Glories of the Holy Name by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada

From Amrita Vani, Achieving Perfection, 47. According to Mahaprabhu, what is a human being’s most important duty? by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, English translation by Bhumipati dasa

Sri Caitanyadeva inaugurated the sankirtana movement and delivered the fallen souls of this age. He is the most magnanimous personality. In the verse beginning trnad api, He taught that chanting Krsna’s holy name is our only duty. Those who desire liberation and eternal happiness, as well as those who desire the treasure of love of God, should always chant the Lord’s holy name. The Lord’s name is nondifferent from Him. It is capable of delivering us from material existence and awarding us with love of Krsna.

One should chant the holy name of Krsna in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. The attitude espoused in trnad api sunicena destroys the misconception that we are God. A chanter always thinks himself a servant of the holy name and considers every object in this world as meant for Krsna’s service and enjoyment.

Krsna’s holy names and Deity forms are nondifferent from Him. The holy name is sat-cit-ananda, directly the son of Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda. The holy name can speak. The holy name is the Supersoul and omniscient. Krsna in His holy name appears in a pure heart before spiritual eyes, on the service-inclined tongue, in the service-inclined ears, and in the senses engaged in satisfying His
own senses.

We can achieve all perfection by performing sankirtana. Even the reflection of the holy name destroys all sinful reactions and material bondage. At that point the living entity becomes liberated and becomes qualified to chant himself. Krsna’s holy name is the reservoir of all transcendental pleasure. The Lord’s devotees serve Him by chanting that name.

Chanting destroys all misfortune and purifies our heart so that the Lord will appear there. The holy name of Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The holy name is the reservoir of transcendental pastimes. The holy name is the primeval Lord. The holy name is most independent, the supreme controller of the universes, and the maintainer of all planets. He is the protector of all living entities. The holy name is capable of destroying any amount of blockage. The holy name purifies all hearts no matter how contaminated and destroys all illusion. Our hearts have accumulated contamination from time immemorial, and therefore the Lord’s pure name does not manifest in us, but by constant chanting that contamination is destroyed and the name full of transcendental energy and the source of all happiness will appear. The holy name is complete, perfect, and full of knowledge and bliss.

Krsna’s transcendental name appears only in a transcendental heart. Those hearts contaminated by the three modes of material nature cannot force the holy name to appear. Krsna alone is our worshipable Lord. He is worshiped only by love and devotion and not by a show of opulence.

Krsna’s holy name, which is the reservoir of all transcendental pleasure, cannot be compared even with the holy name of Rama. Rama’s holy name produces one-millionth of a portion of the mellow of nectarean love produced by Krsna’s holy name, because although Rama’s name is perfect, Krsna’s name is most perfect and complete. Rama’s name is a portion of Krsna’s name, and an
incarnation.

The holy name of Krsna is the source of all existence, knowledge, and bliss. It is the cause of all causes and it accepts the loving service of sincere servants.