Shloka 17
Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas
with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas
मायां मदीयां ज्ञानशस्त्रेण च्छित्वा भक्त्या हरेः स्मरणं त्वं कुरुष्व / यद्भक्तिरूपूर्वं स्मरणं नाम विष्णोस्तत्सर्वथा पापहरं च मातः
māyāṃ madīyāṃ jñānaśastreṇa cchitvā bhaktyā hareḥ smaraṇaṃ tvaṃ kuruṣva / yadbhaktirūpūrvaṃ smaraṇaṃ nāma viṣṇostatsarvathā pāpaharaṃ ca mātaḥ
จงตัดมายาของเรานี้ด้วยศัสตราแห่งญาณ แล้วกระทำการระลึกถึงพระหริด้วยภักติ เพราะการระลึกพระนามพระวิษณุที่มีภักตินำหน้า ย่อมเป็นผู้ขจัดบาปโดยสิ้นเชิง โอ้แม่เอ๋ย
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in discourse; vocative 'mātaḥ' retained from the received verse-reading)
Concept: Māyā is cut by jñāna; bhakti-shaped remembrance of Hari/Vishnu-nāma destroys sin.
Vedantic Theme: Māyā-avidyā nivṛtti through jñāna aided by bhakti; nāma as upāya for citta-śuddhi leading toward liberation.
Application: Combine study/discernment (jñāna-śastra) with daily nāma-smaraṇa/japa; treat devotion as the ‘prior condition’ that makes remembrance transformative.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring praise of Vishnu-nāma as pāpa-hara and as support for the departed (general theme)
FAQs
This verse states that remembrance of Viṣṇu’s name—when rooted in bhakti—is “sarvathā pāpa-haram,” a complete remover of sins, making it a central, high-efficacy spiritual practice.
It presents māyā as something to be cut through by “jñāna-śastra” (the weapon of true knowledge), and then stabilized through devotional remembrance of Hari, implying both discernment and devotion are needed.
Cultivate daily Hari/Viṣṇu nāma-smaraṇa (japa or mindful remembrance) alongside study and reflection that sharpen discernment, using both to reduce delusion, harmful habits, and ethical lapses.