1038 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 24

Supreme Lord, it is to be understood that he has finished all kinds of
austerities and penances and has attained efficiency in their execution. On
the other hand, if one does not attain the perfect stage of devotional service,
all austerities and penances actually have no meaning, for without the
Supreme Lord no one canattain the highest results derived from performing
them. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, Lord Sti Krsna is the master of all
penances and sacrifices.

bhoktaram yajfia-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rechati

“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and
austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the bene-
factor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of
material miseries.” (Bg. 5.29)

In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is also stated that even if a person is born in a
family of candalas—the lowest birth one can get in human society—he is
glorious if he chants the holy names of the Lord, for it is to be understood
that by such chanting a devotee definitely proves that he underwent all
kinds of austerities in his previous life. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, one
who chants the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) attains the highest
perfectional stage which had previously been attained by people who en-
tered the ocean and executed austerities for ten thousand years. In this age
of Kali, if a person does not take advantage of chanting the Hare Krsna
mantra, which is offered as a great concession to the fallen human beings
of this age, itis to be understood that he will become very much bewildered
by the illusory energy of the Lord.

TEXT 15

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yad uktam pathi drstena
girigena prasidata

tad dh yayanto japantaé ca
pujayantas ca samyatah
