Shloka 18
Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name
अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानादुत्तमश्लोकनाम यत् । सङ्कीर्तितमघं पुंसो दहेदेधो यथानल: ॥ १८ ॥
ajñānād athavā jñānād uttamaśloka-nāma yat saṅkīrtitam aghaṁ puṁso dahed edho yathānalaḥ
火が乾いた草を灰にするように、至上主ウッタマシュローカの聖名は、意識してであれ無意識であれ唱えられるなら、必ずや人の罪業の反応をことごとく焼き尽くす。
Fire will act, regardless of whether handled by an innocent child or by someone well aware of its power. For example, if a field of straw or dry grass is set afire, either by an elderly man who knows the power of fire or by a child who does not, the grass will be burned to ashes. Similarly, one may or may not know the power of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but if one chants the holy name he will become free from all sinful reactions.
FAQs
This verse states that even if the Lord’s name is chanted in ignorance, it still destroys sinful reactions—like fire burning fuel.
They argue that Ajāmila’s utterance of “Nārāyaṇa” invoked the Lord’s name, whose inherent potency nullifies sin and establishes the supremacy of bhakti over mere punishment or ritual atonement.
Make regular nāma-japa or kīrtana a daily practice; even imperfect chanting purifies the heart over time and helps break destructive habits rooted in past wrongdoing.