Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 14
Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name
साङ्केत्यं पारिहास्यं वा स्तोभं हेलनमेव वा । वैकुण्ठनामग्रहणमशेषाघहरं विदु: ॥ १४ ॥
sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ vā stobhaṁ helanam eva vā vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇam aśeṣāgha-haraṁ viduḥ
One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures.
FAQs
This verse states that even an indirect, joking, casual, or even disrespectful utterance of the Lord’s name has the power to destroy all sins, because the divine name itself is supremely purifying.
They spoke this to establish that Ajāmila’s calling out “Nārāyaṇa” (even if motivated by attachment to his son) invoked the Lord’s name, which overrides ordinary karmic punishment and grants spiritual protection.
Make daily chanting of God’s names a habit (japa or kīrtana); even imperfect practice gradually purifies the heart and redirects life toward devotion and freedom from sinful tendencies.