Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 1
Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच एवं ते भगवद्दूता यमदूताभिभाषितम् । उपधार्याथ तान् राजन् प्र्रत्याहुर्नयकोविदा: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca evaṁ te bhagavad-dūtā yamadūtābhibhāṣitam upadhāryātha tān rājan pratyāhur naya-kovidāḥ
Sinabi ni Śukadeva Gosvāmī: Mahal na Hari, nang marinig ng mga sugo ni Bhagavān Viṣṇu—na bihasa sa katuwiran at pangangatwiran—ang sinabi ng mga Yamadūta, pinag-isipan nila ito at sumagot nang ganito.
FAQs
This verse introduces the Viṣṇudūtas’ reasoned reply after hearing the Yamadūtas, setting up the Bhagavatam’s teaching that divine devotion and the Lord’s protection transcend ordinary punitive justice.
Śukadeva is narrating the Ajāmila episode to Parīkṣit; the address ‘O King’ marks that the coming reply is a crucial dharmic conclusion meant for a ruler and for all listeners.
Hear opposing viewpoints carefully and respond with principled reasoning—grounded in dharma and devotion—rather than reacting impulsively.