The Efficacy of Service Unto Vishnu, The Story cf Yajfiamali and SumaK

1. О excellent sage, the story of the two sons of Veda- mali who had been mentioned before, viz. Yajfiamali and Sumali, is being narrated now.

2. The elder of the two, viz. Yajfiamali divided the assets accumulated by his father, into two parts and gave one of the parts to his younger brother.

3-4. О Brahmana, Sumali always indulged in all vices. He was absorbed in singing and playing on musical instruments. He was addicted to liquor. He was enamoured of the coquetry of prostitutes. He was interested in other men’s wives. Removing (i.e. spending away) the wealth thus, Sumali squandered all the wealth.

5. When all the gold hoarded by his father had been squandered, he continued to be interested in harlots by stealing other men’s wealth.

6. On seeing the (evil) conduct of Sumali, Yajfiamali of great intellect became distressed much and spoke to his brother thus: —

7. “O younger brother, enough of this wrong and evil conduct. In our family, you alone are interested in this great sin. You are the only wicked-minded fellow born in our family.

8. When the elder brother thus tried to wean him (from evil ways) by diverse methods on many occasions, Sumali took a sword in his hand and caught hold of his elder brother by his tuft of hair on his head deciding to himself, “I will kill him”.

9. Thereafter, a terrific uproar took place in the city. The infuriated citizens bound Sumali.

10. But Yajfiamali, (the depth of feelings in) whose heart could not be measured, became distressed. He was deluded by fraternal affection. He implored the citizens and got his brother liberated from the bondage.

11. Again Yajfiamali split his (remaining) wealth into two parts. He took half of his assets and gave the other half to his younger brother.

12. But Sumali who was haughty and whose soul was excessively confounded, О Narada, squandered that wealth too by enjoying it along with fools, heretics and Candalas.

13. The riches of wicked men are for the enjoyment of men of evil ways. The Neem (Margosa) tree laden with plenty of fruits is enjoyed only by crows.

14. О sage, Sumali wasted that wealth also given by his brother. He became inebriated by drinking liquor. He (unhesitatingly) ate beef and other forbidden foodstuffs.

15. He was excommunicated by his kinsmen along with his Candala women. О Brahmana, he was arrested (and punished) by the king.

16. О Brahmana, Yajflamali of good intellect was always absorbed in righteous activities. All his sins were wiped off, thanks to his association with the good. He distributed cooked food without restriction.

17. О excellent one, he strenuously maintained all the lakes and other things erected by his father. He was always engrossed in pious rites.

18. All the wealth of Yajflamali of great Atman was distributed among good men. He was a follower of the righteous path and he abided by his principle of giving charitable gifts to the deserving.

19. О! The riches of good men are for the enjoyment of the good. All the fruits of the wish-yielding tree are enjoyed only by the immortal Devas.

20. After distributing his wealth in pious and charitable acts (for the sake of piety), Yajflamali of great intellect engaged himself in the continuous service in the abode of Vishshu.

21. As time passed on, Yajflamali and Sumali who attained old age died simultaneously.

22. Hari despatched his aerial chariot filled by his attendants to the noble-souled Yajflamali who was engaged in the regular worship of Hari.

23-25. Yajflamali of great intellect got into the divine chariot. He was being worshipped by the groups of Devas; he was being eulogised by leading sages. Gandharvas sang about him. Groups of Apsaras served him. He was being nourished by the divine wish-yielding cow Kamadhenu. He was bedecked in various kinds of ornaments. He adorned himself with tender garlands of Tulasl leaves. He shone as the storehouse of brilliance. As he was going to the divine region of Vis^u, he saw his younger brother on the way.

26-27. He was being beaten by the soldiers of Yama. He was afflicted with hunger and thirst. He had become a ghost. He was naked, miserable and bound by nooses. He ran about here and there. He was crying helplessly. He was weeping and lamenting. On seeing him, he (Yajfkamaii) was excessively distressed in his mind.

28. Overwhelmed by sympathy, Yajfkamaii' asked the emissaries of Vishnu who were near him, with his palms joined in reverence. He asked: — “Who is this man harassed by the soldiers of Yama?”

29. Then those emissaries of Hari spoke thus to Yajfkamaii of great power. “This is Sumali, the sinful soul, your brother”.

30. О Narada, on hearing what was explained by the servants of Vishnu, Yajfkamaii was mentally depressed. He asked them again:

31. “Please tell the remedy by means of which his liberation from the hoarded heaps of sins may become possible. Indeed you are my kinsmen.

