142
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 6, Ch. 3]
Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhiṣma, Bali, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and me. Other learned scholars, headed by Jaimini, are almost always covered by the illusory energy, and therefore they are more or less attracted by the flowery language of the three  Vedas , namely  Rg ,  Yajur  and  Sāma , which are called  trayī . Instead of becoming pure devotees, people captivated by the flowery words of these three  Vedas  are interested in the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. They cannot understand the glories of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Intelligent persons, however, take to the devotional service of the Lord. When they chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses, they are no longer subject to my rulings. If by chance they commit some sinful act, they are protected by the holy name of the Lord because that is where their interest lies. The four weapons of the Lord, especially the club and the  Sudarśana cakra , always protect the devotees. One who chants, hears or remembers the holy name of the Lord without duplicity, or who prays or offers obeisances to the Lord, becomes perfect, whereas even a learned person may be called to hell if he is bereft of devotional service.”
After Yamarāja thus described the glories of the Lord and His devotees, Śukadeva Gosvāmī further explained the potency of chanting the holy name and the futility of performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and pious activities for atonement.
TEXT 1
श्रीराजोवाच
निशम्य देवः स्वभटोपवर्णितं
प्रत्याह किं तानपि धर्मराजः ।
एवं हताज्ञो विहतान्मुरारे-
नैदेशिकैर्यस्य वशे जनोऽयम् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-rājovāca
niśāmya devaḥ sva-bhaṭopavarṇitam
pratyāha kim tān api dharmarājaḥ
evam hatājño vihatān murārer
naideśikair yasya vaśe jano 'yam