Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.33.7 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Glory of Chanting the Holy Name
“Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Āryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.”
What the purport teaches
- Those who chant the Lord’s holy name are worshipable, regardless of their family of birth. Offenseless chanting purifies a person immediately, without waiting for another birth.
- The chanters are understood to have already performed austerities and sacrifices, visited holy places and studied the Vedas. Chanting stands beyond these preparatory practices.
- One must chant the holy name of the Supreme Lord, such as Kṛṣṇa or Rāma, to please Him. Chanting is not meant for sense gratification or professional gain.
Try this today
Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra slowly today, with the intention of pleasing the Lord.
Ask yourself
How can I make pleasing the Supreme Lord my purpose in chanting?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.