Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 12
Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)
अथ कथञ्चित्स्खलनक्षुत्पतनजृम्भणदुरवस्थानादिषु विवशानां न: स्मरणाय ज्वरमरणदशायामपि सकलकश्मलनिरसनानि तव गुणकृतनामधेयानि वचनगोचराणि भवन्तु ॥ १२ ॥
atha kathañcit skhalana-kṣut-patana-jṛmbhaṇa-duravasthānādiṣu vivaśānāṁ naḥ smaraṇāya jvara-maraṇa-daśāyām api sakala-kaśmala-nirasanāni tava guṇa-kṛta-nāmadheyāni vacana-gocarāṇi bhavantu.
Seigneur bien-aimé, nous craignons qu’en trébuchant, dans la faim, la chute, le bâillement ou toute détresse, et même à l’heure de la mort sous une fièvre brûlante, nous ne puissions nous souvenir de Ton nom, de Ta forme et de Tes qualités. Aussi Te prions-nous: que Tes saints noms et Tes louanges, qui dissipent toutes les conséquences du péché, demeurent à portée de notre parole; aide-nous à Te rappeler sans cesse.
The real success in life is ante nārāyaṇa-smṛti — remembering the holy name, attributes, activities and form of the Lord at the time of death. Although we may be engaged in the Lord’s devotional service in the temple, material conditions are so tough and inevitable that we may forget the Lord at the time of death due to a diseased condition or mental derangement. Therefore we should pray to the Lord to be able to remember His lotus feet without fail at the time of death, when we are in such a precarious condition. In this regard, one may also see Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.2.9-10 and 14-15).
FAQs
This verse prays that Bhagavan’s names—born from His divine qualities—should naturally arise in one’s speech even in the fevered condition of dying, because they remove all sin and secure remembrance.
He points to ordinary moments of helplessness and distraction to show that devotion should be so rooted that the Lord’s names come to the tongue even when one is not in full control.
Build a steady habit of nama-smarana so that in stress, illness, accidents, or the final moments of life, remembrance becomes spontaneous rather than forced.