Prabhupāda: This is also Purāṇa says. Especially it is harer nāma (CC Adi 17.21), it is not gupta. That is in the Kali-yuga it should be openly chanted, and we have to follow our predecessor, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, nāmācārya.
Guest: (indistinct) . . . (break)
Prabhupāda: When we chant, when we utter the bīja mantra, that we utter loudly. That is required. That is japa. So this mantra is mahā-mantra, and it should be chanted loudly, or as you like. There is no such restriction. Niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ. Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ (CC Antya 20.16) . . . (indistinct)
And we have to follow the great personalities. Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was chanting very loudly; Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted very loudly. So what more evidence you want? My Guru Mahārāja chanted loudly; we are chanting loudly. Whole business finished. (chuckles) Is that all right? Eh?
Guest: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Our process is very easy. We have to see whether my Guru Mahārāja, his Guru Mahārāja has followed this. Then there will be no more doubt. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam (BG 4.2). We receive things by paramparā system. Mahājano yena gataḥ. Sādhu mārgānu-gamanam. We have to follow the footsteps of sādhu.
Guest: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Even if I am not well conversant with the Vedas and Purāṇas, if I see that my spiritual master is doing that, that is sufficient.
Guest: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Yes. So karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa . . . we say karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa sakali visera bandha. They are all pots of poison. Karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa sakalī viṣera bāṅdha. You understand? All of them are pots of poison. Amṛta baliyā yebā khāya. One who accepts this viṣa bandha, this poison pot, as amṛta, as nectar, then what is the result? Nānā yoni brahman kare (Prema-bhakti-candrikā). The result is that he will continue with the . . .
Guest: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Ah, that business will go on. Nānā yoni brahman kare kadarya bhakṣaṇa kare. When there is question of various types of body, it may be I can get the body of hog, then I have to eat stool. By karma-kāṇḍa I become so much abominable, because nānā yoni brahman kare, there is no guarantee.
Guest: . . . (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: That's all right. But he was the king; he had to perform this karma-kāṇḍa for the prajā. Yes. That is according to the Vedic principle. So karma-kāṇḍa, for ordinary man it is not condemned, but those who are in devotional service, they do not require the guidance of karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa. Therefore sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG 18.66). All dharmas, they are in karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa. And bhakti is jñāna-karmādy anāvṛtam (CC Madhya 19.167).
- anyābhilāṣitā śūnyaṁ
- jñāna karmādy anāvṛtam
- ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanam
- (Brs. 1.1.11)
So bhakti is above karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa. Rather, bhakti should not be tinged or polluted by karma-kāṇḍa conception.