Nāma-saṅkīrtana

cakrāyudhasya nāmāni sadā sarvatra kīrtayet

cakrāyudhasya nāmāni sadā sarvatra kīrtayet |
nāśaucaṁ kīrtane tasya sa pavitra-karo yataḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa; Skanda Purāṇa; Viṣṇu-dharmottama; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.409)

“One should always and everywhere chant the names of the Wielder of the cakra since he is purifying and there is no [consideration of] impurity in chanting about him.”

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svapan bhuñjan vrajaṁs tiṣṭhaṁś ca vadaṁs tathā

svapan bhuñjan vrajaṁs tiṣṭhaṁś ca vadaṁs tathā |
ye vadanti harer nāma tebhyo nityaṁ namo namaḥ ||
(Bṛhan Nāradīya Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.404)

“Obeisance and obeisance forever unto they who speak Hari’s name while sleeping, eating, moving, standing, and speaking.”

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sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ yac cābhirucitaṁ

sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ |
yac cābhirucitaṁ nāma tat sarvārtheṣu yojayet ||
(Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.401)

“One should meditate on that name of the Wielder of the cakra, the Deva of devas endowed with the śakti of all objects, which is also liked [by oneself, i.e., for which one feels a specific taste] for the sake of [attaining] all objects.”

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sarveṣāṁ bhagavan-nāmnāṁ samāno mahimāpi cet

sarveṣāṁ bhagavan-nāmnāṁ samāno mahimāpi cet |
tathāpi sva-priyeṇāśu svārtha-siddhiḥ sukhaṁ bhavet ||
vicitra-ruci-lokānāṁ kramāt sarveṣu nāmasu |
priyatā-sambhavāt tāni sarvāṇi syuḥ priyāṇi hi ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.3.160–161)

“Although all of Bhagavān’s names have equal greatness, still attainment of one’s object shall occur quickly and easily by means of that [name] which is dear to oneself. Because of the possibility of dearness in regard to all names [of Śrī Bhagavān] on account of the particular manner of people’s of varied taste [i.e., on account of people having a variety of tastes and thus individuals having personal taste for different names of Śrī Bhagavān], all these [names of Śrī Bhagavān] shall be [regarded as] dear [by virtue of their potentially being dear to anyone and inevitably being dear to someone].”

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sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ

sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ |
yathābhirocate nāma tat sarvārtheṣu kīrtayet ||
(Viṣṇu-dharmottara; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.304)

“One should chant that name of the Wielder of the cakra, the Deva of devas endowed with the śakti of all objects, as one likes [i.e., as per the specific taste one feels for a particular name] for the sake of [attaining] all objects.”

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evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā

evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā
jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ |
hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty
unmādavan nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.40; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.641; Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.4.6 Bhakti Sandarbha: 188, 263; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 1.7.94, 2.9.260, 2.23.41, 2.25.141, 3.3.179)

“One whose rite is so, in whom anurāga [i.e., prema] has manifest by chanting the name of one’s Beloved, and who is [thus] of melted heart, loudly laughs, cries, shouts, sings, and dances as though mad, oblivious to society.”

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śṛṇvan subhadrāṇi rathāṅga-pāṇer

śṛṇvan subhadrāṇi rathāṅga-pāṇer
janmāni karmāṇi ca yāni loke |
gītāni nāmāni tad-arthakāni
gāyan vilajjo vicared asaṅgaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.39)

“Hearing of the most auspicious births and activities of he of discus in hand [i.e., Śrī Bhagavān] which are sung in society and singing names [of his] signifying those [births and activities of his], one should roam about, unabashed and free from attachment.”

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satāṁ nindā nāmnaḥ paramam aparādhaṁ vitanute

satāṁ nindā nāmnaḥ paramam aparādhaṁ vitanute |
yataḥ khyātiṁ yātaṁ katham u sahate tad‑vigarhām ||
śivasya śrī‑viṣṇor ya iha guṇa‑nāmādi‑sakalaṁ |
dhiyā bhinnaṁ paśyet sa khalu hari‑nāmāhitakaraḥ ||
guror avajñā śruti‑śāstra‑nindanaṁ
tathārthavādo hari‑nāmni kalpanam |
nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa‑buddhir
na vidyate tasya yamair hi śuddhiḥ ||
dharma‑vrata‑tyāga‑hutādi‑sarva‑
śubha‑kriyā‑sāmyam api pramādaḥ |
aśraddadhāne vimukhe’py aśṛṇvati
yaś copadeśaḥ śiva‑nāmāparādhaḥ ||
śrutvāpi nāma‑māhātmyaṁ yaḥ prīti‑rahito’dhamaḥ |
ahaṁ‑mamādi‑paramo nāmni so’py aparādha‑kṛt ||
(Padma Purāṇa: 4.25.15–18; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.521–524; Bhakti Sandarbha: 265)

[Śrī Sanat-kumāra to Śrī Nārada:] (1) Defamation of the sat causes the greatest offense to the name. Oh! How can the name tolerate condemnation of those on whose account it has attained renown? (2) One here who shall see with the intellect all of Śiva’s qualities, names, and so forth to be distinct from Śrī Viṣṇu is certainly a committer of enmity towards Hari’s name. (3) Disrespect for the guru, and (4) defamation of the Śrutis and śāstras [are offenses to the name]. Also, (5) [assumption of mere] praise (arthavāda) and (6) fabrication in regard to Hari’s name [are offenses to the name]. (7) The purification of one who has the intention of sinning on the basis of the name’s power [to dispel sin, which is an offense to the name] certainly does not occur by means of regulations. (8) [Considering there to be] Equality [of the name] with all [types of] auspicious acts, such as dharma, rites, renunciation, and sacrifice, is also negligence [in regard to the name, i.e., an offense]. (9) Instructing one who is faithless, averse, or undesirous of hearing [about the name] is an offense to Śiva’s name [alt., to the auspicious name of Śrī Viṣṇu]. (10) Even after having heard about the greatness of the name, one who remains devoid love [for the name], vile, and [someone] for whom ‘I’, ‘mine’, and so forth are primary, is also an offender [of the name].”

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etan nirvidyamānānām icchatām akuto-bhayam

etan nirvidyamānānām icchatām akuto-bhayam |
yogināṁ nṛpa nirṇītaṁ harer nāmānukīrtanam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.1.11; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.414; Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.230; Bhakti Sandarbha: 115, 198, 265, 275)

“O King, this anukīrtana of Hari’s name, wherein there is no fear from anywhere, is enjoined for the indifferent, the desirous, and the yogīs.”

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jāte nāmāparādhe’pi pramādena kathañcana

jāte nāmāparādhe’pi pramādena kathañcana |
sadā saṅkīrtayan nāma tad-eka-śaraṇo bhavet ||
(Padma Purāṇa: 4.25.22; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.525)

“Even when an offense to the name occurs somehow out of negligence, one should become one whose sole shelter is that [i.e., is the name] and constantly chant the name.”

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