Ajamila Moksha
Chanting the word “Narayana” even in the final moments of life is a sinner’s way of salvation. Dashakam 22 in Narayaneeyam illustrates this timeless reality
अजामिलो नाम महीसुर: पुरा
चरन् विभो धर्मपथान् गृहाश्रमी ।
गुरोर्गिरा काननमेत्य दृष्टवान्
सुधृष्टशीलां कुलटां मदाकुलाम् ॥१॥
ajaamilO naama mahiisuraH puraa
charan vibhO dharmapathaan gR^ihaashramii |
gurOrgiraa kaananametya dR^iShTavaan
sudhR^iShTashiilaaM kulaTaaM madaakulaam ||1||
In Narayaneeyam, the first verse of the twenty-second Dashakam describes Bhattathiri’s description of a man named Ajamila. There once was a good man named Ajamila who went to the forest as instructed by his father. There he met a poor woman who did not feel guilty about her inebriated actions.
स्वत: प्रशान्तोऽपि तदाहृताशय:
स्वधर्ममुत्सृज्य तया समारमन् ।
अधर्मकारी दशमी भवन् पुन-
र्दधौ भवन्नामयुते सुते रतिम् ॥२॥
svataH prashaantO(a)pi tadaahR^itaashayaH
svadharmamutsR^ijya tayaa samaaraman |
adharmakaarii dashamii bhavan punardadhau
bhavannaamayute sute ratim ||2||
Fresh fruit will deteriorate if rotten produce is stored with it. Just as this principle applies to produce, it also applies to people. Just being around the wrong company can turn good people into criminals. Ajamala formed an emotional connection with the woman despite his innate capacity for self-control. He disregarded his responsibilities in order to enjoy her company, which led to his immoral behavior. In his later years, he became even more devoted to his son Naaraayana, who was also named after the Lord.
स मृत्युकाले यमराजकिङ्करान्
भयङ्करांस्त्रीनभिलक्षयन् भिया ।
पुरा मनाक् त्वत्स्मृतिवासनाबलात्
जुहाव नारायणनामकं सुतम् ॥३॥
sa mR^ityukaale yamaraajakinkaraan
bhayankaraamstriinabhilakshayan bhiyaa |
puraa manaaktvatsmR^iti vaasanaabalaat
juhaava naaraayaNanaamakaM sutam ||3||
Just before he passed away, he saw three ominous Yama messengers coming toward him. Because his strong devotion to the Lord was still fresh in his mind, he called out the name of his son, Naaraayana.
दुराशयस्यापि तदात्वनिर्गत-
त्वदीयनामाक्षरमात्रवैभवात् ।
पुरोऽभिपेतुर्भवदीयपार्षदा:
चतुर्भुजा: पीतपटा मनोरमा: ॥४॥
duraashayasyaapi tadaatvanirgatatvadiiya
naamaaksharamaatravaibhavaat
|purO(a)bhipeturbhavadiiyapaarShadaaH
chaturbhujaaH piitapaTaa manOharaaH ||4||
Bhattathiri demonstrates in this verse that the mere utterance of the Lord’s name can bring about spiritual liberation for anyone. Speaking the name of the Lord brought Ajamala salvation even though he was a sinner with undesirable personality traits. Divine messengers of the Lord appeared with four arms dressed in yellow silk. Yama’s emissaries were unable to reach Ajamala because of the divine messengers. According to Bhattathiri, everything changed when he spoke the name of the Lord.
अमुं च संपाश्य विकर्षतो भटान्
विमुञ्चतेत्यारुरुधुर्बलादमी ।
निवारितास्ते च भवज्जनैस्तदा
तदीयपापं निखिलं न्यवेदयन् ॥५॥
amuM cha sampaashya vikarShatO bhaTaan
vimu~nchate-tyaarurudhu-rbalaadamii |
nivaaritaaste cha bhavajjanaistadaa
tadiiya paapaM nikhilaM nyavedayan ||5||
In the fifth sloka, Bhattathiri describes how the Lord’s delegates used force to prevent Yama’s messengers from taking Ajaamila. All of Ajama’s transgressions were explained by Yama’s angels.
