Greatness of Hari

Bhisma said - Listen Yudhistira while I tell you more.One who worships Govinda with many gifts gets blessings from the Lord. If one bathes Vishnu on the twelfth day of the lunar cycle (Dwadashi) that falls on a Monday, he is blessed and he and his generation is taken to the abode of Vishnu. One who fasts on the day of Krishna Janamashtami and bathes Krishna with milk and water is relieved from all sins by Narayana. Let me tell you about this.
There was a king called Yagyadhwaja. He used to beg for forgiveness at the temple of Hari. His priest, worried, asked him the reason for this. The king said - In my previous birth I was the son of a merchant and my name was Yagyamali. I was an evil person. Seeing my deeds my family expelled me. What ever I had I spent on cheap women. Seeing this, my brothers tied me up, beat me and then left me far away.
In the forest, I was hungry when I came across a temple of Vishnu. It was dirty. I cleaned the temple and went to sleep there. A snake happened to come there and it bit me. Two attendants of Yama came to fetch me but were stopped by the attendants of Vishnu. Yama's attendants said this is a great sinner and he needs to go with us.
Vishnu's attendants said this person has come here, fasted and cleaned the temple of Vishnu and is subject to forgiveness. Saying this Vishnu's attendants took me with them.
Unknowingly I had prayed in the temple of Vishnu and thus I am freed.
The priest hearing this, bowed down to the king.

Ekadashi

Bhishma said-
One who lives in earth and performs good deeds gets rewarded in this life.
One who fasts on the eight day of the lunar cycle and prays to Shiva and Durga is greatly rewarded.
One who takes the name of Narayana and performs his worship is freed from all fears.
The eleventh day's fasting (Ekadashi) has great significance and I will tell you about that.
There was a sage called Galav whose son was named Bhadrasheel. He was a great devotee of Vishnu and fasted on the eleventh of Ekadashi, twice in a month.
His father wanted to know the greatness of doing this fasting.
Bhadrasheel said -
I was a king in Soma dynasty. I had received knowledge from Dharmakeerti and Dattatreya. I ruled continuously for thousand years. During this period, I committed various religious as well as irreligious tasks. In the company of impostors, I too became an impostor. Working diplomatically, I destroyed sacrifices. My subjects also followed me and began to behave in a foul manner. I received sixth part of their evil deeds. One day, I went to the forest, hunting. There, I killed many animals.
After a while, perplexed by thirst and hunger, I reached the bank of Narmada. I had strayed into deeper forests all alone. The intense sun was scorching my body. I was about to drop down because of hunger when I saw that people on the bank of Narmada were observing Ekadashi fasting. I joined them and stayed awake all along the night without taking any food. But I could not bear the starvation and exertion and died as a result. Fierce looking servants of Yama took me to him. Yamar asked Chitragupta to open the account of my life. Chitragupta thought for a moment and said: "Its true O Yama that this person is a sinner. But now he is free from his sins due to observing fast on Ekadashi and passing his night in the company of pious devotees." Hearing these words, Yama greeted me and worshiped me with devotion. Then, he called his servers."
Yama said - "Listen to me, O agents! I am narrating something to your interest. Never bring to me in future anybody who is engaged in religious task. Stay away from those who always recite the name of Hari. Greet them from a distance. This is my order as well as teaching to all of you. Spare all those who serve their teachers, love their religion, are helpless, serve the pious one and are truly deserving. Bring all such people who abuse their mother, hate the world, steal the wealth of temples and Brahmins, who are killers, who do not observe fast on Ekadashi, who are short tempered, criticize me and nurture hostility with others."
Hearing such words from Yama, fire of penance began to burn within me. More intense this fire grew, more of my sins were destroyed. I even got a vision of Hari. Even, Yama greeted me with respect. His action even surprised this servants. Worshiping me, Yama sent me on a divine chariot to the abode of Vishnu.
O father! I was passing my time happily. I did not know how and when many years passed. Then I arrived in the land of Indra. There I stayed with the gods for many years. It was after such a great experience that I have arrived on the earth. Having the knowledge of my previous birth, I always engaged in the worship of Hari and inspire others to follow suit. Earlier, I didn't know the virtues of Ekadashi . But now, because of the knowledge of my previous births, I have come to know about it. I observed it without any desire and without knowing that I was actually observing a fast and received so much in return. Hence, I cannot tell how much will one receive if he observes Ekadashi  with some desire. Those who devotedly worship Hari and observe Ekadashi  attain even the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu."
The words of his son gladdened sage Galav. He says- "My birth has been successful because I got such a devotee son like you who told me the complete method of worshipping Lord Vishnu."

