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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
6.1.28-296.1.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

निशम्य म्रियमाणस्य मुखतो हरिकीर्तनम् ।

भर्तुर्नाम महाराज पार्षदा: सहसापतन् ॥ ३० ॥

niśamya mriyamāṇasya

mukhato hari-kīrtanam

bhartur nāma mahārāja

pārṣadāḥ sahasāpatan

Translation

My dear King, the order carriers of Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇudūtas, immediately arrived when they heard the holy name of their master from the mouth of the dying Ajāmila, who had certainly chanted without offense because he had chanted in complete anxiety.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Name Brings Protection

  1. 1

    The Viṣṇudūtas came because they heard Ajāmila chant their master’s name. They did not consider why he was chanting.

  2. 2

    Hari-kīrtana means glorifying the Lord’s holy name, form, pastimes and qualities. Although Ajāmila simply chanted the name, that chanting was sufficient to cleanse him of all sinful activities.

  3. 3

    Ajāmila had the past good fortune of rendering devotional service to Nārāyaṇa. Although attached to his son, he apparently chanted in full devotional service and without offenses.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks, hari-kīrtanaṁ niśamyāpatan, katham-bhūtasya bhartur nāma bruvataḥ: the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu came because Ajāmila had chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa.
  • While chanting the name of Nārāyaṇa, Ajāmila was actually thinking of his son, but simply because they heard Ajāmila chanting the Lord’s name, the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇudūtas, immediately came for Ajāmila’s protection.
  • Ajāmila, however, did not glorify the form, qualities or paraphernalia of the Lord; he simply chanted the holy name.

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:

As soon as he chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa, the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu immediately appeared on the scene. A discussion ensued between the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu and those of Yamarāja, and by hearing that discussion Ajāmila was liberated.
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. niśamyahearing
  2. mriyamāṇasyaof the dying man
  3. mukhataḥfrom the mouth
  4. hari-kīrtanamchanting of the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. bhartuḥ nāmathe holy name of their master
  6. mahā-rājaO King
  7. pārṣadāḥthe order carriers of Viṣṇu
  8. sahasāimmediately
  9. āpatanarrived
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “offense”, “offenses”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “dying”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this account deepen my appreciation for chanting the Lord’s name?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to chant Nārāyaṇa’s name with attention.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Live this todayThe Lord’s Name Brings ProtectionThis 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.

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