Hare Krsna,
What I liked about Devahuti’s prayers is that she nailed down the essence of Lord Kapiladeva’s teachings. After hearing her son’s instructions, she got down to the most basic and most important lesson for all of us. And that is the glories of chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord. In her prayers to Lord Kapila, she glorified the Holy Name. This shows that the Supreme Lord and His Holy Name are non-different. When we glorify the Holy Name, it is same as glorifying the Supreme Lord in person, and vice versa. Lord Kapila preached pure devotional service. The essence of pure devotional service is the chanting of the Holy Name.
The chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord is applicable for all ages. Usually we know that the best form of sacrifice for the dark age of Kali Yuga is the chanting of the Holy Name. I was reflecting that the discussion between Lord Kapila and Devahuti happened sometime in Satya-yuga. She glorifies the Holy Name and this shows that the chanting of the Holy Name was prevalent even during Satya-yuga. In SB 12.3.52, it is mentioned, “Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.” If meditation on Visnu was the main form of sacrifice in Satya-yuga, why would people not take to the chanting of the Holy Name in that age since it is easier than intense meditation for prolonged time? I guess the devotees in those ages were mentally and physically very capable that it was possible for them to perform meditation. It is inconceivable to understand it while living in Kali-yuga.
The chanting of the Holy Name surpasses all other qualifications to attain purity, perfection and self-realization. Srila Prabhupada explains that persons who are purified by the process of chanting and hearing become immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. What is even more amazing that even a dog-eater (low class person) becomes elegibile to perform Vedic sacrifices if he chants the Holy Name even once.
“To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.” (SB 3.33.6)
This is the mercy of the Supreme Lord. This prayer of Devahuti is especially applicable for Kali-yuga because most people are meat-eaters and very sinful.
“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (SB 12.3.51)
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, especially in this fallen age.
Next, Devahuti says that persons who chant the Holy Name of the Lord are worshipable.
“Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Āryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.” (SB 3.33.8)
This is a bit hard for me to accept. How could one who chants the Holy Name must have executed all kinds of austerities, achieved all good manners of Aryams, bathed at all the holy places, and studied all the Vedas. I find it difficult to accept because I still struggle with inattentiveness while chanting. Going by the above verse, it means that since we are chanting the Holy Name in this life, we must have achieved all perfections in previous life. However considering that I am still very must conditioned by material modes, I find this statement difficult to accept. It could be true if we are talking about offenseless and pure chanting of the Holy Name.
Anyway leaving aside all doubts, it is important to accept the essence of Devahuti’s prayers – we must chant the Holy Name of the Lord always. The chanting becomes more effective if the Holy Name is received from a bonafide spiritual master through initiation.
“By the process of initiation by the spiritual master, a person is accepted as a brāhmaṇa in his purified state of chanting the holy name of the Lord. He then makes further progress to become a qualified Vaiṣṇava, which means that the brahminical qualification is already acquired.” (SB 3.33.6 Purport)
CC Madhya 6.242
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’”
All glories to the chanting of the Holy Name! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 