Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name
अजामिलोऽप्यथाकर्ण्य दूतानां यमकृष्णयो: । धर्मं भागवतं शुद्धं त्रैवेद्यं च गुणाश्रयम् ॥ २४ ॥ भक्तिमान् भगवत्याशु माहात्म्यश्रवणाद्धरे: । अनुतापो महानासीत्स्मरतोऽशुभमात्मन: ॥ २५ ॥
ajāmilo ’py athākarṇya dūtānāṁ yama-kṛṣṇayoḥ dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ śuddhaṁ trai-vedyaṁ ca guṇāśrayam
After hearing the discourses between the Yamadūtas and the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila could understand the religious principles that act under the three modes of material nature. These principles are mentioned in the three Vedas. He could also understand the transcendental religious principles, which are above the modes of material nature and which concern the relationship between the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Furthermore, Ajāmila heard glorification of the name, fame, qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He thus became a perfectly pure devotee. He could then remember his past sinful activities, which he greatly regretted having performed.
In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45) Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:
This verse states that bhāgavata-dharma is śuddha (spotless) and is the traivedya— the essence and shelter of the three Vedas—meaning the Vedas culminate in pure devotion to Bhagavān.
Hearing their debate revealed the supremacy of devotional service over mere punishment-and-reward karma, awakening Ajāmila to the pure path of bhakti (bhāgavata-dharma).
Seek the essence—devotion to Bhagavān—by hearing authentic scripture, keeping saintly association, and taking shelter of the holy name rather than relying only on external religiosity.