Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 11.192
The Holy Name Gives Spiritual Greatness
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse: “ ‘My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore by material calculation may be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. He has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.’””
What the purport teaches
- One who always keeps the Lord’s holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Even a person considered lowest by material calculation becomes glorious through chanting.
- One who chants should be understood to have performed austerities and great sacrifices, bathed in all holy places and studied all the Vedas.
- Āryan means spiritually advanced; genuine qualifications are required to be a brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan. Devahūti praised the devotee’s greatness after understanding the influence of devotional service.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy name attentively.
Ask yourself
Do I value the spiritual greatness of chanting more than material judgments about birth?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.