12/08/2026
The Messengers of Yama and a Real-Life Experience
In the Mahabharata, a profound statement is made. It is said that two of Yama's kinkaras (servants/messengers of death) come to take every person away.
One will undoubtedly have their darshan (visitation). While getting a darshan of Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva might be a question mark, everyone will definitely get to see these messengers when their time comes. However, one shouldn't wish to see them regularly.
The point is, they will come. I will share a small experience regarding this that happened in my life of giving discourses. I have had three such experiences, but I will narrate just one right now.
The Story of Manjula When I was giving a discourse on the Bhagavatam in Dwarka, right after I spoke about this topic, a couple approached me and said they wanted to speak with me. I agreed. The woman said, "My name is Manjula. A long time ago, I fell severely ill and was hospitalized. The doctors said there was no hope. Even though I was unconscious, I could sense my family grieving.
"At that moment, two terrifying-looking individuals appeared. They came and looked at me, and the second one said, 'This is not the Manjula we are looking for; it's the other woman living in the next street.' With that, both of them left."
Immediately after that, she started to recover. The doctors were astonished, and she eventually returned home. After coming home, when they inquired around, they found out that at the exact time she started recovering in the hospital, another woman named Manjula living in the adjacent street had passed away.
The Connection to the Mahabharata This is a true incident. I have witnessed three such events in my life. Understand this: a single person cannot experience everything themselves in one lifetime; we learn from others too.
This is an astonishing incident. Now, Manjula's story is obviously not in the Mahabharata, but what does the epic say? It states that sometimes the kinkaras (messengers) might make a mistake, but Lord Yama never does.
