evam - in this way; saḥ - he (Ajāmila); viplāvita-sarva-dharmāḥ - who gave up all religious principles; dāsyāḥ patiḥ - the husband of a prostitute; patitaḥ - fallen; garhya-karmaṇā - by being engaged in abominable activities; nipātyamānaḥ - falling; niraye - in hellish life; hata-vrataḥ - who broke all his vows; sadyaḥ - immediately; vimuktaḥ - liberated; bhagavat-nāma - the holy name of the Lord; gṛhṇan - chanting.

Ajāmila was a brāhmaṇa who because of bad association had given up all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming most fallen, he stole, drank and performed other abominable acts. He even kept a prostitute. Thus he was destined to be carried away to hell by the order carriers of Yamarāja, but he was immediately rescued simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name Nārāyaṇa.