340 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Antya-lila, Ch. 3

PURPORT

In an indirect way, this verse explains the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-
mantra. The Hare Krsna mahad-mantra—Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—includes both the holy
name of Lord Krsna and the name of Lord Rama. Lord Rama gives one the oppor-
tunity to be liberated, but simply by liberation one does not get actual spiritual
benefit. Sometimes if one is liberated from the material world but has no shelter at
the lotus feet of Krsna, one falls down to the material world again. Liberation is like
a state of convalescence, in which one is free from a fever but is still not healthy.
Even in the stage of convalescence, if one is not very careful, one may have a
relapse. Similarly, liberation does not offer as much security as the shelter of the
lotus feet of Krsna. It is stated in the sdastra:

ye ‘nye ‘ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah

druhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho ‘nddrta-yusmad-anghrayah

“O Lord, the intelligence of those who think themselves liberated but who have
no devotion is impure. Even though they rise to the highest point of liberation by
dint of severe penances and austerities, they are sure to fall down again into ma-
terial existence, for they do not take shelter at Your lotus feet.” (Srimad-
Bhagavatam 10.2.32) Yusmad-anghrayah refers to the lotus feet of Krsna. If one
does not take shelter of Krsna’s lotus feet, he falls down (patanty adhah), even
from liberation. The Hare Krsna mahd-mantra, however, gives liberation and at the
same time offers shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna. If one takes shelter at the lotus
feet of Krsna after liberation, he develops his dormant ecstatic love for Krsna. That
is the highest perfection of life.

TEXT 258

SHAT HS’ SI CHCA FA Hl |
SAC SAH CWE LS CHAI rev ti

krsna-nama deha’ tumi more kara dhanya
amare bhasdya yaiche ei prema-vanya

SYNONYMS

krsna nama—the holy name of Lord Krsna; deha’—please give; tumi—you;
more—me; kara dhanya—make fortunate; dmare—me; bhasaya—may cause to
float; yaiche—so that; ei—this; prema-vanya—inundation of ecstatic love of
Lord Krsna.
