Muni Maitreya asked Maharshi Parashara whether there could be any escape route by which a human being could possibly avoid facing Yama Dharma Raja after the termination of one’s life! Maharshi replied that Nakula of Pandava Brothers of Maha Bharata fame also enquired of a similar question from Bhishma the Grand Father of Pandava-Kaurava brothers. Bhishma’s reply was in the form of an illustration about a Brahmana in Kaling Desha who met Bhishma once. The Brahmana cited the example of a Jatismara Muni who retained the knowledge of his previous birth. The Brahmana was convinced that the Jatismara Muni was genuine as he asked the Muni of searching questions and received correct answers. The Brahmana then quoted the Jatismara Muni about an incident when one Yama duta as taking away a just dead soul, Yama Raja secretly conveyed to his Yama Duta that if there were a Vishnu Bhakta he should not be taken into Yamaloka and that was the instruction received from his Authorities! Yama was reported to have stated that Brahma appointed him (Yama)as the authority to decide on the Paap-Punya account  of all  kinds of Beings except the devotees of Bhagavan  Janardana. Yama was reported to have told the Yamaduta as follows:

Ahamamara varaarchinena Dhaatraa Yama iti Lokahitaahitey niyuktah,

Hariguruvashagosmi na swatantrah, prabhavati samyamena mamaapi Vishnuh/

( I was appointed by Vidhata as Yama to assess the accounts of Paapa-Punyas of various Beings, but am in the over-all control of Bhagavan Vishnu and certainly not independent to take actions on my own.) The Yamaduta argued with Yama as to why he should be reponsible for Vishnu! Yama Raja then replied:

