- sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ vā
- stobhaṁ helanam eva vā
- vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇam
- aśeṣāgha-haraṁ viduḥ
- (SB 6.2.14)
Sāṅketya. Just like sometimes on the street some outsider, seeing you, they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa only by the symbolic, sāṅketya. Because they see: "They have got tilaka, kaṇṭhī." Therefore these things are required. Don't become immediately paramahaṁsa—no tilaka, no kaṇṭhī and no bead bag. This is not good. Sāṅketya, so that others may understand, "Here is a Vaiṣṇava. Here is a Kṛṣṇa devotee." And if he is simple, he'll chant "Hare Kṛṣṇa." This chance should be given. Therefore it is necessary, how people can utter. That chanting may save him from the greatest danger.
Therefore it is said, sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyam. If somebody jokes. . . Sometimes they do that. "Hare Kṛṣṇa" means he is not seriously chanting, but he is trying to joke the other party who is engaged in chanting. And that is also good, pārihāsya. During Caitanya Mahāprabhu's time, the Muslims, they used to joke the Hindus, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa." So the practice made them chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. And the police officer was informed by the constables that "These Hindus are chanting 'Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa.' " The police officer asked him, "Then why you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa?" By imitating, they became practiced to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. It is so nice. Even joking, symbolic, sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ stobham. Or prema. Helanam eva vā. Without any care, "Hare Kṛṣṇa," any way if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, then vaikuṇṭha-nāma grahaṇam aśeṣa agha-haram (SB 6.2.14). Agha. Agha means sinful activities.
So, so nice thing, Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, some way or other, if we can take it very seriously, then our life will be successful at the end of life if we can chant. Therefore Yamunācārya says. . . Not Yamunācārya; Kulaśekhara Mahārāja. He was also emperor.
- kṛṣṇa tvadīya-pada-paṅkaja-pañjarāntam
- adyaiva viśatu me mānasa-rāja-haṁsaḥ
- prāṇa-prayāṇa-samaye kapha vāta pittaiḥ
- kaṇṭhāvarodhana-vidhau smaraṇaṁ kutas te
- (MM 33)
He is praying, "My Lord, now I am healthy. I am quite conscious. So this time, if I absorb my mind in Your lotus feet and die, it is very good. It is very good because in the natural time of death, the three elements—kapha, vāta—they'll be dismantled, and there will be different sounds, and mind will be distracted, brain will be falling. So hardly there is possibility of chanting Your holy name. The best thing is: now I am feeling healthy—my whole system, physical system, is quite fit—let me chant and die immediately." This is desire of the devotee.
So we should keep ourself. . . Kṛṣṇa is also very kind. If you chant seriously, without offense, even the mental condition at the time of death is disordered, Kṛṣṇa will help you how to chant without any offense. So we must. . . The only qualification is that we must be very sincere. Even by symbolic chanting, by joking, if one can get the benefit, why not do it carefully? Why not do it carefully? What is the wrong there? Be serious and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa very carefully in order to get success of life at the time of death.