Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.3.1
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPractice Chanting Never Goes in Vain
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the King of the elephants, Gajendra, fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence and chanted a mantra which he had learned in his previous birth as Indradyumna and which he remembered by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, Gajendra remembered the prayer he had practiced in his previous birth. His danger became an opportunity to remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Even if someone falls down from devotional service, the practice never goes in vain. Kṛṣṇa gives another chance to remember Him and achieve perfection.
- Devotees should practice chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and try to perfect their Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this life. Chanting should not be forgotten under any circumstances.
Try this today
Set aside two quiet minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.
Ask yourself
How can I make chanting a steady practice rather than something I remember only in danger?
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.