Chapter 256 - Efficacy of the Name of Rāma

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Gālava said:

1. Once Lord Rudra who stayed on the peak of Kailāsa mountain in the company of Umā, was endowed with greatest refulgence.

2-7. At that time three crores of Gaṇas surrounded him. These and many others were by the side of Bhava: Vīrabāhu, Vīrabhadra, Vīrasena, Bhṛṅgirāṭ, Ruci, Tuti, Nandin, Puṣpadanta, Utkaṭa, Vikaṭa, Kaṇṭaka, Hara, Keśa, Vighaṇṭaka, Mālādhara, Pāśadhara, Śṛṅgin, Narana, Puṇyotkaṭa, Śālibhadra, Mahābhadra, Vibhadraka, Kaṇapa, Kālapa, Kāla, Dhanapa, Raktalocana, Vikaṭāsya, Bhadraka, Dīrghajihva, Virocana, Pārada. Dhanada, Dhavaṅkṣin, Haṃsakrī, Naraka, Pañcaśīrṣa, Triśīrṣa, Kroḍadaṃṣṭra, Mahādbhuta (excessively wonderful), Siṃhavaktra, Vṛṣahanu, Pracaṇḍa and Tuṇḍī.

8-9. At the advent of spring, rows of trees shone as they were rendered splendid with fresh buds and blossoms. Accompanied by Bhadrakālī the groups of Bhūtas, Pretas, and Piśācas eulogized him shouting victory to Mahādeva from the vicinity, as they were his beloved ones.

10. A close contact with the southern wind appeared pleasant to the poets. Kiṃśuka appeared splendid in its blossoms attracting the hearts of lonely lovers separated from their beloved.

11. On that solemn occasion, when all the minds were rendered intoxicated and elated, the Gaṇas around sported about imitating the activities of couples.

12. On seeing them the staff-bearing Nandin who was virtually another Hara (Śiva) showed signs as if saying, “Enough of your fickleness. O Gaṇas, may ye all perform the penance.”

13. The forest then became silent with all the birds remaining quiet. All those Gaṇas, resumed their penance on seeing the splendour of spring.

14. Then Pārvatī, the mother of the universe, asked Śaṅkara: “O Maheśvara, this rosary of beads is always held in your hands.

15. My mind is in doubt. What Japa is being performed by you? You are the sole primordial creator of all living beings. You are the Lord of everything.

16. You have neither a mother nor a father. You do not have any kinsman. You don’t belong to any caste. I know that there is nothing greater than you.

17. Though performing Japa with great devotion, it appears to me that while you are engaged in inhaling and exhaling, you do it under some strain.

18. O Lord of Devas, if I am your beloved, tell me: Is there anything (anyone) greater than you which you meditate upon mentally?”

19. On being asked thus, Śaṃbhu, the servant of Hari said: “I meditate upon the essence of the thousand names of Hari always.”

20. I perform Japa of the seventh incarnation of Hari known by the name of Rāma and the twenty-four manifestations as well as the good qualities of Hari.

21-22. With the rosary, I always perform the Japa of Praṇava inclusive of Bindu. What is called Praṇava is highly efficacious and it is the essence of all these (foregoing Avatāras etc.). I perform Japa of the eternal Brahman (Mantra) endowed with twelve syllables, (i.e. Om namo bhagavate vāsudevāya). Praṇava is union of three syllables (a-u-m) and it is endowed with the three Grāmas (of musical melody).

23. This two-syllabled Mantra (i.e. Rāma) is the essence of the Vedas. It is permanently exalted, free from impurities, immortal, tranquil, of the nature of the Sat (existence). It is comparable to nectar.

24. It transcends the Kalās. It cannot be subjected to our control, it is devoid of Vyāpāra (worldly activity). It is the greatest of the great. It is the support of the universe. It is in the centre of all the worlds. It is the seed of a crore of Brahmāṇḍas (Cosmic Eggs).

25. It is inert, of pure activity, It is unsullied; it is the controller. On knowing it one is immediately liberated from the bondage of the terrible worldly existence.

26. To one who performs Japa of the twelve-syllabled Bījamantra inclusive of Oṃkāra, it becomes the destroyer of crores of sins like a forest fire (that consumes the whole forest).

