Text 322] Explanations of the Atmarama Verse 277
na tirtham na vratarn hemo
na snanam na japa-kriya
diksayah karanarn kintu
svecchd-prapte tu sad-gurau
“If, by chance, one gets a sad-guru, it doesn’t matter whether one is in the
temple or the forest. If the sad-guru, the bona fide spiritual master, agrees, one
can be initiated immediately, without waiting for a suitable time or place.”

In the early morning hours (known as brahma-muhdrta) one should get up and
immediately chant the Hare Krsna mantra, or, at least, “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.” In this
way, one should remember Krsna. Some slokas or prayers should also be chanted.
By chanting, one immediately becomes auspicious and transcendental to the in-
fection of material qualities. Actually one has to chant and remember Lord Krsna
twenty-four hours daily, or as much as possible.

smartavyah satatam visnur
vismartavyo na jatucit
sarve vidhi-nisedhah syur
etayor eva kinkarah
“Krsna is the origin of Lord Visnu. He should always be remembered and never
forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the sdastras
should be the servants of these two principles.” This is a quotation from Padma
Purana in the portion called Brhat-sahasra-nama-stotra.

Pratah-krtya means that one should evacuate regularly and then cleanse himself
by taking a bath. One has to gargle (acamana) and brush his teeth (danta-
dhavana). He should do this either with twigs or a toothbrush—whatever
is available. This will purify the mouth. Then one should take his bath. Actually
householders and vdnaprasthas should bathe two times a day (pratar-
madhydhnayoh snanam vdanaprastha-grhasthayoh). A sannydsi should bathe three
times daily, and a brahmacari may take only one bath a day. Whenever one is not
able to bathe in water, he can bathe by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. One also
has to perform his sandhyddi-vandana—that is, one has to chant his Gayatri
mantra three times daily —morning, noon and evening.

TEXT 332
PBrlaa, Bia, MET aH |
ORCA, Ber %eo SawifH-ataAe | Or ti
