Gambler – How To Cheat Yamaraja

Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: without serving a pure devotee, one cannot advance in spiritual life. Prahlāda Mahārāja also has said:

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-‘bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
(SB 7.5.32)
One should take shelter of a pure devotee, who has nothing to do with this material world but is simply engaged in devotional service. By serving him only, one can transcend the qualitative material condition. In this verse it is recommended (yogeśvara-upāsanayā) that one serve the lotus feet of the topmost yogī, or the devotee. To serve the topmost devotee means to hear from him about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To hear the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the mouth of a pure devotee is to acquire a pious life. In Bhagavad-gītā (7.28) it is also said that without being pious one cannot engage in devotional service.

Brihaspati said to Indra: Gamblers are always like this, abounding in every kind of trickery. For instance, in a previous kalpa there was in a certain city a gambler, of the name of Kuttanikapata, accomplished in dishonest play. When he went to the other world, Yama said to him: Gambler, you will have to live a kalpa in hell on account of your crimes, but, owing to your charity, you are to be Indra for one day, for once on a time you gave a gold coin to a knower of the Supreme Soul. So say whether you will take out first your period in hell or your period as Indra.
When the gambler heard that, he said: I will take out first my period as Indra.
Then Yama sent the gambler to heaven, and the gods deposed Indra for a day, and crowned him sovereign in his stead. He, having obtained sovereign sway, summoned to heaven the gamblers, his friends, and his female favorites, and in virtue of his regal authority gave this order to the gods: Carry us all in a moment to all the holy bathing places, those in heaven, and those on earth, and those in the seven dvipas; and enter this very day into all the kings on the earth and bestow without ceasing great gifts for our benefit.’
“When he gave this order to the gods, they did everything as he had desired, and by means of those holy observances his sins were washed away, and he obtained the rank of Indra permanently. And by his favour his friends and his female favorites, that he had summoned to heaven, had their sins destroyed, and obtained immortality. The next day Chitragupta informed Yama that the gambler had, by his discretion, obtained the rank of Indra permanently. Then Yama, hearing of his meritorious actions, was astonished, and this gambler has cheated us.”