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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 nói tiếp: Tâu Đại vương, sau khi đã biện luận và xác quyết trọn vẹn các nguyên lý của bhakti-dharma, các Viṣṇudūta đã giải thoát bà-la-môn Ajāmila khỏi thòng lọng của Yamadūta và cứu ông khỏi cái chết cận kề.

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.