Na chalati nija varna dharmato yah samamatiraatma suhrud vipaksha pakshey,

na harati na cha hanti kinchiducchhaih sitamanasam tamavehi Vishnu bhaktam/

Kalikalushamalena yasya naatmaa vimala matermalinikrutastamenam,

Manasi kruta Janaardanam Manushyam satatamavehi Harerateeva bhaktam/

Kanakamapi rahasyavekshya buddhyaa trunamiva yassamavaiti vai paraswam,

Bhavati cha Bhagatanyananya chetaah Purushavaram tamavehi Vishnu bhaktam/

Sphatika giri shilaamalah kka Vishnurmanasi Nrunaam kka cha matsaraadi doshah,

Na hi tuhini mayukha rashmi punjey bhavati Hutaashana deeptijah prataapah/

Vimalamatira matsarah prashaantashashuchi charitokhila satvamitra bhutah,

Priyahita vachanostamaanamaayo vasati sadaa hridi tasya Vaasudevah/

Vasati hridi sanaatanecha tasmin bhavati pumanjagatesya sowmya rupah,

Kshitirasamati ramyamaatmanonantah kathayati chaaruta yaiva shaalapotah/

Yamaniyamavidhuta kalmashaanaamanudina machyutasatthamaana maanasaanaam,

Apagatamadamaana matsaraanaamtwajabhatadooratarena Maanavaanaam/

Hridiyadi Bhagavaananaadiraastey Harirasi shankha gadaadharovyayaatmaa,

Tadaghamagha Vidhaata katru bhinnamBhavatikathamsatichaandhakaaramarkai/

Haratiparadhanam-nihanijantun-vadati-tathaanruta nishthuraani yascha,

Ashubha janita durmadasya pumsah kalushamateyrmudasya tasya naasthanantah/

Na sahati paraspadam vinindaam kalushamatih kurutey sataama saadhuh/

Na yajati na dadaati yascha santam Manasi na tasya Janaardanoghamasya/

Parama suhrudi baandhaveykalatrey sutatanayaa Pitru Maatru bhrutyavargye,

Shathamatirupayaati yortha trishnaam-tamamaghachestamavehinaasya-Bhaktam/

Ashubhamatirasat-pravrutti saktta satatamanaarya kusheela sangamattah,

Anudina kruta paapabandha yuktah Purusha-pashoorna hi Vaasudeva bhaktah/

Sakalamidamaham cha Vaasudevah ParamaPumaanparameswarassa Ekaha,

Iti Matirachalaa bhavanyanantey hridaya gatey  vraja  taanvihaaya duraarat/

Kamalanayana VaasudevaVishno dharani dharaatyuchyuta shankha chakrapaaney,

Bhava sharanamitiryanti ye vai, twaja bhata dooratarena taanapaapaan/

Vasanti Manasi yasya sovyayaatmaa Purusha Varasya na tasasya drishtipaatey,

Tava Gati Ratha vaa Maamaasti chakra pratihata Veerya Balasya sonyalokyah/

( That person who does not leave his Varna Dharma, who treats one’s own friend or foe on the same footing, who would  never steal  money or other’s possessions, who would never harm nor hurt others, does not harbour extra favour or hatred on any person and retains equanimity in respect of one and all is defined as Vishnu-Bhakta. A person who keeps his conscience clear and is not ruffled by Kali-kalmasha or tainted thinking but keeps Janardana in his heart always steadily is called a Vishnu-Bhatka. After all where is a crystal-clear mind and where is a prejudiced mind full of likings and dislikes! Could the coolness of Chandra and the unbearable heat generated by Fire are ever comparable! It is in that person who has a clean conscience,  devoid of jealousy and wrath, always peaceful, pure hearted, friendly and considerate to one and all, helpful with  spontaneity, straight forward without being hurtful of others and being compassionate that Vaasudeva likes to reside always.It is in that person’s heart that an objective feeling predominates just as a well structured and attractive Shaala Vriksha minimises its own beauty and impressiveness but sincerely appreciates the features and presentability of other trees around.

Yama Doota! Please keep off from that person who practises Yama and Niyama or Physical Control and Regulation seeking to minimise, if not uproot,the sins already committed ;  do  keep aloof from whom who is not affected by superior feelings, social consciousness, and  pride and prejudices. If a person who has always embedded the Grand Form of Vishnu with four hands, Gada-Sharanga-Chakra and Shankhu in his heart and soul should in fact be run away from. Could one ever think of a situation when Surya Bhagavan is existent in his glory and darkness could ever prevail! But never ever spare those Beings who steal, hurt others, converse ill of others, and practise evil deeds, cannot tolerate improvement of others, are critial of fellow beings, offend the virtuous, the poor, and helpless; insult Sadhus, women, children and the ‘Anga Viheena’and mentally unsound. Also never ever spare the sinners who seldom perform charity to the needy. Run after those Durbuddhis who have no consideration to friends, relatives, women and children, servants, and even parents and family members out of concern for monetary consideration, social status, false dignity and selfishness! Those human beings who are seemingly righteous and upright but basically immoral and dishonest are worse than openly cruel and declared offendersand they are cunning and schemy and such pretentious fakes are more dangerous than straight criminals and Yamadutaas ought to be able to identify them with insight and discretion! Also there are ‘ Nara rupa Pashus’ or Humans with animal instincts and they too should be segregated by Yamadutaas. At the same time, those who realise that the whole world is a reflection of Vaasudeva himself and worship Him with one’s own inner consiousness must be kept far away from the Yamadutas as they are recognised by the shields of Vishnu Bhakti and such devotees hail Paramatma by their salutations saying:“Hey Kamala Nayana! Vaasudeva! Vishno! Dharanidhara! Achuta! Shankha Chakra paaney! Do save us!’’Remember such sacred persons are distinct and distinguished and indiscretions on  the part of Yamadutaas oy Yamadharma Raja would not be condoned easily as such Bhaktaas must be very carefully directed to Vaikuntha!)

Such was the explanation given by the Jaatasmira Kalinga Brahmana about his own experience of Dharma Raja conversing with Yama Dutaas and Bhishma quoted the Brahmana’s serious and secret talk to Nakula of Pandavas; Maharshi Parashara thus replied to Muni Maitreya and assured that a genuine Vishnu Bhakta need not be unnecessarily rattled as to how he would avoid Naraka Darshana! Kinkaraah paasha dandaascha na Yamo cha Yaatanaah, Samarthaastasya yasaatamaa Keshavaalambanassadaa! (A devotee of Vishnu whose heart is saturated by Bhagavat Paaraayana would indeed be free from the fears of Yama, Yamadutaas, Yama paasha, Yama danda or Yama yatana!)