Shloka 13
Nāma-mahātmya: Liberation through Salutation, Chanting, and the Mantra “Namo Nārāyaṇāya”
स्वप्ने ऽपि नाम स्पृशतो ऽपि पुंसः क्षयं करोत्यक्षयपापराशिम् / प्रत्यक्षतः किं पुनरत्र पुंसा प्रकीर्तिते नाम्नि जनार्दनस्य
svapne 'pi nāma spṛśato 'pi puṃsaḥ kṣayaṃ karotyakṣayapāparāśim / pratyakṣataḥ kiṃ punaratra puṃsā prakīrtite nāmni janārdanasya
Mesmo em sonho, se uma pessoa apenas toca (pronuncia) o Nome, ele destrói um montão de pecados que parecia inesgotável. Quanto mais, então, nesta vida desperta, quando se canta abertamente o Nome de Janārdana!
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Nāma-smaraṇa/uccāraṇa destroys even vast pāpa; waking kīrtana is even more potent.
Vedantic Theme: Grace-mediated purification; nāma as direct upāya that burns karma-impurities (mala) and turns the mind toward the Lord.
Application: Adopt daily audible repetition/chanting of Janārdana’s names; do not despair over past faults; keep nāma on the tongue in all states.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: nāma-mahātmya passages on sin-destruction and fearlessness at death (adjacent 1.228.xx context)
FAQs
This verse states that even accidental or dream-level contact with the divine Name can destroy vast accumulated sins, highlighting nāma as a direct purifier and spiritual refuge.
By emphasizing sin-destruction through chanting, it points to reducing karmic burden that otherwise leads to Yama’s punishments and difficult post-death passages described elsewhere in the text.
Regularly chant or remember Vishnu’s names (e.g., Janārdana) with sincerity; even brief remembrance is presented as spiritually protective and ethically motivating toward a cleaner life.