Story

Ajamila and the Name Narayana

verses
152
book
1
chapters
3

What the texts say

The Bhagavata Purana tells of Ajamila and the Name Narayana: Ajamila, a learned brahmana of Kanyakubja, falls under a prostitute's influence. Bhagavatam 6.1.21, 6.1.56 His youngest son is a baby named Narayana, a name of Vishnu, and Ajamila keeps calling the child. Bhagavatam 6.1.24, 6.1.26 At death he sees three fearsome figures with ropes, come to take him to the abode of Yama, and he calls loudly to his son. Bhagavatam 6.1.28 The Vishnudutas, servants of Vishnu, free him from their nooses. Bhagavatam 6.2.22, 6.1.31 They teach that the Lord's name, chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns away sins like fire. Bhagavatam 6.2.18, 6.2.14 Freed, Ajamila bows to them, condemns his sinful life, and becomes a devotee. Bhagavatam 6.2.22, 6.2.27, 6.2.24

Where the story is told

Bhagavatam 6.1-6.3

Begins at 6.1.21
  1. 6.1
  2. 6.2
  3. 6.3

Who is in it

Where to read

Every verse that tells the story, book by book.

  1. Bhagavatam

    152 verses · 3 chapters

    All 152 verses in the Bhagavatam
    • 6.1.21

      In the city known as Kānyakubja there was a brāhmaṇa named Ajāmila who married a prostitute maidservant and lost all his brahminical qualities because of the association of that low-class woman.

    • 6.1.22

      This fallen brāhmaṇa, Ajāmila, gave trouble to others by arresting them, by cheating them in gambling or by directly plundering them. This was the way he earned his livelihood and maintained his wife and children.

    • 6.1.23

      My dear King, while he thus spent his time in abominable, sinful activities to maintain his family of many sons, eighty-eight years of his life passed by.