Mukunda-mala-stotra Verse 26

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Mukunda-mala-stotra 26

madhu ksarantiva mudavahani

SYNONYMS

tattvam -- the truth; bruvanani -- which speak; param -- supreme; parastat -- beyond everything superior; madhu -- honey; ksaranti -- dripping; iva -- as if; muda -- joy; avahani -- bringing; pravartaya -- please recite; pranjalih -- with joined palms; asmi -- I am; jihve -- O tongue; namani -- the names; narayana-gocarani -- which refer to Lord Narayana.

TRANSLATION

My dear tongue, I stand before you with joined palms and beg you to recite the names of Lord Narayana. These names describing the Supreme Absolute Truth bring great pleasure, as if exuding honey.

PURPORT

At first our tongues may be unwilling to chant the Lord's names. Describing the neophyte chanter, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states, "Some bear only the burden; others appreciate the true worth of things." Srila Rupa Gosvami also recognizes the plight of the beginner and encourages him to pursue his chanting even though it seems dry and unpleasant: "The holy name, character, pastimes, and activities of Krsna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya, ignorance, cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that if a person simply chants these sweet names carefully every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root" (Nectar of Instruction 7).

We may also take heart in the example of Namacarya Haridasa Thakura. Although born in a Muslim family, he received the mercy of the holy name and began to chant Hare Krsna constantly. In this way he achieved the highest perfection of love of Godhead. Indeed, he was such an exalted devotee that Lord Caitanya Himself praised him "as if speaking with five mouths." We cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura, but it is encouraging to know that although one may be lowborn, one can overcome all obstacles by the mercy of the holy name. Moreover, Haridasa Thakura always remained very humble and wanted to remain aware of his material disqualifications. He therefore did not want to associate too intimately with Lord Caitanya, and he did not attempt to enter the temple at Jagannatha Puri. Cultivating humility in the mood of Haridasa Thakura is an absolute requirement for one who wishes to taste the nectar of the holy name and to chant constantly.

The honey within the holy name is remembrance of Krsna. That is why chanting the name brings ecstasy. As Srila Prabhupada writes, "The more one chants the names of Krsna, the more one becomes attached. Thus service by sravana and kirtana, hearing and chanting about Krsna, is the beginning. The next process is smarana -- always remembering Krsna. When one is perfect in hearing and chanting, he will always remember Krsna. In this third stage he becomes the greatest yogi" (The Matchless Gift, p. 89). Whether we are still at the beginning stage of bhakti, afflicted with avidya, or whether we are starting to appreciate "the true worth of things," let us all go on chanting the holy names of the Lord. And let us relish verses from the authorized devotees who tell us of the honey in the holy name, such as this one by Srila Sanatana Gosvami:

jayati jayati namananda-rupam murarer

viramita-nija-dharma-dhyana-pujadi-yatnam

katham api sakrd attam mukti-dam praninam yat

paramam amrtam ekam jivanam bhusanam me

"All glories, all glories to the all-blissful holy name of Sri Krsna, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation, and worship. When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation. The holy name of Krsna is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure" (Brhad-bhagavatamrta 1.9).

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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