Question: What is the scriptural authority for the statement found in the purport below, which compares the relative effect of chanting the names Visnu, Rama and Krsna?
According to the Varäha Puräëa, as quoted by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, there is no difference between the water of the Ganges and the Yamunä, but when the water of the Ganges is sanctified one hundred times, it is called the Yamunä. Similarly, it is said in the scriptures that one thousand names of Viñëu are equal to one name of Räma, and three names of Lord Räma are equal to one name of Kåñëa.
Answer by Romapada Swami:
1. The Padma Puräëa is quoted in the Hari-bhakti-viläsa (11.183) as follows [Çata-näma-stotra states the same]:
viñëor ekaika-nämäpi sarva-vedädhikaà matam
tädåk näma-sahasreëa räma-näma-samaà småtam
“One name of Lord Viñëu is superior to all the Vedas, and one name of Lord Räma is equal to a thousand names of Viñëu.”
2. The Brahmäëòa Puräëa states:
sahasra-nämnäà puëyänäà
trir ävåttyä tu yat phalam
ekävåttyä tu kåñëasya
nämaikaà tat prayacchati
“‘When the thousand transcendental names of Çré Viñëu are chanted three times, they are equivalent to chanting one name of Kåñëa.’
3. Thus: a thousand names of Viñëu equals one name of Räma, and three thousand names of Viñëu – that is to say, three names of Räma – equals one name of Kåñëa. Chanting Kåñëa’s name once gives the same result as chanting Räma’s name three times.
