Shloka 25
Praise of Devotion to Viṣṇu
The Supremacy of Hari’s Name over All Tīrthas
कृत्वापि पातकं घोरं कृष्णनाम्ना विमुच्यते । स्वयं नारायणो देवः स्वनाम्नि जगतां गुरुः
kṛtvāpi pātakaṃ ghoraṃ kṛṣṇanāmnā vimucyate | svayaṃ nārāyaṇo devaḥ svanāmni jagatāṃ guruḥ
Selbst nachdem man eine furchtbare Sünde begangen hat, wird man durch den Namen Kṛṣṇas erlöst. Denn Nārāyaṇa selbst ist der göttliche Herr, der Lehrer der Welten durch seinen eigenen Namen.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: Kṛṣṇa-nāma releases even from dreadful sin; Nārāyaṇa is the world-teacher through His own Name—nāma is both means and revelation.
Application: Adopt daily japa/kīrtana; when guilt or relapse arises, return to sincere nāma with repentance and ethical correction rather than despair.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent devotee sits before a small lamp and a tulasī pot, chanting ‘Kṛṣṇa’ as luminous syllables rise like golden lotuses. Behind, a stormy mural of past sins dissolves into clear sky where Nārāyaṇa appears as Jagad-guru, blessing the devotee with a gesture that turns darkness into calm.","primary_figures":["Nārāyaṇa (Jagad-guru aspect)","a chanting devotee","optional: sages as witnesses"],"setting":"Simple shrine room with tulasī planter, śālagrāma on a pedestal, and a manuscript stand; the background morphs from storm to serenity.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lamp-gold","midnight blue","lotus pink","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Nārāyaṇa as Jagad-guru seated on a lotus throne with gold leaf halo, conch and discus; below, a devotee with japa-mālā near tulasī and śālagrāma; embossed golden syllables ‘कृ’ ‘ष्ण’ floating upward as lotus forms; rich reds/greens, ornate arch, gem-studded ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior scene with delicate brushwork—devotee chanting by an oil lamp, tulasī leaves finely detailed; in the upper corner, a soft apparition of Nārāyaṇa blessing; cool blues with warm lamp highlights, refined facial expressions of repentance turning to peace.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical shrine composition, bold outlines; Nārāyaṇa in the upper register as guru, devotee in the lower register with mālā; stylized script-like golden nāma motifs swirling; red/yellow/green palette with temple-wall texture.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Kṛṣṇa/Nārāyaṇa surrounded by lotus and tulasī borders; repeated nāma motifs integrated into floral patterns; devotee figures at the bottom in kīrtana posture, peacocks and cows in margins; deep blues and gold with intricate Nathdwara-style ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft kartal (hand cymbals)","temple bells distant","gentle silence after each line"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कृत्वापि = कृत्वा + अपि; कृष्णनाम्ना = कृष्ण + नाम्ना (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); विमुच्यते = वि + मुच्यते; स्वनाम्नि = स्व + नाम्नि.
FAQs
Yes. It explicitly states that even after a “ghora pātaka” (dreadful sin), one is “vimucyate” (freed) through Kṛṣṇa’s name, presenting nāma as a powerful means of purification and liberation.
It implies that the divine name is not merely a label but a living source of guidance and grace—Nārāyaṇa instructs and uplifts beings through remembrance and recitation of His name.
It encourages repentance and transformation: rather than despair after wrongdoing, one should turn toward sincere devotion and disciplined remembrance (nāma-japa), while also implying responsibility to abandon harmful actions.