Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 14

Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

साङ्केत्यं पारिहास्यं वा स्तोभं हेलनमेव वा । वैकुण्ठनामग्रहणमशेषाघहरं विदु: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ vā stobhaṁ helanam eva vā vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇam aśeṣāgha-haraṁ viduḥ

Translation

即使人以暗示、戏谑、歌唱点缀，乃至轻慢之心而称念“毗昆塔”的圣名，此名亦能消除无量罪业之果报；诸经论通达的贤者皆承认此理。

Synonyms

• साङ्केत्यम्: as a hint / by indication
• साङ्केत्यम्: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साङ्केत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (as a manner)

• पारिहास्यम्: in jest
• पारिहास्यम्: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिहास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• स्तोभम्: as a chant/exclamation (filler utterance)
• स्तोभम्: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाव/प्रकारवाचक

• हेलनम्: in contempt / disrespectfully
• हेलनम्: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• एव: indeed / even
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• वैकुण्ठ: of Vaikuṇṭha (Vishnu)
• वैकुण्ठ: सम्बन्ध (Genitive in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• नाम: name
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैकुण्ठस्य नाम)

• ग्रहणम्: taking/uttering
• ग्रहणम्: कर्म (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नः ग्रहणम्)

• अशेष: of all
• अशेष: सम्बन्ध (Genitive in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• अघ: sins
• अघ: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अशेषाघानाम्)

• हरम्: removing/destroying
• हरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अशेषाघहरम् = सर्वपापहरम्) विशेषणम् (ग्रहणस्य)

• विदुः: they know
• विदुः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about chanting the holy name unintentionally?

This verse states that even an indirect, joking, casual, or even disrespectful utterance of the Lord’s name has the power to destroy all sins, because the divine name itself is supremely purifying.

Why did the Viṣṇudūtas say this to the Yamadūtas in the Ajāmila episode?

They spoke this to establish that Ajāmila’s calling out “Nārāyaṇa” (even if motivated by attachment to his son) invoked the Lord’s name, which overrides ordinary karmic punishment and grants spiritual protection.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Make daily chanting of God’s names a habit (japa or kīrtana); even imperfect practice gradually purifies the heart and redirects life toward devotion and freedom from sinful tendencies.