Power of Harinam
Ajâmila Delivered by the Vishnudûtas: the Motivation for the Holy Name

ajñānād athavā jñānād
uttamaśloka-nāma yat
sańkīrtitam agham pumso
dahed edho yathānalah

TRANSLATION

As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one’s sinful activities.

PURPORT

Fire will act, regardless of whether handled by an innocent child or by someone well aware of its power. For example, if a field of straw or dry grass is set afire, either by an elderly man who knows the power of fire or by a child who does not, the grass will be burned to ashes. Similarly, one may or may not know the power of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, but if one chants the holy name he will become free from all sinful reactions.

kālena snāna-śaucābhyāṁ
saṁskārais tapasejyayā
śudhyanti dānaiḥ santuṣṭyā
dravyāṇy ātmātma-vidyayā

SYNONYMS

kālena—by due course of time (the land and other material things become purified); snāna-śaucābhyām—by bathing (the body becomes purified) and by cleansing (unclean things become purified); saṁskāraiḥ—by purificatory processes (birth becomes purified); tapasā—by austerity (the senses become purified); ijyayā—by worship (the brāhmaṇas become purified); śudhyanti—become purified; dānaiḥ—by charity (wealth becomes purified); santuṣṭyā—by satisfaction (the mind becomes purified); dravyāṇi—all material possessions, such as cows, land and gold; ātmā—the soul (becomes purified); ātma-vidyayā—by self-realization.

TRANSLATION

O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the brāhmaṇas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is purified; and by self-realization, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the soul is purified.