27. This is extremely recondite. This alone is the greatest refulgence. It is indeed very difficult to obtain. It is the ornament of all the three worlds.

28. This alone, the meditation on the twelve-syllabled Mantra, is the greatest knowledge. It is attained through crores of births. It is destructive of the auspicious as well as the inauspicious.

29-30. Especially during Cāturmāsya, it gives Brahman (identity with the absolute). It yields what is desired. One who always recites the eulogy born of these syllables mentally, verbally and physically has no rebirth. The Mantra with the twelve syllables is embellished with twelve Cakras (wheel-like mystic circles or plexuses).

31-35. A devotee should utter the names of the twelve months and perform the ritualistic Nyāsa thereof on the Śālagrāmas of Viṣṇu. They are destructive of sins. For each of those days one shall obtain the fruit of twelve days.

It is impossible to extol adequately the greatness of the twelve-syllabled Mantra even with thousands of tongues. Even Brahmā cannot ward it off. This great Mantra should be meditated upon and eulogized. Its Japa should be performed in all the months and particularly during Cāturmāsya. It is destructive of sins. This is the mystic doctrine of the Vedas, many Purāṇas and all the Smṛtis.

By mere remembering of the twelve syllables mortals get the desired Siddhi.

36. By means of the meritorious gift of sandalwood (Yāmya-sandalwood), permanent liberation is achieved by people of all castes and stages of life. (The Japa and Dhyāna) is attended with the utterance of Praṇava.

37. Certainly, one attains liberation by means of Japa and Dhyāna performed with mental calm. In the case of Śūdras and women, the Japa is done without Praṇava.

38. In the case of all Prakṛtis (common people) the twelve-syllabled Mantra, Japa and Tapas (penance) are not needed. Purity can be achieved through bodily exertion.

59. Purity (Viśuddhi) is achieved through devotion to Brāhmaṇas, making gifts and meditation on Viṣṇu. To them the requisite Mantra is the name Rāma. If Rāmanāma is meditated upon, it yields crores and more times benefit.

40-42. The Japa of the two-syllabled ‘Rāma’ dispels all sins. While going round, standing by or lying down a man should recite (the name of) Rāma. Thereby, he attains excess of delight and proceeds ahead and at the end becomes a Gaṇa of Hari.

The two-syllabled Mantra, Rāma, is superior to hundreds and crores of Mantras. It is said to be the destroyer of sins of all the Prakṛtis (people). At the advent of Cāturmāsya it grants endless benefit.

43. It is obtained by the people eagerly devoted to Bhakti (fidelity to the godhead) in the course of Cāturmāsya of great merit. In their case resorting to the world of Yama is futile (i.e. they do not go to it) as in the case of Devas.

44. On the surface of the earth there is nothing superior to Rāma worthy of Japa. To those who seek shelter in Rāmanāma there is no (fear of) torture of Yama.

45. All the defects causing obstacles and all the quarrels causing death cease to exist and get dissolved only through the name of Rāma. There is no doubt in this.

46. What is called Rāma dwells in all the living beings immobile as well as mobile, in the form of the immanent soul.

47. The Lord of all Mantras, i.e. Rāma, destroys fear and ailments. It grants victory in battle and gets every task accomplished.

48. It is said to be yielding the same benefit as all the Tīrthas (together). It fulfills cherished desires of even Brāhmaṇas. It is called Rāmacandra and Rāma.

49. The two-syllabled Lord of all Mantras called as Rāma, gets all tasks on the earth accomplished. Even the Devas sing about the name of Rāma, the mine of all qualities.

50. Hence, O goddess of Devas, you too always utter the name of Rāma. He who performs the Japa of Rāma’s name is liberated from all sins.

51. The merit accruing from the utterance of a thousand names can be acquired by means of Rāma’s name itself. Especially during Cāturmāsya, the merit thereof is ten times more.

52. The great sin of those born in the base caste gets burned.

53. This Rāma pervades this entire universe by means of his refulgence in the form of the immanent soul. He sanctifies everything by burning down in an instant all the sins of the previous lives, gross and subtle.