The Yamadutas, who are the assistants of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, had come to drag Ajamila away. Ajamila appealed to his youngest son, Narayana: Narayana, please come here! Im dying! Krsna is so kind that as soon as He heard Ajamila chant Narayana! at the time of his death, He immediately dispatched His assistants, the Visnudutas, to give Ajamila shelter.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks that the Visnudutas came because they heard Ajamila chant the holy name of their master, Narayana, without considering why he was chanting. While chanting the name of Narayana, Ajamila was actually thinking of his son, but simply because they heard Ajamila chant the Lords name, the Visnudutas immediately came for Ajamilas protection. Chanting of the Lords holy name is actually meant for His glorification. Ajamila, however, did not glorify the Lord: he simply chanted the holy name of Narayana because of his excessive attachment to his son. Nevertheless, because of his past good fortune in having rendered devotional service to Narayana in his youth, he apparently chanted the holy name in full devotional service and without offense. Thus that chanting was sufficient to cleanse him of all sinful reactions and assure him the protection of the Visnudutas.

The name Narayana has the full potency of the Supreme Personality of GodheadNarayana, or Krsna. That is the secret of nama-sankirtana, chanting the names of God. By chanting the holy name of Krsna, we make immediate contact with Krsna Himself. The reason for this is that the Lords name is not material: it is spiritual and absolute. Thus there is no difference between Krsna and His name.