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BHAGAVAD GUNA DARPANA
 
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spiritual welfare. The Charaka Samhita says: 'By praising
(with these Thousand Names) Vishnu of Thousand Names, the
Lord of movables and immovables, a man is relieved of all
fevers. Even a modern work i.e., a collection of miscellane.
ous matters, in the context of dealing with the remedy for
urinary troubles (meha), starts with "Let the Purushasūkta be
recited" and goes on to say that the Sahasranama of Bharata
should also be recited. In respect of consumption cases also,
the Thousand Names are to be recited as expiation. In cases
of certain fevers, it is said that, after homa, the Thousand
Names are to be recited. For getting rid of the bad influences
of planets, the Thousand Names are said to be classed
with the Marutsiktam." So also in other places.
 
Even ordinary poets and writers describe this hymn as a
protective force. In the Kadambari, Bhaṭṭa Bana, when he
describes a room used for confinement of women at childbirth,
mentions it as a place where the recitation of Narayana's
Thousand Names is going on without ceasing. Also in this
world, it is seen that the Thousand Names are accepted with
faith, because many persons learn, memorise, hear, recite,
sing, write, comment on and show respect to those versed
in the Thousand Names for the purpose of getting rid of
inauspicious and grievous troubles caused by poison, ghosts,
diseases, planetary influence, bad dreams and omens. (The
Thousand Names are also used) for expiating grievous sins,
gaining prosperity both here and hereafter, loosening the
knot of the bondage of samsāra and attaining Paramapada,
the supreme abode of Vishnu. Some use them for the mere
enjoyment derived through the recitation of the names, from
tasting the nectar of His beneficent and auspicious qualities.
 
So too this hymn acts as the only effective medicine for
children, mutes, foolhardy persons, women and atheists. Even
the Vedas are not accepted as readily by all persons as this
hymn, for fools and such others will not accept the Vedas.
Besides, this hymn is open to all, but not the Vedas, as they
are divided into many divisions, each to be resorted to by
particular families, clans or septs. Hence it can be said that
the Thousand Names have the excellence of being accepted
by all.
 
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