Vishnu's Name the Greatest Holy Place

The sages said:

1-3a. You have told (i.e. explained) all that was asked. Now also we (want to) ask one (thing only). O you very intelligent one, (please) tell it. O you who know everything, tell us what fruit a man would obtain by resorting to these holy places. So also tell us by doing which one act (the fruit of visiting) all (these holy places) is had; tell us if there is such an act. Siita said:

3b-4a. O illustrious ones, formerly, beginning with the brahmana (caste), the worldly and religious rites of various kinds for the castes were prescribed. Only one is superior.

4b-17a. There is no doubt that one who has devotion to Vishnu, has undoubtedly conquered (everything). Hari, the lord of the lord of all gods, should alone be propitiated. The goblin of sin would perish by means of the great sacred hymns in the form of the (various) names of Vishnu. There is no doubt that those with pure hearts, going round Vishnu even once, get (the fruit of) having bathed at all holy places. A man would obtain the fruit of (having visited) all holy places by seeing Vishnu's image. Muttering the excellent name of Vishnu a man would obtain (the fruit) of having muttered all sacred hymns. A man, having smelt tulasi, the grace of Vishnu, does not see, O best brahmanas, the huge and terrible face of Yama. A man, having (but) once saluted Krishna (i.e. Vishnu) does not drink the mother's milk (i.e. is not reborn). I always repeatedly salute them whose mind is (fixed) in the feet of Vishnu. Even pulkasas, candalas or other mlecha tribes, who serve the feet of Vishnu alone are fit to be saluted. Then what about meritorious and devoted brahmanas and royal sages? Having put devotion unto (i.e. being devoted to) Vishnu, a man does not see (i.e. experience) confinement in the womb (i.e. is not reborn). O brahmanas, a man who with high sounds (i.e. loudly) utters the name of Vishnu, purifies the world as does the water of Ganga etc. There is no doubt that a man is freed from sins like the murder of a brahmana by seeing (the image of), touching (the feet of), reciting (the name of) and devotion (to Vishnu). Circumambulating (the idol of) Hari, and loudly uttering his names in a sweet and melodious voice accompanied with clapping of the hands, a man has struck the sin of murder of a brahmana etc. (off) his hands. A man becomes pure by just seeing him who having narrated his story, would listen to a narrative about him. Then, O best sages, how can there be the slightest doubt about his sins?

17b-39. O great sages, Vishnu's name is the best holy place of all the holy places. Those who have uttered the name of Krishna (i.e. Vishnu) make the (entire) world a holy place. Therefore, O best sages, they consider nothing more meritorious than this. A man using (i.e. who uses) and holding (i.e. who holds) on his head the remains of an offering of flowers to Vishnu, would just become Vishnu, the destroyer of grief due to Yama. Undoubtedly Vishnu (alone) is to be worshipped and saluted. Those who look upon the great Vishnu and the unmanifest Mahesvara as identical, have no rebirth. Therefore, see and worship Vishnu only who has no beginning or end, who is the soul (of everything), and who is unmanifest. Those who look upon Vishnu and another deity as equal, go to terrible hells. Vishnu would not care for them, Vishnu, the lord, himself liberates a fool or a candala to whom Vishnu is dear. There is none greater than Vishnu, the wildfire for (i.e. burning) heaps of sins. A man even after having committed a terrible sin, is freed by the name of Vishnu. O you of good vows, god Vishnu, the father of the worlds, has put greater strength than himself into his name. Those who, on seeing lesser exertion with greater fruit in this dispute it (its efficacy), go to many hells. Therefore a man looking highly upon Vishnu's name, should be devoted to Hari. The lord would protect a worshipper from behind (i.e. secretly), and him who recites his name in the chest (i.e. from the front, i.e. openly). The name of Vishnu is a great destructive weapon like the thunderbolt in rending the mountain of sins. His feet are fruitful and move for that (only). The hands that worship him are alone said to be blessed. That head which bends before Hari (i.e. Vishnu) is the best part of the body. That is (really) the tongue that extols Vishnu. That (alone) is the mind, which follows his feet. That alone is the hair which bristles at the utterance of his name. Those (alone) are tears that are shed due to Vishnu's devotion. Oh, the people are very much duped by their blemishes, (since) they do not resort to (him) by merely uttering his names. Those men also who are sinful due to contact with women, and whose hair does not stand on end at the utterance (of the name) of Krishna, are duped. Those are fools who are not pure in mind, and who are afflicted by the grief due to (the death of) their sons etc., weep with various wailings and not at the utterance of the words about Krishna. Those who though having got a tongue do not mutter the name of Vishnu, easily fall even after having secured the staircase to salvation. Therefore, a man should carefully (please) Vishnu by means of worldly and religious rites. Vishnu propitiated with worldly and religious rites, is pleased, not otherwise. The worship of Vishnu is said to be a holier place than a holy place. A man obtains that fruit by serving Vishnu which he obtains by bathing at and drinking (the water from) all the holy places. Only blessed men worship Vishnu by means of worldly and religious rites. Therefore, O sages, worship Krishna (i.e. Vishnu), who is extremely auspicious.

 

CHAPTER FIFTYONE

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