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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers
6.3.226.3.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.23

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Yamarājasince 6.3.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitYamarāja → the Yamadūtas

नामोच्चारणमाहात्म्यं हरे: पश्यत पुत्रका: ।

अजामिलोऽपि येनैव मृत्युपाशादमुच्यत ॥ २३ ॥

nāmoccāraṇa-māhātmyaṁ

hareḥ paśyata putrakāḥ

ajāmilo ’pi yenaiva

mṛtyu-pāśād amucyata

Translation

My dear servants, who are as good as my sons, just see how glorious is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The greatly sinful Ajāmila chanted only to call his son, not knowing that he was chanting the Lord’s holy name. Nevertheless, by chanting the holy name of the Lord, he remembered Nārāyaṇa, and thus he was immediately saved from the ropes of death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Glory of the Holy Name

  1. 1

    Ajāmila called his son without knowing that he was chanting the Lord’s holy name. Nevertheless, by chanting he remembered Nārāyaṇa and was saved from the ropes of death.

  2. 2

    Ajāmila’s history is sufficient proof of the power of the Lord’s holy name. It also shows the exalted position of a person who chants incessantly.

  3. 3

    In the Age of Kali, performing all the ritualistic ceremonies for liberation is extremely difficult. Therefore all the śāstras and ācāryas recommend chanting the holy name.

Key points from the purport
  • There is no need to conduct research into the significance of the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
  • The history of Ajāmila is sufficient proof of the power of the Lord’s holy name and the exalted position of a person who chants the holy name incessantly.
  • Therefore all the śāstras and all the ācāryas have recommended that in this age one chant 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 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Yamarāja said, “Although Ajāmila was calling for his son, he chanted the holy name of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa, and simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name, he immediately achieved the association of Lord Viṣṇu’s order carriers, who saved him from your attempt to arrest him. This is quite all right.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nāmaof the holy name
  2. uccāraṇaof the pronouncing
  3. māhātmyamthe exalted position
  4. hareḥof the Supreme Lord
  5. paśyatajust see
  6. putrakāḥO my dear servants, who are like my sons
  7. ajāmilaḥ apieven Ajāmila (who was considered greatly sinful)
  8. yenaby the chanting of which
3

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 6.3

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “death”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “sinful”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Ajāmila’s deliverance strengthen my confidence in chanting the Lord’s holy name?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today, remembering the power of the Lord’s holy name shown in Ajāmila’s deliverance.

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.

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

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 todayRecognize the Glory of the Holy NameThis 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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