- . . . yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ
- sa bahyābhyantara-śuciḥ
- śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu
- (Garuḍa Purāṇa)
By chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu, one becomes purified in whatever condition he may be. Apavitraḥ pavitro vā: either he is pure or impure; sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā: any condition of life, if he chants the holy name of Viṣṇu, then he becomes immediately purified internally and externally.
(break) . . . on the strength of chanting. This is the greatest offense. It is a fact that when one chants this mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, immediately, his past sinful reaction of life immediately ceases. But if he thinks that "Because by chanting, my sinful reaction are counteracted, therefore I may go on committing sinful activities, at the same time chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra," this is called nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ (Padma Purāṇa, Brahma-kaṇḍha 25.16).
One who is continuing sinful activities on the strength of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, that is the greatest offense. So out of the ten kinds of offenses, as explained by Subala Mahārāja, this is the most important item. One should not commit any sinful activity because he is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.