Glories of Chanting Holy Names

säìketyaà pärihäsyaà vä stobhaà helanam eva vä

vaikuëöha-näma-grahaëam açeñägha-haraà viduù

One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures. [SB 6.2.14]

ajïänäd athavä jïänäd uttamaçloka-näma yat

saìkértitam aghaà puàso dahed edho yathänalaù

As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one's sinful activities. [SB 6.2.18]

Çréla Prabhupäda explains:

Fire will act, regardless of whether handled by an innocent child or by someone well aware of its power. For example, if a field of straw or dry grass is set afire, either by an elderly man who knows the power of fire or by a child who does not, the grass will be burned to ashes. Similarly, one may or may not know the power of chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra, but if one chants the holy name he will become free from all sinful reactions.

Another example stated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam:

yathägadaà véryatamam upayuktaà yadåcchayä

ajänato 'py ätma-guëaà kuryän mantro 'py udähåtaù

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. [SB 6.2.19]