Vishnu.Sahasranama.with.the.Bhasya.of.Sankaracharya_text

30 VISHNU SAHASRANAMA
itself manifests as the teacher." Katyayana says : " Rather
remain in the centre of a glowing fire, than among men
who are indifferent to meditation upon Sfouri (Vishnu)."
Hence, one should avoid places where people speak insult-
ingly of Vasudeva. The S^ve. Up. (6-23 J says : " If these
truths be told to a high-minded man who feels the highest
devotion for God, and for his Guru as of God, then they
will shine forth." So the conclusion is that we must cxilti-
vate supreme devotion to Hari and the Guru. (Vish. Pr.,
6-8) says : "By repeating His name even unconsciously, a
person is instantly freed from all sins (which run away
from him) just as wolves do from fear of lion." Whether
knowingly or unknowingly the repetition of the names of
Vasudeva is made, it dissolves all sins as water, the salt. If
He is remembered even once, the terrible sins of Kali that
inflict pains on men in hell, vanish then and there.
Govinda, once remembered, burns quickly the accumulated
sins of men committed during hundred births, just as the
fire, bales of cotton. That tongiie which does not speak
out Govinda! Govinda! Govinda!, is a serpent in the
cavity of the mouth. That tongue which does not recite
day and night the glorious attributes of Govinda, is a
creeper of sin planted in his mouth in the form of tongue.
He who pronounces the two letters forming the word Hari,
once, has prepared himself to proceed on his tour to
Moksha. One salutation to Krishna well made is equal to
ten horse sacrifices duly completed ; even the sacrificer is
reborn, while the worshipper of Krishna is not." From
the above we see that even in the absence of devotion and
earnestness, the recitation of the names (of Vishnu) destroys
all sin ; more so if the recitation is accompanied hy
^devotion and earnestness.
The SVuti says : "First one thinks out by the mind
and next he argues by the tongue ; (Tai. Sam., 6-1-7) :
" Whatever one thinks out by the mind, that he gives out
by the tongue." From the above S'rutis we find, that