So this is the second chapter of the history of Ajāmila's activities. Now we are going to the third chapter: Rājovāca. Then after hearing this incident, Mahārāja Parīkṣit is inquiring from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, because the talk was between Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Mahārāja Parīkṣit. Parīkṣit inquired about the different types of hellish condition of life and how they could be avoided. So in question . . . in answer to that question, this Ajāmila itihasa, history, was spoken. Now again the king was inquiring. Rājovāca—the king inquired:
- niśamya devaḥ sva-bhaṭopavarṇitaṁ
- pratyāha kiṁ tān api dharmarājaḥ
- evaṁ hatājño vihatān murārer
- naideśikair yasya vaśe jano 'yam
- ( SB 6.3.1)
Viṣṇudutta . . . (indistinct) . . . yama mukhena grhetam tritiyadyaya arambhamtatra jagatāṁ yamarājam yatra sarvam asasukham iti pratap kim tatra grksati naisamyati. So the conversation between the servants of the Yamarāja and the servants of Viṣṇu, in order to confirm the statement by the authority, Yamarāja, this third chapter is enunciated.
Yamarāja is one of the twelve authorities. It is said that we have to follow the footsteps of authorities—mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117 quoted in CC Madhya 17.186). It is very difficult to find out the real path how to realize perfection of life, but it is advised that if you simply follow the footsteps of the great personalities, authorities, or their representatives, then you will be led to the perfectional stage. Mahājana.
Tarko ‘pratiṣṭhaḥ (Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117 quoted in CC Madhya 17.186): if you try to approach the perfectional stage of spiritual life, you cannot do it simply by arguing, tarko ‘pratiṣṭhaḥ. You can argue very nice, but somebody may come who can argue better than you. Another may come better than you. So there is no end of arguing.