Text 31

Knowledge of the intrinsic nature of the holy name is given in Bhaktirasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.233, quoted from the Padma Purāṇa):

नाम चिन्तामणिः कृष्णश् चैतन्य-रस-विग्रहः
पूर्णः शुद्धो नित्य-मुक्तो ’भिन्नत्वान् नाम-नामिनोः

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto ’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ

The holy name is a transcendental wish-fulfilling gem (cintāmaṇi), for there is no difference between Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name (nāma ) and Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself (nāmī). In other words, the holy name is the bestower of the supreme goal (parama-puruṣārtha ). This name is the very form of transcendental mellows (caitanya-rasa-svarūpa ). It is completely pure; that is, it is unlimited and eternally liberated, devoid of any connection with māyā.

हरिनाम चिन्तामणि चिद्-रस-स्वरूप
पूर्ण जडातीत नित्य कृष्ण-निज-रूप

harināma cintāmaṇi cid-rasa-svarūpa
pūrṇa jaḍātīta nitya kṛṣṇa-nija-rūpa

Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:

Nāma and nāmī are qualitatively non-different in principle. Therefore, in the name ‘Kṛṣṇa’ all the transcendental qualities of the possessor of the name are present. The holy name is always the complete Absolute Truth, unaffected by material matter. He is eternally liberated because He is never bound by the illusory energ y. The holy name is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself and is therefore the personification of the aggregate wealth of transcendental mellows. The holy name is a wish-fulfilling gem, able to give whatever one desires. Śrī nāma-saṅkīrtana, which is the practice (sādhana), is non-different in every respect from Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the goal (sādhya). The one Absolute Truth, who is imbued with transcendental mellows consisting of eternity, knowledge and bliss (sac-cid-ānanda), is eternally present in these two manifested forms, nāma and nāmī.