FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.25

स बद्धहृदयस्तस्मिन्नर्भके कलभाषिणि । निरीक्षमाणस्तल्लीलां मुमुदे जरठो भृशम् ॥ २५ ॥
sa baddha-hṛdayas tasminn
[sa baddha-hridayas tasminn]
arbhake kala-bhāṣiṇi
[arbhake kala-bhaashini]
nirīkṣamāṇas tal-līlāṁ
[nireekshamaanas tal-leelaam]
mumude jaraṭho bhṛśam
[mumude jaratho bhrisham]
saḥ — he baddha-hṛdayaḥ — being very attached tasmin — to that arbhake — small child kala-bhāṣiṇi — who could not talk clearly but talked in broken language nirīkṣamāṇaḥ — seeing tat — his līlām — pastimes (such as walking and talking to his father) mumude — enjoyed jaraṭhaḥ — the old man bhṛśam — very much.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa baddha-hṛdayas tasminn
saḥ
he
baddha-hṛdayaḥ
being very attached
tasmin
to that
arbhake kala-bhāṣiṇi
arbhake
small child
kala-bhāṣiṇi
who could not talk clearly but talked in broken language
nirīkṣamāṇaḥ
seeing
nirīkṣamāṇas tal-līlāṁ
tat
his
līlām
pastimes (such as walking and talking to his father)
mumude jaraṭho bhṛśam
mumude
enjoyed
jaraṭhaḥ
the old man
bhṛśam
very much.
Because of the child’s broken language and awkward movements, old Ajāmila was very much attached to him. He always took care of the child and enjoyed the child’s activities.

Here it is clearly mentioned that the child Nārāyaṇa was so young that he could not even speak or walk properly. Since the old man was very attached to the child, he enjoyed the child’s activities, and because the child’s name was Nārāyaṇa, the old man always chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa. Although he was referring to the small child and not to the original Nārāyaṇa, the name of Nārāyaṇa is so powerful that even by chanting his son’s name he was becoming purified ( harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam ). Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has therefore declared that if one’s mind is somehow or other attracted by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ( tasmāt kenāpy upāyena manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet ), one is on the path of liberation. It is customary in Hindu society for parents to give their children names like Kṛṣṇadāsa, Govinda dāsa, Nārāyaṇa dāsa and Vṛndāvana dāsa. Thus they chant the names Kṛṣṇa, Govinda, Nārāyaṇa and Vṛndāvana and get the chance to be purified.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The old man, attached to the child who could not speak clearly, took great joy in seeing the child’s actions. Jarathaḥ means old man.
Ajāmila adored his baby's broken speech and clumsy steps, and so constantly called out 'Nārāyaṇa.' Even unintentional chanting purifies, which is why parents traditionally named children after the Lord — to let the household be saved by speech.
Reflection Questions
  • What names and words fill my home daily — and what consciousness are they slowly cultivating?
  • Could I rearrange even one habit so the Lord's names are spoken naturally throughout my day?
📝 My note

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