Yamraj's Court and Chitragupta

Completing the journey, the soul reaches Yampuri, where Yamraj holds his court. Yamraj is also called Dharmaraj, because he holds no grudge against anyone; he judges only by dharma and justice. He is the son of the Sun god and is regarded as the judge of all beings after death.

Beside Yamraj sits Chitragupta. According to the Puran, he keeps a full record of every being's deeds across their whole life, the good and the bad. Nothing is hidden from him. As soon as a soul arrives, Chitragupta reads out its record.

The Puran says the witnesses of our deeds are all around us: the sun, the moon, fire, wind, earth, water, sky, day and night, and our own mind. We may think no one saw, but these witnesses know everything. The Puran also speaks of messengers called Shravan, who hear what every being says and does and report it to Yamraj.

The most beautiful point is that, according to the Puran, Yamraj does not appear the same to everyone. To a virtuous soul he appears calm, gentle and pleased, and welcomes it with respect. To one who tormented others, the same Yamraj appears fearsome. Justice is the same, but our deeds decide how we experience it.

This chapter is not meant to frighten. Its message is that there is justice in the world. One who lived honestly, whose goodness no one noticed, is still counted. This gives a grieving family the assurance that every good thing their loved one did is kept safe.