Verse Text
nāma yathā—
yadavadhi mama śītā vaiṇikenānugītā
śruti-patham agha-śatror nāmā-gāthā prayātā |
anavakalita-pūrvāṁ hanta kām apy avasthāṁ
tadavadhi dadhad-antar-mānasaṁ śāmyatīva ||242||
Translation
The power of chanting the name of the Lord: Ever since I have heard Nārada singing the names of Kṛṣṇa, which pacify the ears, my heart has become completely blissful, fixed in an unprecedented state of prema.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Śītā (cool) here refers to the cooling effect of hearing Nārada chant the names of the Lord. Material existence has a burning effect with its pain. Hearing the chanting of the names relieves a person of material suffering. Vaiṇika refers to Nārada, who plays a vīṇā. By not naming him directly, all devotees of a similar nature are indicated. The extraordinary state (kām avasthām) is actually prema. Iva is simply ornamental. Śāmyati means that the mind, giving up all external objects, becomes completely blissful. [Note: Nāma-kīrtana is not only blissful for the singer, but produces bliss in others as well. This example is thus also an example of hearing the names of the Lord.]
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Similarly, there is a statement about hearing and chanting the mahā-mantra: “It is said that saints have been able to hear the vibrating strings of the vīṇā in the hands of Nārada, who is always singing the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Now this same sound vibration has entered my ears, and I am always feeling the presence of the Supreme Personality. Gradually I am becoming bereft of all attachment for material enjoyment.”