17 The holy name invokes an attitude of service to the Lord
The test of successful chanting is eagerness to render service to the Lord:
[Muhammadan governor to Lord Caitanya]: The Muhammadan governor then said, “Since you have so kindly accepted me, please give me some order so that I can render You some service.”
The Muhammadan governor then prayed for liberation from the unlimited sinful actirities he had previously incurred by being envious of brahmanas and Vaisnavas and killing cows. If one is purified by following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s orders−that is, by chanting the holy name of Krsna−one must certainly be eager to render service to the Lord. This is the test. When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord’s service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of chanting the names of Krsna and Hari… After being released from one’s sinful reactions (karma), one becomes eager to serve the Lord. This is the test. Since the Muhammadan governor was immediately purified in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he could utter the names of Krsna and Hari. Consequently he was anxious to render some service.
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 16.188−89
One engaged in chanting the holy name becomes freed from the bodily conception and attached to serving the Lord:
A person properly initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and engaged in chanting gradually becomes freed from the conception of “I” and “mine” and becomes attached to the Lord’s transcendental loving service in one of the five transcendental relationships. Such transcendental service is not a subject matter for gross and subtle bodies. Only when one can understand that there is no difference between the Supreme and His name can one be situated in Krsna consciousness. At such a time one no longer needs to make grammatical adjustments. Rather, one becomes more interested in petitioning the Lord: “Hare Krsna−O my Lord, O energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service!”
– Teachings of Lord Caitanya
