my ($col1,$col2, $col3) = $dbh->selectrow_array("SELECT col1,col2,col3 FROM database where whatever='something' limit 1");

##</code><code>##

 $sth->execute();
 my $names = $sth->{NAME};
 while(my $r = $sth->fetchrow_hashref) {
     foreach my $name (@$names) {
          print "$name is $r->{$name}\n";
     }
 }