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| Vishnudutas rescuing Ajamila from Yamadutas |
In a city called Kanyakubja, there was a Brahmin named Ajamila. He lived in a small house with his parents and wife. One day, as per his father's command, he went to the forest to collect flowers and fruits, and while returning from there, he heard a noise from the bushes.
When he hid and peeked from behind a tree, he saw a drunkard and a harlot in seclusion. Both were oblivious to the clothes on their bodies and the world around them.
He wondered what he would do if he stayed there for a little longer? He thought he should forget the scene he had seen there, so he quickly stepped away. After that, whatever he was doing, he remembered the prostitute. As days passed, his longing to see her again grew more. Now his mind was so bad that he decided to finally get her.
After a few months, Ajamila went to the place where the prostitute was, persuaded her and brought her to work in his house. When his family objected to this, he left them and made another house, married that harlot and started living with her. As the years rolled by, he had ten children. Ajamila, who had forgotten his religious duties, started consuming non-vegetarian food and alcohol. Narayana, the youngest of his children, was his favourite. He used to call out to him "Narayana... Narayana" for everything.
***
Ajamila was eighty-eight years old. One day, he was lying on the couch and fell into a deep sleep. When someone called his name, he opened his eyes and saw three or four terrifying figures before him. Their faces were ugly. they had fangs. They had ropes in their hands. Seeing their terrible form, Ajamila became afraid and cried out loudly for his son Narayana. In this way, he remembered the Lord at the last moment of his life without knowing it.
Vishnu Dutas sent by Lod himself, appeared there with weapons. They stopped the Yamadutas who looked like demons.
There was an argument among the groups as to whether Ajamila should be taken to Vaikuntha or dragged to hell.
"He is a sinner and has done many bad deeds." Yama's messenger said that he should go to hell.
"That is true. But he cried out to God at the last moment. Also, he remembered God by calling out "Narayana... Narayana" every day. So all his sins are expiated." Vishnu's messenger persisted.
Now the Yamadutas talked among themselves for a while, freed Ajamila from the noose and disappeared from there.
As soon as Yamaduta disappeared, Ajamila cried and fell at the feet of Lord Vishnu's emissaries who saved his life. They vanished before he could speak again.
"I forgot my virtue after hooking up with a prostitute and leaving my old parents and my wife. I dropped my spiritual duties. I have to leave my sinful deeds here." He thought.
He decided to follow the bhakti path again. He immediately went to Haridwar. Stayed there in a Vishnu temple, Engaged in the service of God.
Thus, one day, while bathing in the river Ganga, sitting on the bank and meditating, the Vishnu messengers appeared before him. Realising his life had ended there, Ajamila bowed to them and left his body.
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