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Shloka 20

Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name

श्रीशुक उवाच त एवं सुविनिर्णीय धर्मं भागवतं नृप । तं याम्यपाशान्निर्मुच्य विप्रं मृत्योरमूमुचन् ॥ २० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ta evaṁ suvinirṇīya dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ nṛpa taṁ yāmya-pāśān nirmucya vipraṁ mṛtyor amūmucan

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī poursuivit : Ô roi, ayant ainsi parfaitement établi, par la raison, les principes du dharma bhāgavata (service dévotionnel), les Viṣṇudūtas délivrèrent le brāhmane Ajāmila des liens des Yamadūtas et le sauvèrent d’une mort imminente.

śrī-śukaḥŚrī Śuka
śrī-śukaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (śrīmān śukaḥ)
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (वच् धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
tethey
te:
Karta (कर्ता/subject)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun
evamthus
evam:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootevam (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)
su-vinirṇīyahaving clearly ascertained
su-vinirṇīya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsu + vi + nir + √nī (नी धातु)
FormAbsolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); 'having well ascertained/decided'
dharmamthe dharma
dharmam:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
bhāgavatampertaining to Bhagavān (devotional)
bhāgavatam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying dharmam
nṛpaO king
nṛpa:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
yāmya-pāśānthe Yama-bonds/nooses
yāmya-pāśān:
Apādāna (अपादान; from bonds)
TypeNoun
Rootyāmya + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (yamasya sambandhinaḥ pāśāḥ)
nirmucyahaving freed (him)
nirmucya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootnir + √muc (मुच् धातु)
FormAbsolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); 'having released'
vipramthe brāhmaṇa
vipram:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to tam
mṛtyoḥfrom death
mṛtyoḥ:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन) (Vedic/epic form समानरूपेण षष्ठी-सम्भावना); sense: 'from death'
amūmucanthey released/saved
amūmucan:
Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
TypeVerb
Roota + √muc (मुच् धातु)
FormImperfect/laṅ (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī
P
Parīkṣit Mahārāja
Y
Yama
A
Ajāmila
V
Viṣṇudūtas

FAQs

This verse states that when bhāgavata-dharma is conclusively understood and upheld, the Lord’s messengers can free a soul from Yama’s bondage—showing bhakti’s supremacy over ordinary karmic judgment.

In the Ajāmila narrative, the Viṣṇudūtas establish the higher law of devotion; therefore Ajāmila, though sinful, is released from the Yamadūtas’ nooses and spared death’s claim.

Take shelter of bhāgavata-dharma—sincere devotion and remembrance of the Lord—so that one’s life moves from fear and guilt toward purification, reform, and spiritual freedom.