Shloka 22
The Glory of the Divine Name and the Doctrine of Name-Offenses
Nāma-aparādha
श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच । जाते नामापराधे तु प्रमादे तु कथंचन । सदा संकीर्तयन्नाम तदेकशरणो भवेत्
śrīsanatkumāra uvāca | jāte nāmāparādhe tu pramāde tu kathaṃcana | sadā saṃkīrtayannāma tadekaśaraṇo bhavet
ศรีสนะตกุมารกล่าวว่า: แม้เกิดอปราธต่อพระนามขึ้น—ด้วยความประมาทหรือด้วยเหตุใดก็ตาม—พึงสรรเสริญสังคีรตนะแห่งพระนามอยู่เนืองนิตย์ และถือพระนามนั้นเป็นที่พึ่งเพียงหนึ่งเดียว
Śrī Sanatkumāra
Concept: If nāmāparādha occurs—even by negligence—the remedy is not despair but continuous nāma-saṅkīrtana with ekāśaraṇatā (exclusive refuge) in the Name.
Application: When you slip (harsh speech, inattentive chanting, disrespect), immediately return to kīrtana/japa, seek forgiveness from devotees, and renew the vow of carefulness—without self-hatred.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sanatkumāra raises a hand in blessing as a stream of luminous nāma-syllables pours like nectar over a devotee who has stumbled, washing away dark smudges labeled ‘pramāda’. Around them, a circle of sages begins saṅkīrtana; the forest itself seems to chant—leaves shaped like tiny tongues of flame repeating the Name.","primary_figures":["Sanatkumara","Narada","chorus of sages/devotees (saṅkīrtana circle)","Vishnu (as nāma-nectar radiance)"],"setting":"Forest āśrama clearing with a kīrtana circle, tulasī plant at center, and a subtle celestial glow descending through the canopy.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["nectar gold","tulasi green","midnight blue","sandalwood beige","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sanatkumāra with gold leaf halo blessing Nārada; central tulasī pedestal; nāma-syllables rendered as gold leaf droplets cascading like nectar; kīrtana circle with cymbals and mṛdaṅga; ornate borders, rich reds/greens, gem-like highlights emphasizing mercy and remedy.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle forest clearing with delicate figures in a kīrtana circle; Sanatkumāra’s blessing gesture; nāma-syllables as tiny golden lotuses falling on the repentant devotee; cool greens and blues with refined facial expressions and lyrical movement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic composition of chanting figures; central tulasī and a golden nāma-stream; Sanatkumāra prominent with calm eyes; red-yellow-green palette, temple mural symmetry and decorative borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: large central tulasī-lotus mandala filled with nāma-script; devotees in circular saṅkīrtana around it with peacocks and floral borders; deep blue ground with gold highlights; a small panel shows dark ‘pramāda’ dissolving into light as kīrtana continues."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["kirtan cymbals","mridanga","temple bells","call-and-response chanting","soft forest ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामापराधे = नाम + अपराधे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); संकीर्तयन्नाम = संकीर्तयन् + नाम; तदेकशरणो = तदेकशरणः (पुं. प्रथमा एक.).
FAQs
It advises persistent nāma-saṅkīrtana—continually chanting the Divine Name—and adopting exclusive refuge in the Name as the remedy, even when the fault arose from negligence or any other cause.
It centers devotion on the Divine Name itself: ongoing kīrtana and single-pointed surrender (eka-śaraṇa) are presented as the sustaining practice, highlighting bhakti as accessible and restorative.
When mistakes occur—especially due to carelessness—one should not rationalize or abandon practice; instead, one should respond with humility, steadiness, and renewed commitment to the sacred discipline.