Vishnu kicked

One who gives gifts is worshiped by all. Once there was a person called Subodh who was a son of a brahaman. He was a poor brahman and was barely able to meet the needs of his family. His children were always hungry and crying for food. He was looked down upon by the residents of the town.
One day, sitting in his house he wished to be rich. He felt that the rich had no worries.
Leaving that town with his family, he went to the kingdom of Kosala and requested to meet the king.
He got many gifts from the king and settled down there.
The king, because of his deeds went to heaven after death. He then went stayed in the abode of Brahma. Then we went to the abode of Vishnu and lived there.
The body of Vishnu is the place of a brahmana. Vishnu is a devotee of a brahmana and thus he gracefully accepted the kick that he got from a brahmana.
Yudhistira said - I have never heard of this. Please tell me why a brahmana kicked Vishnu.
Bhishma said -
In olden days, the sage Bhrigu wanted to know who was the supreme God. He went to see Shiva asked him the reason why he had come. The sage kept quiet and Shiva getting angry said he would kill him with his trident. The sage ran to Brahma. There too, he did not say anything and kept quiet.
Getting no answer, he went where Vishnu was. Vishnu was sleeping. Seeing this, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu on his chest. Lakshmi got angry but Vishnu getting up, started the worshiping the foot that had kicked him. He wondered if the sage had hurt his foot.
Bhrigu was ashamed. He said I know you are the Supreme One and I have kicked you.
Vishnu said You should not worry. Your mark will stay on my chest as an ornament.

Sinners and their punishment

Yudhistira asked What does one have to go through for their sins/
Bhishma said -
The one who gives gifts to Brahmanas and regrets that is taken away and tied to a pole and dipped in hot oil.
One who looks at a brahmana with angry eyes has his eyes plucked out with needles.
One who laughs at the insults of others has his ears fried.
One who sells mantras for a living is tortured and is then born as a worm and has to go through many births before he becomes a human again.
One who gives food to the Gods and then eats it up himself quickly, is born as a rakshasa.
One who refuses to give gifts is taken away hurled into blazing fires.
One who taken away another's wife is punished by being forced to make love to a blazing hot iron statue. A woman who leaves her husband for another person has to go through the same punishment.
One who looks at brahmanas when making to offerings to the departed is hurled from the mountains onto the earth. Butter is then applied to the body and it is then roasted in the fires.
One who steals flowers for worship is left in a forest of thorns. 

