TEXTS 2728
ab-bhaksah katicin masan
katicid vayu-bhojanah
aradhayan mantram imam
abhyasyanta idaspatim
om namo narayanaya
purusaya mahatmane
visuddha-sattva-dhisnyaya
maha-hamsaya dhimahi
SYNONYMS
ap-bhaksahdrinking only water; katicit masanfor some months; katicitfor some; vayu-bhojanahmerely breathing, or eating air; aradhayanworshiped; mantram imamthis mantra, which is nondifferent from Narayana; abhyasyantahpracticing; idah-patimthe master of all mantras, Lord Visnu; omO Lord; namahrespectful obeisances; narayanayaunto Lord Narayana; purusayathe Supreme Person; maha-atmanethe exalted Supersoul; visuddha-sattva-dhisnyayawho is always situated in the transcendental abode; maha-hamsayathe great swanlike Personality of Godhead; dhimahiwe always offer.
TRANSLATION
For a few months the sons of Prajapati Daksa drank only water and ate only air. Thus undergoing great austerities, they recited this mantra: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always situated in His transcendental abode. Since He is the Supreme Person [paramahamsa], let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.
PURPORT
From these verses it is apparent that the chanting of the maha-mantra or the Vedic mantras must be accompanied by severe austerities. In Kali-yuga, people cannot undergo severe austerities like those mentioned hereindrinking only water and eating only air for many months. One cannot imitate such a process. But at least one must undergo some austerity by giving up four unwanted principles, namely illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Anyone can easily practice this tapasya, and then the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra will be effective without delay. One should not give up the process of austerity. If possible, one should bathe in the waters of the Ganges or Yamuna, or in the absence of the Ganges and Yamuna one may bathe in the water of the sea. This is an item of austerity. Our Krsna consciousness movement has therefore established two very large centers, one in Vrndavana and another in Mayapur, Navadvipa. There one may bathe in the Ganges or Yamuna, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and thus become perfect and return home, back to Godhead.

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