174 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 18

form of sound vibrations, enters within his heart and cleanses it of
all contamination. On the other hand, although bathing in the
Ganges diminishes bodily contaminations and infections, this pro-
cess and the process of visiting holy places can cleanse the heart
only after a long time. Therefore who is the sane man who will not
associate with devotees to quickly perfect his life?

PURPORT

Bathing in the Ganges can certainly cure one of many infectious dis-
eases, but it cannot cleanse one’s materially attached mind, which creates
all kinds of contaminations in material existence. However, one who
directly associates with the Supreme Lord by hearing of His activities
cleanses the dirt from his mind and very soon comes to Krsna conscious-
ness. Sita Gosvami confirms this in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17):

Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-Sravana-kirtanah

hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt-satam

The Supreme Lord within everyone’s heart becomes very pleased when a
person hears narrations of His activities, and He personally cleanses the
dirt from the mind of the listener. Hrdy antah-stho hy abhadraéni
vidhunoti: He washes off all dirt from the mind. Material existence is
caused by dirty things within the mind. If one can cleanse his mind, he
immediately comes to his original position of Krsna consciousness, and
thus his life becomes successful. Therefore all the great saints in the
devotional line very strongly recommend the process of hearing. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the congregational chanting of the
Hare Krsna mantra to give everyone a chance to hear Krsna’s holy name,
for simply by hearing Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one becomes purified
(ceto-darpana-marjanam). Therefore our Krsna consciousness move-
ment is chiefly engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra all over the
world.

After one’s mind becomes cleansed by chanting Hare Krsna, one
gradually comes to the platform of Krsna consciousness and then reads
