Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 45

Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

एवं स विप्लावितसर्वधर्मा दास्या: पति: पतितो गर्ह्यकर्मणा । निपात्यमानो निरये हतव्रत: सद्यो विमुक्तो भगवन्नाम गृह्णन् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ sa viplāvita-sarva-dharmā dāsyāḥ patiḥ patito garhya-karmaṇā nipātyamāno niraye hata-vrataḥ sadyo vimukto bhagavan-nāma gṛhṇan

Translation

By bad association, the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila abandoned all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming the husband of a prostitute, he fell into theft, drinking, and other abominable acts; though the messengers of Yamarāja were dragging him to hell, he was instantly delivered simply by taking hold of the holy name “Nārāyaṇa”.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb ‘thus’)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); सर्वनाम

• viplāvita-sarva-dharmā: whose all duties were swept away
• viplāvita-sarva-dharmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viplāvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘all dharmas washed away/overturned’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विशेषण of saḥ

• dāsyāḥ: of the maidservant
• dāsyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Singular)

• patiḥ: husband
• patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); apposition to saḥ

• patitaḥ: fallen
• patitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) from √पत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• garhya-karmaṇā: by a reprehensible act
• garhya-karmaṇā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garhya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘blameworthy deed’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• nipātyamānaḥ: being cast down
• nipātyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु) + ni- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• niraye: in hell
• niraye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• hata-vrataḥ: one whose vows were ruined
• hata-vrataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose vows are destroyed’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• vimuktaḥ: freed
• vimuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त from vi-√muc; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• bhagavat-nāma: the Lord’s name
• bhagavat-nāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘name of the Lord’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• gṛhṇan: uttering/taking (reciting)
• gṛhṇan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Ajāmila
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of chanting the holy name?

This verse states that even a fallen person being dragged to hell can be immediately freed by taking the name of Bhagavān—showing the extraordinary purifying power of the Lord’s name.

Who is speaking this verse about Ajāmila, and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while narrating Ajāmila’s history and the saving potency of uttering the Lord’s name.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Despite past mistakes, one can begin sincere bhakti by regularly chanting the Lord’s names; the practice rebuilds dharma and redirects life toward purification and liberation.