Verse Text
63. atha śrī-nāma saṁkīrtanaṁ, yathā dvitīye (2.1.11)—
etan nirvidyamānānām icchatām akuto-bhayam |
yogināṁ nṛpa nirṇītaṁ harer nāmānukīrtanaṁ ||230||
Translation
Chanting the name of the Lord (verse 92), from the Second Canto: O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge. SB 2.1.11
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
“It is understood from this scripture that bhakti is the method. Among the aṅgas of bhakti, is one of them ascertained as the king?” This verse answers. Chanting the name of the Lord is the principal method. Among all the aṅgas of bhakti, the chief ones are hearing, chanting and remembering, as mentioned in the verse:
tasmād bhārata sarvātmā bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca smartavyaś cecchatābhayam
O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and, also, remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries. SB 2.1.5
Among those three, chanting is the chief. Among the different types of chanting — glorifying the names, pastimes and qualities of the Lord — chanting the name of the Lord is supreme. The phrase nāmānukīrtanam means, either chanting the name according to one’s bhakti, or chanting the name continuously, since anu means both “according to” and “continuously.” This has been ascertained (nirṇītam) by the previous ācāryas, not just by me in the present time. And, because of this, one need not ask for further proof. That is the meaning of nirṇītam. What is this chanting of the name? It is without fear at all. What else can be said about chanting the name of the Lord, since there are no reservations arising from considerations of pure or impure time, place, candidate or ingredients (akutobhayam)? Even the lowest of humanity who cannot tolerate service to the Lord are not opposed to this process of chanting.
“Then it is not the highest process for both sādhakas and siddhas.” The answer is given. It fulfills everyone’s desires. Nirvidyamānānām means those who are free from all desires, even from the desire for liberation. Thus, it refers to the devotees. Icchatām means those who have desires for Svarga or mokṣa. Yoginām refers to the ātmārāmas who are liberated. This is the process for the devotees, for those desiring material benefits and liberation and for those who have been liberated. This process has been ascertained as suitable for both the sādhaka and siddha, being both the means and the goal.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Icchatām refers to those desiring material satisfaction. Nirvidyamānānām refers to those desiring liberation. Yoginām refers to liberated persons. Nāma-kīrtana has no fear attached to it [Note: It is not given up at a certain stage for another practice which must be learned with extra endeavor and time, such as karma followed by jṣāna, followed by yoga and followed by bhakti.] (it is beneficial for all), since it acts both as the sādhana and the sādhya.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Chanting the Holy Name of the Lord
The importance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second Canto, First Chapter, verse 11, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the following way. Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Mahārāja Parīkṣit, “My dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, it is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional stage.” It is specifically mentioned that the karmīs who are aspiring after the fruitive results of their activities, the salvationists who are aspiring to become one with the Supreme Person, and the yogīs who are aspiring after mystic perfections can achieve the results of all perfectional stages simply by chanting the mahā-mantra. Śukadeva uses the word nirṇītam, which means “it has already been decided.” He was a liberated soul and therefore could not accept anything which was not conclusive. So Śukadeva Gosvāmī especially stresses that it has already been concluded that one who has come to the stage of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra with determination and steadiness must be considered to have already passed the trials of fruitive activities, mental speculation and mystic yoga.