Bhadrasheel and Dhanurdwaj

Bhishma said - There was once a sage called Bhadrasheel in the land of Ayodhya. he was learned in the Vedas. He hired a boy called Dhanurdwaj to look after the cows. Dhanurdwaj was a brahmin in the previous birth who had been cursed by his brother to be born as a low caste person.
Yudhistira said - Why was he cursed?
Bhishma said - In the Ikshvaku dynasty, there was a brahmin who had two sons Suvanti and Avanti. While Suvanti was a person who followed the right path, Avanti always followed the wrong. He was a jealous person, who took pleasure in theft. His brother tried to correct him and when he did, he was cursed to be born as a Chandala.
This angered Avanti who went to the forests and started meditating. He gave up his body and this was was the person who was looking after the cows of Bhadrasheel. He looked after the cows well and the cows were happy too in his care. One day he died of a snake bite.
Bhadrasheel was devastated. He cried like a parent cries for a dead child.
After dying, Dhanurdwaj became a servant of Yama and at his bidding used to go and fetch the people from earth.
One day he came to get a person when he was spotted by Bhadrasheel. Bhadrasheel said People do not come alive after dying. How did you come alive?
Dhanurdwaj said Due to curse in his previous birth he had been cursed to serve Yama.
Bhadrasheel said I am intrigued. Please tell me about the cycle of birth and death.
Dhanurdwaj said Its a vast thing but I will tell you in brief.
When a female makes love to a male, from the union is created a child. In the womb the child is size of a grain of sand, which slowly grows and become the size of a thumb. Its a lump of flesh. From the second month the head forms. On the third month the limbs form and on the fourth, hair. In the fifth month it grows slightly and in the sixth month it moves in the womb. In the seventh month it starts sensing. In the eighth month it knows about the cycles it has lived through till now and the sins and virtues it has gained. It cries wondering why it did not take the name of Krishna all the time. And the moment it is born, it forgets everything.
It cries and feeds on milk from the breasts of the mother,
They come with a fixed life span. If their actions are heinous, their life span decreases and many die in childhood. Some die in their middle age and some in the old age.
Death cannot be avoided. It is a reality and strikes all.
Bhadrasheel was pleased. He said I want to see the abode of Yama. Will you show me that?
Dhanurdwaj said If you have any tasks pending complete those. If you any loans, repay those. Finish that and then come with me. I will take you to the abode of Yama.
Bhadrasheel said I will repay all. How will I see you again?
Dhanurdwaj said - Go home. After finishing your pending tasks, take leave of your family. You will give them good advise before leaving. You will then lock yourself in your room for tree days. You will tell them that if they try to open the door, you will die. Be in your room, I will come for you.
Bhadrasheel went back home. He went to his parents and took leave of them after paying any debts that he had. He then went out and repaid all loans that he had ever taken. To his wife and children he said he was going to lock himself in the room for three days. They were not to open the door or peep inside, else he would die.
He then locked himself up in the room.
Here, Dhanurdwaj was disturbed after having promised Bhadrasheel. He took another person to Yama.
Here, Yudhistira asked What was Yama's reaction. Bhishma said -
Kirtimanta was a son of a merchant. His son was Sushil. Sushil was rich and good natured. He had donated a lot to the poor and needy. Anger is a grave enemy. When a brahmin came to Sushil for alms, Sushil looked at him with angry eyes. This displeased the brahmin who refused what was given to him. He cursed Sushil to die untimely. One day when he was bathing in a river, the servants of Yama came and took him away.
Yama looked at him and said You have given a lot and have performed good deeds but have not been able to control your anger. Sushil said he was willing to pay for his sin. Yama said Go back to the river live there like a crocodile. You will meet a sage called Deval, seeing whom you will be relieved.
He went back and a ferocious crocodile, devoured all that came to the water. One day the sage Deval came there. The moment the crocodile bit the sage, he was relieved from his curse.
Yudhistira asked What happened to Bhadrasheel?
Bhishma said Bhadrasheel was taken to the abode of Yama. He saw a lovely place full of people. Some place had eternal summer and some winter and rain. At one place the attendants were beating the sinners.
Travelling thus he came across a woman. She asked him to pay her. Bhadrasheel said he had nothing to pay with and could go back to earth and get her something.
At this moment Dhanurdwaj said You have some debt pending. You said you had repaid everything. Bhadrasheel said He had really repaid everything.
At this Dhanurdwaj asked the woman to leave him. The woman said she would if the brahman gave her the skin from his chest.
Scared Bhadrasheel closed his eyes and started calling out to Krishna.
Unable to stay in his place, Vishnu appeared before Bhadrasheel. Vishnu said I am pleased, ask for something.
Bhadrasheel said I do not need anything but if you want to give me something, then let me take your name for ages to come. He also said he wanted to be relieved from the woman.
Vishnu asked Bhadrasheel not to worry. He himself took the form of Bhadrasheel and went with Dhanurdwaj to the woman. He then cut off his flesh and gave it to the woman. Taking this own form, he left.
The woman was amazed. Why did Vishnu do this? The woman then realized that the Brahmin had prayed to Vishnu in the form of a Pipal tree.
A divine chariot then came and took Bhadrasheel away.
After three days Bhadrasheel woke up in his hut. He came out and saw Vishnu's skin on the Pipal tree.
He then went worshiped the tree with full devotion.

