Lokanātha: Why that sixteen minimum?
Prabhupāda: If you can, sixteen thousand you can go. Sixteen rounds is the minimum. But if you are able to chant sixteen thousand rounds, that is welcome. We have got so much engagement. Still, we say, "We don't find engagement." This is our misfortune. (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was engaged in chanting, and the prostitute came. She offered, "Let us enjoy." "Yes, let me finish. Let me finish this chanting." So much engagement, and still we say, "No engagement." He refused to have sex with a beautiful young girl because he had engagement. "First of all let me finish my engagement." And we say we have no engagement. How unfortunate we are. (break) . . . says, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ (CC Adi 17.31). Twenty-four-hours engagement He has given, and we see there is no engagement.
Lokanātha: Some devotees have fixed different number than sixteen. Some are chanting twenty minimum or twenty-five.
Prabhupāda: Yes. It should be increased.
Lokanātha: Is it recommended for our . . .
Prabhupāda: But don't decrease. Don't decrease; increase. Therefore one number is fixed: "At least this much I shall do." That is sixteen rounds.
Lokanātha: But you are recommending sixteen as a minimum, and some devotees are choosing twenty as a minimum.
Prabhupāda: So who forbids? Who says that "Don't do it"?
Lokanātha: They can chant.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That is wanted. But because you cannot do it; therefore we have fixed up this minimum. Saṅkhyāta asaṅkhyāta. Saṅkhyāta means with vow, numerical strength. And asaṅkhyāta means there is no limit.