भवन्तु पापानि कथं तु निष्कृते
कृतेऽपि भो दण्डनमस्ति पण्डिता: ।
न निष्कृति: किं विदिता भवादृशा-
मिति प्रभो त्वत्पुरुषा बभाषिरे ॥६॥
bhavantu paapaani kathaM tu niShkR^ite
kR^ite(a)pi bhO daNDanamasti paNDitaaH |
na niShkR^itiH kiM viditaa bhavaadR^ishaamiti
prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||6||
The Lord’s attendants asked the divine messengers of death about punishment. Sins exist. What steps can be taken, however, if the sinner does penance out of guilt? If a person made amends for their transgressions, would punishment still exist? Lord’s mercenaries asked Yama’s messengers if men with their level of knowledge, such as themselves, should know what atonement meant.
श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्यां विहिता व्रतादय:
पुनन्ति पापं न लुनन्ति वासनाम् ।
अनन्तसेवा तु निकृन्तति द्वयी-
मिति प्रभो त्वत्पुरुषा बभाषिरे ॥७॥
shrutismR^itibhyaanvihitaa vrataadayaH
punanti paapaM na lunanti vaasanaam |
anantasevaa tu nikR^intati dvayiimiti
prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||7||
The representatives of the Lord explained to them that vows, according to Srutis and Smritis, purge sins but do not prevent sinful behavior. Whereas, the service to the Lord! destroys both the sins and the inclinations toward sin.
अनेन भो जन्मसहस्रकोटिभि:
कृतेषु पापेष्वपि निष्कृति: कृता ।
यदग्रहीन्नाम भयाकुलो हरे-
रिति प्रभो त्वत्पुरुषा बभाषिरे ॥८॥
anena bhO janmasahasrakOTibhiH
kR^iteShu paapeShvapi niShkR^itiH kR^itaa |
yadagrahiinnaama bhayaakulO hareriti
prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||8||
O Lord! Yama’s messengers were informed by your emissaries that, in spite of his fear, Ajaamila was able to utter Hari’s Name. The mere mention of Hari’s name erased all the wrongdoings Ajamala had committed in innumerable past incarnations.
Intentionally or inadvertently uttering the name of Narayana can help one cleanse their mind during the Kali Yuga period.
नृणामबुद्ध्यापि मुकुन्दकीर्तनं
दहत्यघौघान् महिमास्य तादृश: ।
यथाग्निरेधांसि यथौषधं गदा –
निति प्रभो त्वत्पुरुषा बभाषिरे ॥९॥
nR^iNaamabuddhyaa(a)pi mukunda kiirtanaM
dahatyaghaughaan mahimaasya taadR^ishaH |
yathaagniredhaamsi yathauShadhaM gadaaniti
prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||9||
Bhattathiri exclaims “Hey Bhagavan! Your messengers told them that if people unknowingly recite the name of Govinda, the supreme being who is everywhere and the ruler of all Indriyas, their sins will turn to ashes. Bhagavan’s glory works similarly to how medicine cures illness and fire consumes fuel.
इतीरितैर्याम्यभटैरपासृते
भवद्भटानां च गणे तिरोहिते ।
भवत्स्मृतिं कंचन कालमाचरन्
भवत्पदं प्रापि भवद्भटैरसौ ॥१०॥
itiiritairyaamyabhaTairapaasR^ite
bhavadbhaTaanaaM cha gaNe tirOhite |
bhavatsmR^itiM ka~nchana kaalamaacharan
bhavatpadaM praapi bhavadbhaTairasau ||10||
Hey Jaganath, After hearing this directive, the Yama messengers left, and your guardians vanished. Ajamila meditated on you for a while.Following his death, your soldiers led him to Vaikunta.
स्वकिङ्करावेदनशङ्कितो यम-
स्त्वदंघ्रिभक्तेषु न गम्यतामिति ।
स्वकीयभृत्यानशिशिक्षदुच्चकै:
स देव वातालयनाथ पाहि माम् ॥११॥
svakinkaraavedana shankitO yamastvadanghri
bhakteShu na gamyataamiti |
svakiiya bhR^ityaanashishikshaduchchakaiH
sa deva vaataalayanaatha paahi maam ||11||
Yama was deeply troubled by the information his messengers brought him. Yama gave the messengers strict instructions not to visit devotees who seek solace at your hallowed feet. Dear Lord! Please keep me safe, O Guruvaayurappa, for you pardon those who invoke your holy name.