Devanagari
यथागदं वीर्यतममुपयुक्तं यदृच्छया ।
अजानतोऽप्यात्मगुणं कुर्यान्मन्त्रोऽप्युदाहृत: ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
yathāgadaṁ vīryatamam
upayuktaṁ yadṛcchayā
ajānato ’py ātma-guṇaṁ
kuryān mantro ’py udāhṛtaḥ
Synonyms
yathā
—
just like
;
agadam
—
medicine
;
vīrya
—
tamam — very powerful
;
upayuktam
—
properly taken
;
yadṛcchayā
—
somehow or other
;
ajānataḥ
—
by a person without knowledge
;
api
—
even
;
ātma
—
guṇam — its own potency
;
kuryāt
—
manifests
;
mantraḥ
—
the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
;
api
—
also
;
udāhṛtaḥ
—
chanted .
Translation
If a person unaware of the effective potency of a certain medicine takes that medicine or is forced to take it, it will act even without his knowledge because its potency does not depend on the patient’s understanding. Similarly, even though one does not know the value of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if one chants knowingly or unknowingly, the chanting will be very effective.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Just as powerful medicine when taken without knowledge of its powers still produces its effects quickly, so chanting the name of the Lord also produces effects quickly, without knowing its powers.
Not only does the name destroy sin, but it bestows prema for the Lord. Another example is given. Vīryatamam stands for vīryavattamam (having the most power). Omission of vat is poetic license. Yadṛcchayā means suddenly, without knowing. Strong medicine taken (upayuktam) without knowing, produces its qualities of curing disease, giving strength and nourishment. Similarly the name, the uttered form of mantra, or a mantra composed of the name of the Lord, when chanted, gives its effects. One does not have to know the powers of the name in order for it to have effect.
Purport
In the Western countries, where the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is spreading, learned scholars and other thoughtful men are realizing its effectiveness. For example, Dr. J. Stillson Judah, a learned scholar, has been very much attracted to this movement because he has actually seen that it is turning hippies addicted to drugs into pure Vaiṣṇavas who voluntarily become servants of Kṛṣṇa and humanity. Even a few years ago, such hippies did not know the Hare Kṛṣṇa
mantra,
but now they are chanting it and becoming pure Vaiṣṇavas. Thus they are becoming free from all sinful activities, such as illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. This is practical proof of the effectiveness of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, which is supported in this verse. One may or may not know the value of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa
mantra,
but if one somehow or other chants it, he will immediately be purified, just as one who takes a potent medicine will feel its effects, regardless of whether he takes it knowingly or unknowingly.