TEXT 12
naikantikam tad dhi krte pi niskrte
manah punar dhavati ced asat-pathe
tat karma-nirharam abhipsatam harer
gunanuvadah khalu sattva-bhavanah
SYNONYMS
nanot; aikantikamabsolutely cleansed; tatthe heart; hibecause; krtevery nicely performed; apialthough; niskrteatonement; manahthe mind; punahagain; dhavatiruns; cetif; asat-patheon the path of material activities; tattherefore; karma-nirharamcessation of the fruitive reactions of material activities; abhipsatamfor those who seriously want; harehof the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna-anuvadahconstant chanting of the glories; khaluindeed; sattva-bhavanahactually purifying ones existence.
TRANSLATION
The ritualistic ceremonies of atonement recommended in the religious scriptures are insufficient to cleanse the heart absolutely because after atonement ones mind again runs toward material activities. Consequently, for one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from ones heart completely.
PURPORT
The statements in this verse have been confirmed previously in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17):
Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyones heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. It is the special mercy of the Supreme Lord that as soon as He knows that one is glorifying His name, fame and attributes, He personally helps cleanse the dirt from ones heart. Therefore simply by such glorification one not only becomes purified, but also achieves the results of pious activities (punya-sravana-kirtana). Punya-sravana-kirtana refers to the process of devotional service. Even if one does not understand the meaning of the Lords name, pastimes or attributes, one is purified simply by hearing or chanting of them. Such purification is called sattva-bhavana.
Ones main purpose in human life should be to purify his existence and achieve liberation. As long as one has a material body, one is understood to be impure. In such an impure, material condition, one cannot enjoy a truly blissful life, although everyone seeks it. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.1) says, tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyet: one must perform tapasya, austerity, to purify his existence in order to come to the spiritual platform. The tapasya of chanting and glorifying the name, fame and attributes of the Lord is a very easy purifying process by which everyone can be happy. Therefore everyone who desires the ultimate cleansing of his heart must adopt this process. Other processes, such as karma, jnana and yoga, cannot cleanse the heart absolutely.

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