Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 24
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 dialogue between the Yamadūtas and the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila understood both the Vedic religious duties governed by the three guṇas and the pure Bhāgavata-dharma that transcends them, revealing the soul’s relationship with the Supreme Lord. Hearing the glory of Śrī Hari’s name, fame, qualities, and līlās, he quickly became a purified devotee, and remembering his former sins, he felt profound remorse.
In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45) Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:
FAQs
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.