Without Great Eagerness for Śrī Kṛṣṇa-nāma

Without Great Eagerness for Śrī Kṛṣṇa-nāma, Mundane Thoughts Will Remain

by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda

śrī śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya-candro-vijayatetamam

Victory to the moon-like Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya

Śrī Māyāpura
Śrī Gaurābda 429
2 October, 1915

Dear recipient of my affection,

I received your letter dated the 5th of [the month of] Padmanābha (22 September). I realized that due to scarcity of time a detailed letter to you may be delayed, I am writing in brief.

I am extremely delighted to know that you have understood that [steadiness in] chanting a fixed number of holy names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa brings all auspiciousness. Do not slacken your endeavours to chant the holy names just because material thoughts arise in your mind while you are chanting. An intermediate result of chanting the holy names is that such futile thoughts are gradually dispelled, so you should not be anxious about that. There is no possibility of the fruit [of chanting] in the very beginning. When extreme affection (prīti) for śrī kṛṣṇa-nāma arises [in the heart], the greed for mundane feelings will diminish. Without great eagerness for kṛṣṇa-nāma, how will material thoughts be dispelled?

Imported sugar and adulterated ghee are impure and only indigenous sugar and uncontaminated ghee are pure. Yet, both pure and impure ingredients are material objects. Śrī Bhagavān does not accept any object, be it pure or impure, unless it is offered with heartfelt sentiments. One should engage in sevā in such a way that one does not commit sevā-aparādha. Only by serving śrī nāma with one’s body, mind and words does Śrī Kṛṣṇa (who is nāmī, the possessor of the name) exhibits His most benevolent form.

I hope that your bhajana is going well.

Your eternal well-wisher
Śrī Siddhānta Sarasvatī

Translated by the Rays of The Harmonist team