Greatness of the name of Hari

Yudhistira asked Bhishma - Please tell me about those who have sinned and who they get relief.
Bhishma said - Yama's abode is huge. It measures sixteen hundred miles. The one gives cows to a brahmin gets the protection of Vishnu. They go to Yama's abode and treated like Gods. Chitragupta, who is Yama's assistant, weighs the sins with the virtues. One who worships Narayana and prays to Him regularly is worshiped like Vishnu, when he dies. Vishnu comes there and takes the person with him. One who gives gifts of food and clothing does not go unrewarded. They are worshiped by the Gods.
Yama is the giver of justice. The person gets exactly what he deserves. To get relief one needs to take the name of Govinda. One day Narada went to Brahma. Brahma wanted to know why Narada had come there. Narada said I want to know about the greatness of the name of Hari.
Brahma said He is the soul of the Universe. I do not know the significance. Go to Shiva, He should be able to help.
Narada went to Shiva. Shiva said I am unable to explain this. Go to the one who is only One.
Narada then went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu. He prayed to Vishnu.
Pleased Vishnu said I am difficult to grasp but I am captivated by my devotees and bow down to them. Do tell me why you are here.
Narada said he wanted to know the reason behind the greatness of the name. Vishnu smiled and said - Go to Sanjivanipura, the abode of Yama. There you will see a form of mine. Ask Him. He will answer you.
Narada saw the four handed divine form, dark in color, wearing yellow garments. The form asked Narada to go to a certain place where he would get the answer. Narada went there. It was a wet place infested with crocodiles. People were being tormented there. Scared Narada began taking the names of Krishna. The moment Narada had uttered the names, the sins of the sinners vanished. The place changed to a beautiful place.
Narada realized the greatness of the name of Hari.

Bhishma then said - I have not told you about the North gate of Yama. The ones who take the name of Hari go there and are worshiped by Yama himself. 

Bhishma talks to Yudhistira

Yudhistira said - I am a great sinner. To get a kingdom, I had to strike a great person like you, down. I have had to kill my relatives to get a kingdom. Drona was our Guru and we had to kill him too. I have acted against the scriptures. I have killed my brother Karna. I have sinned and I want to leave everything and go away somewhere.
Bhima said - Listen to me carefully off what I tell you. There is one God who is responsible for Death and Life. He sees all actions. A thief could feel safe that no one is seeing him, but he is being spotted in heaven. The body is perishable. You are clinging to it as if it something precious. Narayana is the only truth.
Yudhistira said with folded hands - What is death? Who devised this?
Bhishma said this is wonderful. When Brahma created the world, there was no death. The earth was tormented. She appealed to Brahma. Brahma hearing her pleas created a being called Swayambhu. Swayambhu had a son called  Ruchi. Ruchi had seven sons who ruled over seven lands. One son called Bharata asked for the land called Jambudweep. Bharata was given that and Jambudweep went to the eldest son. Bharata got Plakshadweep. Angry, Bharata decided to renounce all and retire into the forests.
Bharata performed austere penances. Brahma appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. Bharata kept quiet. This angered Brahma and an asura was born from that. The asura started tormenting the people of Jambudweep. The earth went to Brahma and asked to relieved from the torture. Brahma then went to Ganga. On the way, he started sweating and from that was born a ferocious being. This was Death. Death said I will end all on this earth. To that, Brahma said - Go to Jambudweep. Decide first before taking someone with you. Live there as illness and thus kill people.

Hearing this, Yama built a wonderful castle. The sages who die go the northern gate of Yama's castle. The western and eastern parts of the castle are very beautiful with streams and fruit trees. The warriors who fall in battle go the western part. The women who die with their husbands go to the eastern part. The southern part is horrible. The sinners go there. There are ferocious animals which devour the dead. The workers of Yama torture the dead sinners. Killers of cows and women go there. Liars and cheats go there. They are fried in hot oil.