25 Chanting at the time of death
One should pray to the Lord to be able to chant His holy name at the time of death: [The priests at King Nabhi’s sacrifice to Lord Visnu]: Dear Lord, we may not be able to remember Your name, form and qualities, due to stumbling, hunger, falling down, yawning or being in a miserable diseased condition at the time of death when there is a high fever. We therefore pray unto You, O Lord, for You are very affectionate to Your...
24 Results of giving up chanting
The attraction of chanting the holy name is so powerful that only an animal can give it up: [King Prthu to Lord Visnu]: My dear highly glorified Lord, if one, in the association of pure devotees, hears even once the glories of Your activities, he does not, unless he is nothing but an animal, give up the association of devotees, for no intelligent person would be so careless as to leave their association. The perfection of chanting and...
23 One should not concoct chants and mantras
One does not have to search for or concoct a name of God to chant. The sastras recommend particular names such as the Hare Krsna mantra: [Svayambhuva Manu said, in trance]: The entire cosmic manifestation is the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, who has millions of names and unlimited potencies. He is self-effulgent, unborn and changeless. He is the beginning of everything, but He has no beginning....
13 The maha mantra is the essence and the conclusion of all vedic Knowledge, Rituals, Hymns, and Mantras (and thus one who chants the Maha mantra is understood to have passed through all vedic knowledge and practices in previous lives)
The essence of all Vedic knowledge is included in the maha mantra: The Naradapancaratra praises the Hare Krsna maha mantra, as follows: trayo vedah sad−angani chandamsi vividhah surah sarvam astaksarantahstham yac canyad api van−mayam sarva−vedanta−sararthah samsararnava−taranah “The essence of all Vedic knowledge comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma−kanda, jnana−kanda and upasana−kanda], the chandah or Vedic...
18 One must become a servant of the holy name
One must become the servant of the holy name: In the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute; the name, form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such, one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in that spirit,...