Shloka 24
नामैकं यस्य चिह्नं स्मरणपथगतं श्रोत्रमूलं गतं वा । शुद्धं वाऽशुद्धवर्णं व्यवहितरहितं तारयत्येव सत्यम् । तच्चेद्देहद्रविणजनितालोभपाखण्ड मध्ये । निक्षिप्तं स्यान्न फलजनकं शीघ्रमेवात्र विप्र
nāmaikaṃ yasya cihnaṃ smaraṇapathagataṃ śrotramūlaṃ gataṃ vā | śuddhaṃ vā'śuddhavarṇaṃ vyavahitarahitaṃ tārayatyeva satyam | tacceddehadraviṇajanitālobhapākhaṇḍa madhye | nikṣiptaṃ syānna phalajanakaṃ śīghramevātra vipra
Walau hanya satu Nama—bahkan sekadar tandanya—sama ada telah masuk ke jalan ingatan atau sampai ke pangkal telinga; sama ada dilafaz dengan huruf yang suci atau tidak suci—jika diucap tanpa terputus, sungguh ia menyelamatkan dan menyeberangkan. Namun jika Nama itu dicampakkan ke tengah kepura-puraan dan ketamakan yang lahir daripada tubuh dan harta, maka di sini, wahai brāhmaṇa, ia segera menjadi tidak berbuah.
Unspecified (addressing 'vipra'—a brāhmaṇa interlocutor)
Concept: A single utterance/hearing of the Name—purely or imperfectly pronounced—can liberate if not broken by distraction; but nāma becomes fruitless when embedded in hypocrisy and greed.
Application: Keep chanting simple and continuous; avoid using devotion as social display; reduce greed-driven motives; cultivate sincerity (ārjavam) and ethical livelihood to protect nāma from ‘pākhaṇḍa-madhya’ contamination.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On one side, a humble villager hears ‘Viṣṇu’ from a passing kīrtana—sound-waves become a luminous ferry carrying the soul across a dark ocean. On the other side, a richly dressed pretender chants on a dais while coins and ego-smoke swirl around, muffling the same syllables into dull ash. The composition contrasts sincerity and hypocrisy as two atmospheres around one Name.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (as subtle luminous presence)","humble listener/devotee","hypocritical preacher/pretender","kīrtana singers (optional)"],"setting":"Split-scene: river/ocean of saṃsāra with a sound-ferry; and a crowded courtyard with garlands, donations, and theatrical religiosity.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["deep indigo","radiant gold","lotus white","saffron orange","ash gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dual-panel composition with gold-leaf radiance—left panel shows a simple devotee hearing the Name, golden sound-rings forming a lotus-boat across a dark blue ocean; right panel shows a lavish hypocrite amid coins and heavy ornaments, the nāma rendered as dim letters trapped in gray smoke; ornate borders, gem-like highlights, traditional iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical split narrative with delicate lines—left: a quiet path where kīrtana passes and a villager listens, sound depicted as pale gold ribbons; right: a courtly figure chanting with greed, muted palette and crowded props; refined faces, subtle moral contrast, cool mountain tones.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and symbolic color blocks—left side bright yellow-gold nāma aura around a simple listener; right side darker reds and grays around a pretender with exaggerated gestures; stylized waves of saṃsāra and rhythmic calligraphic syllables.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central written ‘Viṣṇu-nāma’ surrounded by two garlanded medallions—one with sincere śravaṇa and lotus motifs, one with hypocrisy and coin motifs; intricate floral borders, peacocks at corners, deep blue ground with gold detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["kīrtana chorus (soft)","hand cymbals","temple bells","low ocean/river ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vā'śuddhavarṇam = vā + aśuddhavarṇam; tacced = tat + cet; syānna = syāt + na; śīghramevātra = śīghram + eva + atra.
FAQs
It teaches that even a single utterance or remembrance of the divine name—heard or remembered—can be salvific when done without interruption, even if pronunciation is imperfect.
It cautions that when spiritual practice is mixed with greed for wealth, bodily desires, or hypocritical religiosity, the practice loses its spiritual efficacy and becomes fruitless.
No. It explicitly allows that the name may be spoken with “pure or impure syllables,” emphasizing sincerity and continuity over phonetic perfection.