Prabhupāda: Once chanting is sufficient. But because we are not offenseless, therefore we have to make a regulated program that we must chant Hare Kṛṣṇa so many times. Otherwise one chanting of Kṛṣṇa is sufficient to make you liberated. One chant, "Kṛṣṇa," "Rāma," once, that's all, sufficient.
Just like this Ajāmila. Once he chanted "Nārāyaṇa." He became immediately liberated because he was offenseless. But because we cannot do that, therefore we have to make a prescription. Just like a child who cannot write very good hand. He is asked that: "You write so many pages." By writing, writing, writing, writing, writing, he writes good hand. So we should not neglect. Chanting, chanting, chanting . . . another . . . this is one side. Another side is when you become liberated, the chanting will give you transcendental pleasure so that you cannot cease. You cannot cease chanting. That is another side.
That is liberated stage, just like Rūpa Gosvāmī, Haridāsa Ṭhākura. You cannot imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but you must make a prescribed form that, "I must chant so many times." That is for conditioned soul. When you are liberated, then there is no need of giving you direction. You'll feel transcendental pleasure by chanting. You cannot cease.
Yes?
Devotee (2): (indistinct) . . . was not prescribed. So how was it possible to chant the name at the time of death?
Prabhupāda: No, in his childhood . . . when he was a boy he was doing everything. You have not heard? Yes. So svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt (BG 2.40). Because he practiced sometimes before falling down, so by chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra he immediately remembered that real Nārāyaṇa immediately, His pastimes, His form, everything, and therefore he became liberated. He had practiced. But for the time being his practice was stopped on account of bad association. But as soon as chanted . . .
That is the advantage of a devotee. If you practice devotional service even for some time and if you fall down, then it will also help sometime. Nārada therefore says, tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ harer bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi (SB 1.5.17). He says that a person who takes to devotional service, giving up all his prescribed duties . . .
Just like Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). Now, in course of prosecuting the devotional service, even he falls down there is no loss, because whatever he has done, that remains his credit. Whereas a person who is following the ritualistic principles but does not develop devotional service, what will be benefit? He may get a promotion to the heavenly planet. What is that gain?
The performance of ritualistic ceremonies, according to Vedic injunction, may—just like here they are doing—they may get promotion to the heavenly planet. That much. They are not devotees. They are not eligible for entering into the kingdom of God. Therefore Nārada says: "What is the benefit?" Suppose if one performs a ritualistic ceremony and is elevated to the heavenly planet, Satyaloka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka . . . there are so many higher planets, up to Brahmaloka. But Kṛṣṇa says, ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokān punar āvartino (BG 8.16). He has to come back again.