Shloka 78
प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)
आयासः स्मरणे को ऽस्य स्मृतो यच्छति शोभनम् पापक्षयश् च भवति स्मरतां तम् अहर्निशम्
āyāsaḥ smaraṇe ko 'sya smṛto yacchati śobhanam pāpakṣayaś ca bhavati smaratāṃ tam aharniśam
What hardship is there in remembering Him? When He is remembered, He bestows what is auspicious; and for those who remember Him day and night, the waning of sin surely comes to pass.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya in the main Vishnu Purana dialogue frame)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Ease and efficacy of constant remembrance (ahorātra-smaraṇa) for auspiciousness and sin-destruction
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: encouraging
Concept: Remembering the Lord is effortless in principle and yields auspiciousness while destroying sin for those who remember Him continually.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Use brief, frequent smaraṇa—nāma-japa, breath-linked remembrance, and mindful pauses through the day—to replace rumination with God-centered attention.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s gracious responsiveness to smaraṇa (smṛto yacchati śobhanam) highlights a personal Brahman who purifies and blesses the devoted.
Vishnu Form: Vasudeva
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse teaches that remembering Vishnu is itself an accessible discipline that yields auspicious results and steadily destroys sin for those who practice it continuously.
He emphasizes an uncomplicated method—day-and-night remembrance of Vishnu—presented as both easy to do and powerful in effect, leading to pāpakṣaya (sin-attenuation).
Vishnu is portrayed as the supreme beneficent Lord: merely being remembered, He dispenses śobhana (auspicious good) and dissolves the devotee’s sins, highlighting His sovereign grace.