like a hen-pecked husband, or like an impotent husband of a youthful woman. I have abandoned all desire for such a post of guardianship of the world

37-38a. I shall now go to the region of Brahma to report to him about my misery. If an employee who is to abide by the behest of his master does not work actively but goes on eating the wealth of his master, he shall certainly go to hell.

Sauti said:

38b-41. O Brahmanas, after saying this, Yama went to the abode of Viranchi (god Brahma) accompanied by Narada and followed by Chitragupta. He beheld there seated the great grand-father of all, surrounded by both embodied and bodiless people-Brahma the seed of the universe, the support of the universe, the self-born deity, the abode of all living beings. He was free from sin, and was designated as Omkara. He is Shuchi (pure) and Shuchipada (of pure region). Brahma, the Supreme Soul (Hamsa) holding Kusha grass was being worshipped by the different guardians of the quarters and rulers of the worlds.

42-47. He was being served by all these (in person): viz- the Epics, Puranas and Vedas in         their embodied forms; he was served by the oceans, the rivers and the lakes that had assumed bodily forms; the trees such as the holy fig tree and others served him by taking up human bodies; so also the tanks, wells, lakes, mountains, day and       nights, fortnights, months, years, Kalas, Kashthas and  Nimeshas (units of time), seasons, transits of the suns, Yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, closing and opening of the eyelids (the smallest unit of time) constellations, Yogas (combinations) Karanas, (astronomical divisions), full-moon days, declines of the moon, new-moon days, Dvandvas (i.e. mutually clashing opposites     such as happiness and misery, profits and loss, success and failures, truth  and falsehood-all these were serving the deity. The Lord of the Devas, the sanctifier of righteousness, was surrounded by them. He was being served by persons who knew the holy rites and who were befitting him. The grandfather was being served by Sattva, Rajas. and Tamas Gunas.

    48-50. The lord was served and surrounded by the emotions such as Shanta, (calm), Mudha (confused) and Atighora (exceedingly terrible); by the wind, phlegm and bile (the humours), by the embodied Atanka (agony)etc. and by Ananda bliss; the soul of the universe had recourse to the greatest Dharma; the creator of the worlds himself was surrounded by other living beings not mentioned here; he was being served by the embodiments of evil words and harsh statements etc. Yama the son of the Sun, entered the place amidst them like a bashful bride.

51-55. With his head bent down and glance directed beneath to the floor, he appeared before them. On seeing Yama entering alongwith Narada and his Kayastha (accountant i.e. Chitragupta) the people there were surprised. With surprised looks they spoke to one another- “Why? How comes it Lo be that Bhaskari (son of the Sun i.e. Yama) has come here to see the Creator and the grand-sire of the worlds? This son of Sun never remains inactive even for a moment. He is always active. Then how is it that he has come now. I hope everything is all right with the heaven-dwellers. I consider this as the wonder of wonders, that the clerk (Chitragupta) has come with his (writing) cloth completely erased and clean. He is full of great distress. No person who performs holy rites has ever erased his cloth. What has never been seen or heard is being seen now.’’

56-58. O Brahmana, even as they were speaking mutually thus, the son of Sun (i.e. Yama) who used to chastise all Jiving beings, fell in front of god Brahma, just like a tree the root of which is cut. He cried aloud “O save me, O save me, O Lord of the Devas, I have been overwhelmed and oppressed since my writing cloth has been erased clean. While you are my Lord, O Lotus-seated    one, I find myself distressed.” O excellent Brahmanas, after saying this he became unconscious, motionless.

59-61. Then a tumultuous commotion arose in the assembly, “He who makes all the worlds consisting of the mobile and immobile beings, is himself distressed and is crying. Why is Yama, the son of the Sun, crying? Or this common saying seems to be a statement of truth- the saying “He who distresses the people ere long is distressed himself. No man who commits an evil action ever attains auspicious results.”

62-64.       Thereafter, knowing the   view of god Brahma, Vayu the Wind-god, silenced the talk of those people of         the same mind (i.e. holding the same opinion regarding Yama and his arrival there) The liberal-minded Vayu raised Yama slowly with his brawny well-developed hands. He placed him on a seat even as he was agitated and was about to run away. He spoke to Yama the son of Sun, having the Ethereal form and ac­ companied by his Kayastha (Accounts-clerk Chitragupta).

65-67. “By whom have you been attacked? By whom have you been displaced and banished? By whom has your cloth (record) of the world, the divine cloth, been erased? Speak out everything completely. Or may this god Brahma say? O dear one, he who is the lord of all, shall grant you the uplift. O son of Martanda (Sun), he will remove all the misery in your heart.’’

68. On being addressed thus by the Wind god, Yama, the son of the Lord of Day (the Sun), looked to the face of Narada, the son of Brahma and slowly uttered the following words in a voice choked with tears.