13 / The Maha-mantra

The importance of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna,
Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is very
strongly stressed in the Second Canto, 1st Chapter, 11th verse, of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam in the following way: Sukadeva Gosvami tells
Maharaj Pariksit: ““My dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to
the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, it is to be understood
that he has attained the highest perfectional stage.” It is specifically
mentioned that the karmis who are aspiring after the fruitive results
of their activities, the salvationists who are aspiring to become one
with the Supreme Person, and the yogis who are aspiring after mystic
perfections can achieve the results of all perfectional stages simply
by chanting the maha-mantra. Sukadeva uses the word nirnitam,
which means “‘it is already decided.’ He was a liberated soul and
therefore could not accept anything which was not conclusive. So
Sukadeva Gosvami especially stresses that it is already concluded that
one who has come to the stage of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra
with determination and steadiness must be considered as having al-
ready passed the trials of fruitive activities, mental speculation and
mystic yoga.

The same thing is confirmed in the Adi Purdna by Krsna. While
addressing Arjuna He says, ‘““Anyone who is engaged in chanting My
transcendental name must be considered to be always associating
with Me. AndI may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become
easily purchased.”

In the Padma Purana also it is stated: “The chanting of the Hare
Krsna mantra is present only on the lips of a person who has for

108
