The Glory of Naam Jap: A Sinner Seated in the Lap of Shri Ram

भजन मार्ग (पूज्य महाराज जी के सत्संग से) · 2024-04-28

There were two brothers named Karmchand and Dharmchand. Dharmchand was a devotee of Bhagwan, while Karmchand was a worldly man who drank alcohol and such things. The elder brother Dharmchand would request saints to come to his home, perform their aarti, and offer them prasad. Seeing all this, Karmchand would abuse the saints. He had a wicked nature. The elder brother wondered how this wicked one could be saved, for certainly by abusing saints one brings ruin upon oneself.

Saints Are Very Merciful!

Once a group of saints from Ayodhya passed by, and Dharmchand Ji invited them to his home, performed their aarti, and offered them prasad. At that moment, Karmchand arrived drunk and began to abuse all of them. His room was upstairs, and he went to his room abusing everyone. The saints said to Dharmchand Ji, you brought us with respect, but who is this? Dharmchand Ji said, Maharaj Ji, forgive me, this is my younger brother. He has been ruined by bad company. They asked, Maharaj, can this one be saved? The saints said, it will certainly happen. Do not worry.

One of the saints was sturdy and strong. He went upstairs and knocked on the door. When Karmchand opened the door, the saint realised that gentleness would not work here. He threw Karmchand to the ground and sat on his chest. The saint said, "Speak Ram." Karmchand said, "I will not." The saint said, if you do not speak Ram, then I will crush your throat. No one here will save you. Speak Ram! After thinking for a while, Karmchand realised there was no other way to escape. So to escape, he said, "Ram Ram." The saint got off him and said, son, never take the price of this name. Do not sell it. After some days, Karmchand experienced the fruits of all his sins. He got a fatal disease and died.

The Sinner Reached the Realm of Yama, Yamraj Was Astonished!

Karmchand reached the court of Yamraj. When Yamraj looked at his account, there was only sin upon sin, except that twice by the grace of a saint he had spoken Ram. Yamraj said, this chanting of Ram's name is your only merit. What will you take in exchange for this Ram nama? Karmchand remembered the saint's words: son, do not sell the fruits of this Ram nama. Karmchand asked, first tell us the price of chanting Ram nama twice. Yamraj was trapped. Yamraj thought that to assign a price to God's name would be a grave offense. He thought for a while and decided to take counsel from Devraj Indra.

Yamraj Took Counsel from Devraj Indra and Brahma Ji

Yamraj called Devraj Indra and told him everything. Devraj Indra said, I cannot decide this either. Only Brahma Ji can decide this. Karmchand was very clever, and he too began to understand the glory of the name. He said, remove these terrible-looking Yamaduts from my sight. And wherever you need to take me, I will not walk on foot. Summon a palanquin for me. Devraj Indra and Yamraj seated Karmchand in a palanquin and took him to Brahma Loka.

Brahma Ji asked, what merit does this soul have that you both brought it here seated in a palanquin? Yamraj said, this is a great sinner, but it has spoken Ram-Ram twice, and now it is asking for its price. Brahma Ji too scratched his head, for how could he tell the price of Ram nama? Brahma Ji said, the glory of Ram nama is known to Bhagwan Shiva. Let us all go to Kailash and hear from Shiva Ji about the glory of the name. That sinner soul was very happy, receiving comfort in Brahma Loka.

Yamraj, Devraj Indra and Brahma Ji Went to Bhagwan Shiva

Now everyone went to Bhagwan Mahadev Ji at Kailash. Upon the darshan of Bhagwan Shankar alone, the soul felt supreme bliss, and all its sins were destroyed. Shiva Ji asked, how did you all come? Yamraj said, this soul has chanted Ram-Ram twice and is asking for its price. We have come to you to ask the price of Ram nama. Shiva Ji said, by saying 'Ra' I drank the halahala poison, and by saying 'Ma' I held it in my throat. I too chant Ram nama day and night, and through this Ram nama I grant liberation to beings who die in Kashi. But I do not have the capability to tell the price of Ram nama. He said, go directly to Saket Dham and ask Sri Ram Ji himself for its price. The soul received great joy.

Yamraj, Devraj Indra, Brahma and Shiva Ji Reached Sri Ram

Everyone took the soul like a bridegroom and reached Saket Dham. Bhagwan Sri Ram asked, how did you all come? Yamraj Ji told, Lord, this soul is very sinful, but at the behest of one of your devoted saints, it has chanted Ram-Ram twice, and now it is asking for its price. Bhagwan Sri Ram said, seat this one in my lap. Bhagwan Sri Ram seated that soul in his lap and, caressing it, said, I too cannot tell the price, but see the glory — though this soul is a sinner, it sits in my lap.

Conclusion

Behold the glory of Ram nama — a drunkard, one who walks the path of ruin, one who abused saints; through the causeless grace of a saint, merely by chanting Ram nama twice, Sri Ram himself seated him in his lap and caresses him. Do not disbelieve that chanting the name two or four times will grant attainment of Bhagwan. The name alone is enough to grant attainment of Bhagwan. If no offense is committed while chanting the name, the relish of Bhagwan's name will arise, and by tasting it, you can bring Bhagwan under your control. Through naam jap you may receive the good fortune to enter the leelas of Bhagwan and serve his Shri Anga.

Guide – Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj