Slokam 4

Ajamila was supposed to be of bad conduct for most of his life, and yet because of the punyam from the early part of life he has the good fortune to have named his son Narayana, and because of attachment, calls out his name. 

The very utterance of the name of NARAYANA is enough for the Paramathma to send His delegates to stop the deputees of Yama from proceeding with the extrication of Ajamila. 

The slokam implies the generosity of the Paramathma as well as His infinite patience.

Let us look at why Ajamila’s life was considered “sinful”.  He was infatuated,  by the temptation of physical pleasure and indulgence.  He spends his entire life in furthering this relationship of infatuation.  So during that period, he does not think even for a moment about the Paramathma.  His consciousness (which is an endowment of the Paramathma), is hijacked completely by his mind.  How can a Jiva Atma that is entrapped by physical pleasure,  have a place for the Paramathma to permeate?  How can Ajamila get out of attachment, and how can he ever seek a release? 

Detachment and release will not be possible. Any entrapment of this nature, whether physical or otherwise that preempts meditation on the Paramathma will be considered sinful for this reason (even if no one is harmed in the process).

An action performed for which the results are not assigned to the Paramathma will not be fruitful. A sinful act is one which we,  the performers, take the full pleasure of the “fruit”.  It can never be assigned to the Paramathma.

The beauty of the slokam is that even in these instances,  the mere utterance of the name of Narayana, even if it is unintentional will bear fruit.   This is an indication of how forgiving, patient and generous the Paramathma is. 

May our self be always in a state of surrender to the supreme, during life and during death.