The offense of interpreting the Holy Name

Nama arthavada aparadha

Glory to Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Radha-Madhava! Glory to the places of Gaura’s pastimes! Glory to Ganga and the Vaishnavas!

Hari Dasa continued: O Lord Sacinandana, the fifth offense is to give an interpretation to Hari-nama, or to consider Its glories exaggerated or imaginary.

The glories of Nama

Nama mahima

The Smriti says that Krishna is merciful to anyone who chants nama faithfully, or even carelessly.

There is no knowledge as pure as the Holy Name. There is no vrata[1] as powerful as the Holy Name.

There is no meditation in this world like that of the Holy Name. There is no philosophy that gives a result like that of the Holy Name.

There is no form of renunciation like that of the Holy Name. There is nothing that equals the Holy Name.

There is no virtuous activity in this world like that of the Holy Name. I don’t think there is a destination like that of the Holy Name.

The Name is the highest type of liberation. The Name is the highest type of target. The Name is the highest kind of peace. The Name is the highest situation.

The Name is the highest type of bhakti. The Name is the highest kind of love. The Name is the highest type of remembrance.

The Name is the ultimate cause. The Name is the Lord of everything. The Name is the most worshipable and the Name appears as the greatest Guru.

Krishna’s name is the greatest of all

Krishna-namera sarvottamata

One thousand Names of Vishnu are equivalent to one Name of Rama, and three Names of Rama are equivalent to one Name of Krishna.

Those who use semantics[2] with the Name certainly enter a hellish condition

Namera arthavada naraka gamana avasya ghate

The verses of the Srutis eternally sing the glories of the Name. They explain to the world the transcendental nature of the Name.

Those who think that the descriptions in the Srutis and Smritis regarding the results obtained by the Name are exaggerated are extreme offenders.

Those who consider the glories of Hari-nama exaggerated are despicable people. Such evil people constantly burn and suffer in a hellish condition.

There are those who say: “Whatever the Srutis say about the results of chanting the Name is not true! He is only there to give nama-ruci[3] so that people get a result.”

Such fallen people have no understanding of the meaning of Sastra, nor do they know what is favorable or unfavorable. For them it’s quite the opposite[4].

[1] Vow or austerity.

[2] Semantics studies the meaning of words.

[3] A taste for chanting Hare Krishna.

[4] They always come to conclusions opposite to the truth.

This is a section of the book “Harinama Cintamani (English)”.

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