Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.44
यन्नामधेयं म्रियमाण आतुर:
पतन् स्खलन् वा विवशो गृणन् पुमान् ।
विमुक्तकर्मार्गल उत्तमां गतिं
प्राप्नोति यक्ष्यन्ति न तं कलौ जना: ॥ ४४ ॥
yan-nāmadheyaṁ mriyamāṇa āturaḥ
[yan-naamadheyam mriyamaana aaturah]
patan skhalan vā vivaśo gṛṇan pumān
[patan skhalan vaa vivasho grinan pumaan]
vimukta-karmārgala uttamāṁ gatiṁ
[vimukta-karmaargala uttamaam gatim]
prāpnoti yakṣyanti na taṁ kalau janāḥ
[praapnoti yakshyanti na tam kalau janaah]
Word-for-word
yat
—
whose
nāmadheyam
—
name
mriyamāṇaḥ
—
a person who is dying
āturaḥ
—
distressed
patan
—
collapsing
skhalan
—
voice faltering
vā
—
or
vivaśaḥ
—
helplessly
gṛṇan
—
chanting
pumān
—
a person
vimukta
—
freed
karma
—
of fruitive work
argalaḥ
—
from the chains
uttamām
—
the topmost
gatim
—
destination
prāpnoti
—
achieves
yakṣyanti na
—
they do not worship
tam
—
Him, the Personality of Godhead
kalau
—
in the Age of Kali
janāḥ
—
people.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yan-nāmadheyaṁ mriyamāṇa āturaḥ
yat
whose
nāmadheyam
name
mriyamāṇaḥ
a person who is dying
āturaḥ
distressed
patan skhalan vā vivaśo gṛṇan pumān
patan
collapsing
skhalan
voice faltering
vā
or
vivaśaḥ
helplessly
gṛṇan
chanting
pumān
a person
vimukta-karmārgala uttamāṁ gatiṁ
vimukta
freed
karma
of fruitive work
argalaḥ
from the chains
uttamām
the topmost
gatim
destination
prāpnoti yakṣyanti na taṁ kalau janāḥ
prāpnoti
achieves
yakṣyanti na
they do not worship
tam
Him, the Personality of Godhead
kalau
in the Age of Kali
janāḥ
people.
Terrified, about to die, a man collapses on his bed. Although his voice is faltering and he is hardly conscious of what he is saying, if he utters the holy name of the Supreme Lord he can be freed from the reaction of his fruitive work and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the Age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord.
Purport
You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Terrified, about to die, collapsing, with faltering voice, if a person utters the holy name of the Supreme Lord, he can be freed from the chains of karma and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Even at death, even barely conscious, one utterance of the Lord's name can deliver a soul — yet people of Kali still won't worship Him. Astonishing reluctance. The verse begs us: don't be that reluctant. Take the name now, in full health.
Reflection Questions
- What is keeping me from chanting more freely today?
- What would it cost me, really, to chant ten more rounds?
My note
Source: vedabase.io