Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.23.16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesChanting the Holy Name Makes Worship Complete
“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.”
What the purport teaches
- In Kali-yuga, Vedic sacrifices are extremely difficult to perform perfectly. Pronunciation, rules, time, place, persons and materials may all involve discrepancies.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends chanting the Lord’s holy name as the means of deliverance in this age. The recommended sacrifice is saṅkīrtana, constant chanting of the holy name.
- One should carefully follow the principles of spiritual activity while compensating for discrepancies by chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement therefore stresses chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in all activities.
Try this today
Spend five minutes today attentively chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
Ask yourself
How can I give chanting a steady place in my day while remaining careful in my service?
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.