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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila
6.1.276.1.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.1.28-29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vedavyāsasince 6.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स पाशहस्तांस्त्रीन्दृष्ट्वा पुरुषानतिदारुणान् ।

वक्रतुण्डानूर्ध्वरोम्ण आत्मानं नेतुमागतान् ॥ २८ ॥

दूरे क्रीडनकासक्तं पुत्रं नारायणाह्वयम् ।

प्लावितेन स्वरेणोच्चैराजुहावाकुलेन्द्रिय: ॥ २९ ॥

sa pāśa-hastāṁs trīn dṛṣṭvā

puruṣān ati-dāruṇān

vakra-tuṇḍān ūrdhva-romṇa

ātmānaṁ netum āgatān

dūre krīḍanakāsaktaṁ

putraṁ nārāyaṇāhvayam

plāvitena svareṇoccair

ājuhāvākulendriyaḥ

Translation

Ajāmila then saw three awkward persons with deformed bodily features, fierce, twisted faces, and hair standing erect on their bodies. With ropes in their hands, they had come to take him away to the abode of Yamarāja. When he saw them he was extremely bewildered, and because of attachment to his child, who was playing a short distance away, Ajāmila began to call him loudly by his name. Thus with tears in his eyes he somehow or other chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Holy Name Amid Fear

  1. 1

    Sinful activities are performed through the body, mind and words. The purport connects these three with the three messengers of Yamarāja who came for Ajāmila.

  2. 2

    Seeing their frightening features and ropes, Ajāmila called loudly for his son with tears in his eyes. He meant to call his child, not the Lord.

  3. 3

    Nevertheless, he chanted the four syllables of the holy name Nārāyaṇa. The Lord’s messengers, the Viṣṇudūtas, therefore immediately arrived.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore three order carriers from Yamarāja came to take Ajāmila to Yamarāja’s abode.
  • Because Ajāmila was extremely afraid of the ropes of Yamarāja, he chanted the Lord’s name with tearful eyes.
  • Actually, however, he never meant to chant the holy name of Nārāyaṇa; he meant to call his son.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

At the time of Ajāmila’s death, when the order carriers of Yamarāja came to take him, he loudly called the name Nārāyaṇa in fear because he was attached to his youngest son. Thus he remembered the original Nārāyaṇa, Lord Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat person (Ajāmila)
  2. pāśa-hastānhaving ropes in their hands
  3. trīnthree
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. puruṣānpersons
  6. ati-dāruṇānvery fearful in their features
  7. vakra-tuṇḍānwith twisted faces
  8. ūrdhva-romṇaḥwith hair standing on the body
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “chanted”, “holy name”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Ajāmila’s cry teach me about the power of the Lord’s holy name?

Practice

Pause today and clearly chant the holy name of Nārāyaṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

3 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayThe Holy Name Amid FearThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 6.1.28-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.