# Ajāmila > [!summary] > *Ajamila was a brahmana who fell from his high position through bad association and spent 88 years in sinful life. Yet at the moment of death, when he fearfully called out for his son named Narayana, the servants of Lord Visnu (Visnudutas) arrived to rescue him from the servants of Yamaraja (Yamadutas). This famous narrative from Srimad-Bhagavatam's Sixth Canto demonstrates the supreme power of the holy name — that even unintentional chanting (namabhasa) can neutralize the reactions of millions of lifetimes of sin. After this deliverance, Ajamila became a pure devotee and ultimately returned to the spiritual world.* ![[images/all-catalogs/0040_SB-6-1-1.jpg]] ## The Death Scene When Ajamila saw three fearsome messengers of Yamaraja coming to drag him away, he desperately called out for his youngest son who was playing nearby. By this helpless chanting of "Narayana," he inadvertently invoked the protection of the Supreme Lord. ![[sb/6/1/28-29]] ## The Power of Namabhasa The Visnudutas explained that Ajamila had already atoned for all sinful reactions — not only from this life, but from millions of lives — simply by chanting the holy name in a helpless condition. Even though he intended to call his son, he chanted without offense. ![[sb/6/2/7]] ## Chanting in Any Circumstance The scriptures confirm that chanting the Lord's name liberates one from unlimited sins, regardless of how the name is uttered — whether indirectly, jokingly, for entertainment, or even neglectfully. ![[sb/6/2/14#translation]] ## Transformation into Pure Devotee By hearing the discourse between the Visnudutas and Yamadutas, Ajamila understood both material religious principles and the transcendental principles of devotional service. He heard the glorification of the Lord's name, fame, and pastimes, and immediately became a pure devotee, deeply regretting his sinful past. ![[sb/6/2/24-25]] ## Lord Caitanya's Teaching Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu cited Ajamila's deliverance as evidence of the holy name's supreme potency. Though he called his son accidentally, the Visnudutas came to release him from death's bonds. ![[cc/antya/3/57#translation]] ## From the Scriptures **Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 6** — The complete Ajamila narrative: - [[sb/6/1|SB 6.1: The History of the Life of Ajamila]] — His fall and death - [[sb/6/2|SB 6.2: Ajamila Delivered by the Visnudutas]] — The rescue and transformation - [[sb/6/3|SB 6.3: Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers]] — Cosmic implications **Key Verses:** - [[sb/6/1/28-29|SB 6.1.28-29]] — The fearful death scene - [[sb/6/2/7|SB 6.2.7]] — Atoned for millions of lives - [[sb/6/2/14|SB 6.2.14]] — Chanting in any circumstance liberates - [[sb/6/2/24-25|SB 6.2.24-25]] — Became a pure devotee - [[sb/6/2/43-44|SB 6.2.43-44]] — Returns to Godhead **Sri Caitanya-caritamrta:** - [[cc/antya/3/57|Antya 3.57]] — Ajamila's example cited - [[cc/antya/3/64|Antya 3.64]] — Chanting at death brings liberation ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/chanting-the-holy-names|Chanting the holy names]] — The yuga-dharma - [[wiki/articles/the-power-of-the-holy-name|The power of the holy name]] — Nama-mahima - [[wiki/articles/the-process-of-death-and-transmigration|The process of death and transmigration]] — What happens at death - [[wiki/articles/the-science-of-karma|The science of karma]] — Action and reaction - [[wiki/articles/the-twelve-mahajanas|The twelve Mahajanas]] — Including Yamaraja ## From the Index - [[index/entries/ajamila|Ajāmila]] — Comprehensive index entry - [[index/entries/chanting-holy-name-of-lord|Holy name]] — The Lord's sacred names - [[index/entries/yamaraja|Yamaraja]] — The lord of death