Text 71] Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva 1121

movement we request the devotees to chant at least sixteen rounds on their
beads daily. Actually one has to chant twenty-four hours daily, just like
Thakura Haridasa, who was chanting the Hare Krsna mantra 300,000 times
daily. Indeed, he had no other business. Some of the Gosvamis like
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami were also chanting very cigidly and also offer-
six Gosvamis (Sad-gosvamy- astaka): sankhyd-piirvaka-nama-gananatibhih
kalavasanikrtau. The word sankhya-purvaka means “maintaining a numeri-
cal strength.”” Not only was Raghunatha dasa Gosvami chanting the holy
name of the Lord, but he was also offering obeisances in the same prolific
numbers.

Because the princes were ready to enter into some severe austerity in
order to worship the Lord, Lord Siva advised them to constantly chant
and meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is significant
that Lord Siva personally offered his prayers to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead just as he was taught by his father, Lord Brahma. Similarly, he
was also preaching to the princes according to the parampara system. One
should not only practice the instructions received from the spiritual master
but should also distribute this knowledge to his disciples.

The words atmanam atma-stham sarva-bhutesv avasthitam are also sig-
nificant. The Personality of Godhead is the origin of all living entities.
Because the living entities are parts and parcels of the Lord, He is the
father of all of them. One can search out the Supreme Lord very easily
within his heart, for He is situated in every living entity’s heart. In this
verse the process of worshiping the Lord is considered to be very easy and
complete, for anyone can sit down anywhere and in any condition of life
and simply chant the holy names of the Lord. By chanting and hearing,
one automatically engages in meditation.

TEXT 71

eres ATT AFT: |
eee: At CARFTT ATCT U9 Zi
yogadesam upasadya
dharayanto muni-vratah
samahita-dhiyah sarva
etad abhyasatadrtah
yoga-ddesam—this instruction of bhakti-yoga; updasddya—constantly
reading; dharayantah—and taking within the heart; muni-vratah—just take
the vow of the great sages, the vow of silence; samahita—always fixed in
