Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 30
Dhruva’s War with the Yakṣas and the Protection of the Holy Name
मुनय ऊचु: औत्तानपाद भगवांस्तव शार्ङ्गधन्वा देव: क्षिणोत्ववनतार्तिहरो विपक्षान् । यन्नामधेयमभिधाय निशम्य चाद्धा लोकोऽञ्जसा तरति दुस्तरमङ्ग मृत्युम् ॥ ३० ॥
munaya ūcuḥ auttānapāda bhagavāṁs tava śārṅgadhanvā devaḥ kṣiṇotv avanatārti-haro vipakṣān yan-nāmadheyam abhidhāya niśamya cāddhā loko ’ñjasā tarati dustaram aṅga mṛtyum
All the sages said: Dear Dhruva, O son of King Uttānapāda, may the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Śārṅgadhanvā, who relieves the distresses of His devotees, kill all your threatening enemies. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, many men can be fully protected from fierce death without difficulty. Thus a devotee is saved.
The great ṛṣis approached Dhruva Mahārāja at a time when his mind was very perplexed due to the magical feats exhibited by the Yakṣas. A devotee is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His inspiration only, the sages came to encourage Dhruva Mahārāja and assure him that there was no danger because he was a soul fully surrendered to the Supreme Lord. By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His holy name — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare — simply by chanting this mahā-mantra he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can surpass the ocean of death, so Dhruva Mahārāja was certainly able to surpass the illusory magical feats of the Yakṣas, which for the time being disturbed his mind.
FAQs
This verse says that simply by uttering and hearing the Lord’s name, one can swiftly cross over the otherwise insurmountable barrier of death.
They invoke the Lord—protector of the surrendered—to remove the king’s distress and destroy opposing forces, affirming that divine shelter is gained through remembrance of His name.
Make regular chanting and attentive hearing of God’s names a daily practice, especially during fear, anxiety, or conflict—cultivating surrender and inner steadiness.