Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.13.8-9
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionChant Sincerely, Never to Excuse Sin
“One who has killed a brāhmaṇa, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or spiritual master can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Nārāyaṇa. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and caṇḍālas, who are less than śūdras, can also be freed in this way. But you are a devotee, and we shall help you by performing the great horse sacrifice. If you please Lord Nārāyaṇa in that way, why should you be afraid? You will be freed even if you kill the entire universe, including the brāhmaṇas, not to speak of killing a disturbing demon like Vṛtrāsura.”
What the purport teaches
- The holy name of the Lord is so spiritually potent that even one utterance can remove more sinful reactions than one can imagine producing. Regular chanting and Deity worship assure purification for sincere devotees.
- The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement offers everyone purification, regardless of birth or family. Anyone can be purified by chanting the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee.
- Intentionally committing sins on the strength of chanting is a most serious offense to the holy name. Purposefully arranging atonement to excuse sinful deeds cannot relieve the performer.
Try this today
Spend a few quiet minutes chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, with a sincere resolve not to use chanting to excuse a harmful act.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking purification through chanting, or treating it as an excuse to repeat wrongdoing?
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.