Shloka 18
Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas
with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas
यो वा भक्त्या स्मरणं नाम विष्णोः करोत्यसौ पापहरो भविष्यति / अयं देहो दुर्ल्लभः कर्मभूमौ तत्रापि मध्ये भजनं विष्णुमूर्तेः
yo vā bhaktyā smaraṇaṃ nāma viṣṇoḥ karotyasau pāpaharo bhaviṣyati / ayaṃ deho durllabhaḥ karmabhūmau tatrāpi madhye bhajanaṃ viṣṇumūrteḥ
ഭക്തിയോടെ വിഷ്ണുനാമം സ്മരിക്കുന്നവൻ പാപഹരനാകും. കർമഭൂമിയിൽ ഈ മനുഷ്യദേഹം ദുർലഭം; അതിലും വിഷ്ണുമൂർത്തിയുടെ ഭജനം അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭം.
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Vishnu-nāma remembered with bhakti removes sin; human birth in karmabhūmi is rare, and devotion rarer—therefore practice now.
Vedantic Theme: Durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and the urgency of sādhanā; nāma as purifier enabling liberation-oriented life.
Application: Adopt a daily vow of nāma-japa; treat time and embodiment as limited capital; prioritize devotional practice over distractions.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: cosmic-region
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated ‘durlabha’ motif regarding human birth and efficacy of nāma (general theme)
FAQs
This verse states that remembering Viṣṇu’s name with devotion becomes pāpa-hara—an effective means for the removal of sins and spiritual purification.
In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, inner spiritual preparation matters for post-death outcomes; the verse highlights bhakti and nāma-smaraṇa as rare, powerful supports amid worldly karma.
Cultivate daily remembrance of Viṣṇu’s name and sincere devotion (bhajana) as a steady ethical and spiritual discipline, treating human life as a rare opportunity for upliftment.