32-33. Those who are adepts in Dharma say that friendship originates in seven words spoken or seven steps walked together. The friendship of good men is based on (exchanging) seven words (or accompanying seven steps). But that of very good men (the friendship) is contracted in three words (or steps). Those who are very very good men have friendship at every step (word).

34. Hence, you are my kinsmen. You have come to take me (to heaven). How is my brother to be liberated? May this be kindly explained”.

35. On hearing the words of Yajfkamaii, the sympathetic emissaries of Vishnu spoke to Yajfkamaii who was a favourite of Hari. They spoke with their faces beaming with smiles. Vishpu’s emissaries said:

36. “O highly blessed Yajfkamaii, absorbed (in the devotion) to Narayana, we shall mention to you the means that will accord living liberation to Sumali.

37. We shall succinctly recount to you the great work that had been performed by you in your previous birth.1 Listen to it with great attention.

38. Formerly, you were born of a Vaiiya family. You were remembered by the name ViSvambhara. Countless and great sins were committed by you.

39-40. You were devoid of even traces of good deeds. You opposed even your parents. Once, when you were forsaken by your kinsmen, you were afflicted by grief and distress. You were oppressed by the fire of hunger. Thus you reached a temple of Hari. There had been a downpour and the whole place became marshy.

41. The mud was removed by you, since you desired to stay there. This became the service of smearing in the temple ofVishnu.

42. О Brahmana, you stayed in that temple during that night. You were bitten by a serpent and you died.

Thanks to the power of your meritorious deed of smearing and scrubbing, the birth as a Brahmana was attained by you. Your devotion to Hari was steady.

43. You will reach the presence of Hari and stay there for a hundred crores of Kalpas. Afterwards you will acquire spiritual knowledge and attain the great salvation.

44. You desire to uplift your younger brother who is the greatest sinner. We shall tell you the means thereof. О highly intelligent one, understand it.

45. You donate to your brother the benefit of smearing an area extending to a Gocarma. О highly blessed one, thus kindly uplift your brother.’

46. Thus urged by the emissaries of Vishnu, the highly intelligent Yajfiamali gave that much merit to his brother for the sake of liberation from sins.

48. An aerial chariot that contained all means of enjoyment of pleasures came there immediately. О sage, Sumali then stepped into the heavenly vehicle and rejoiced.

49. О Brahmana, both the brothers were bowed to by groups of Devas. By embracing each other they attained great pleasure.

50. Being eulogised by great sages and sung about by Gandharvas, Yajfiamali and Sumali went to Vi^nu’s world.

51. Attaining Sdlokya (stay in the same region) with Hari, О excellent sage, Sumali and Yajfiamali lived there joyously for the period of a Kalpa.

52. After enjoying many pleasures there, Yajfiamali of great intellect, became richly endowed with perfect knowledge and attained the great salvation (Mokfa).

53. The highly blessed Sumali rejoiced in the Vishnu- loka (region of Lord Vishnu). (Afterwards) he came to the Earth again and was born as a Brahmana.

54. He was born in a very pure family. He had all good qualities. He was a master of the Vedas. He was endowed with all riches. He was devoted to Hari.

55-56. Repeating the names of Hari, he reached the banks of the Ganga. He took his bath in the Ganga. After seeing lord Vishveshvara he attained the greatest abode, difficult of access even to the Yogins. О leading sage, the great merit accruing from smearing Vishnu’s temple, has been recounted to you.

57-59a. Hence, the lord of the worlds should be, with best possible efforts, worshipped. Those who worship Vishnu even for once, without any specific desire, never get entangled in the worldly existence. Those who worship people engaged in the devotion of Hari thinking them to be Hari himself, are delightedly blessed by Brahma, Vishnu and MaheSvara.

59b-61. Even a great sinner is liberated from all sins by the mere contact with those who came into contact with those devoted to Hari.

Those who are engaged in the service of those who are devoted to Hari and of those who are engaged in the repetitions of the names of Hari, attain the greatest goal, even if they happen to be sinners.

1. As mentioned above, all names in this story of Vedamali family are fictitious. Thus Sumali a demon mentioned in the Brahmagda P.3.7.99 and the Yuddha Кйцфа of the Kamba Ramayaga have no connection with this son Vedamali.

This chapter is intended to describe the efficacy of even menial service rendered to a shrine of Vishnu without intending any service to the deity. Thus the wicked Vaisya Viivambhara who had committed countless sins and who after ex-communication was driven to the temple of Vishnu for refuge due to the downpour of rain, became a holy Brahma^a called Yajfiamali, the son of Vedamali simply because he, in that birth, removed the mud in the temple of Vishnu for his night-stay there but he was bitten by a serpent and he died.

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