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
حتى لو ذُكر اسم فايكونثا تلميحًا، أو مزاحًا، أو للتطريب والغناء، أو حتى بإهمال، فإن أخذ ذلك الاسم يمحو آثار ذنوب لا حدّ لها؛ وهذا ما يقرّه علماء الشاسترا جميعًا.
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.