Ata eva namābhāse sarva pāpa vināṣa āra samsara kṣaya
(Sri Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu, Dakshin Part, 1/52)

Yesterday someone called me from West Bengal. He said, “I do not find time for bhajan, is there any other way out?” Without Harinām there is no other way in Kaliyuga. Just by the glow of the Holy Name (namābhāsa) everything can be attained. There are no restrictions, conditions for chanting the Names of the Lord and also there is no other easier method. So it is said 'ataeva'—therefore, the glow of the Holy Name can destroy all sins and earthly attachment.

taṁ nirvyājam bhaja guṇa-nidhe pāvanaṁ pāvanānāṁ
śraddhā-rajyan-matir atitarām uttamaḥ-śloka-maulim
prodyann antaḥ-karaṇa-kuhare hanta yan-nāma-bhānor
ābhāso ‘pi kṣapayati mahā-pātaka-dhvānta-rāśim

Hey guna-nidhe! The person who has got the aptitude to do Krishna-nāma is addessed here as 'guna-nidhe'. Among the infinite Names of the Lord, Krishna-nāma is the top-most, the Supreme. The fruits of chanting one thousand Visnu-nāma is equal to the fruits of chanting one Rama-nāma. And the benefit of chanting three thousand Visnu-nāma is equal to the benefit of chanting one Krishna-nāma. So Krishna-nāma is the top-most. One who has got the aptitude to do Krishna-nāma is 'guna-nidhe'. He is very fortunate. Krishna-nāma is the Redeemer of all redeemers and is worshiped by emancipated souls, realized souls and so He is addresses as 'uttamaḥ-śloka-mauli' i.e the crown of all avataras.

(Guruji repeats this in English)

One who has got the aptitude to do Krishna-nāma, the highest Name, Holy Name, he is richly endowed with all good qualities. So he is addressed as 'guna-nidhe'. Krishna-nāma is the Supreme Redeemer of all redeemers, the Supreme Rescuer of all rescuers. But you have to do it with firm faith and without deceitfulness, with deceitfulness Krishna-nāma cannot be chanted, and immediately, because any moment we may lose this chance. The Name have to be chanted with the frankness of heart; simple-heartedness is necessary. Crooked people are deprived from eternal welfare. Why the Name should be chanted? Because, as the glow of the Sun removes the darkness, like wise the glow of the Holy Name entering into the cave of the heart will destroy all great sins and nescience.

parama pāvana kṛṣṇa tānhānra charaṇa,
niskapata śraddhā saha karaha bhajan,
jānra nāma suryābhās antare praveśi,
dhvaṁsa kare mahāpāp andhakārarāśi,
ei śikṣāṣṭake kahe kṛṣṇalīlā-kram,
ihāte bhajan krame līlāra udgam,
prathame prathama śloka bhaja kichu din,
dvitīya ślokete tabe hauta pravīṇ

In this way Krishna-prema (the Divine Love) will manifest. The procedure has been given in Shikshashtaka. With the manifestation of the prema, pastimes of Krishna will get revealed in the heart.

chāri śloke kramaśaḥ bhajana pakkva kara,
pañcam ślokete nija siddha deha vara,
ei śloke siddhadehe rādhāpadāśraya,
ārambha kariyā krame unnati udaya

Unless the realized state (siddha-deha) is attained, one cannot enter into the transcendental pastimes. How can we understand we have attained realized state or not? The answer is given in the 6th Verse. While chanting the Holy Name the eight ecstatic symptoms will manifest, not to show others but will occur automatically. By the manifestation of ecstatic feelings, you can understand that you have realized your own real self or your real relation with the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

chaya śloka bhajite anartha dure gela,
tabe jāna siddhadehe adhikāra haila,
adhikāra nā labhiyā siddhadeha bhāve,
viparjya buddhi janme śaktira abhāve

Without attaining the eligibility if one thinks of the realized state, it will have reverse effect. Everything depends upon eligibility. You should earn that competency. Nothing should be attained briskly or immediately, it will take time. You should have patience and should do bhajan.

sāvdhāne krama dhara yadi siddhi cāo,
sādhura carita dekhi śuddha buddhi pāo,
siddhadeha peye krame bhajana karile,
aṣṭakāla sevāsukha anāyāse mile,

Till the time one does not get the realized state, the transcendental bliss of the eight period of pastimes of RadhaKrishna cannot be attained. You will get the taste of highest prema which can be tasted in realized state. It is not so easy, it will take time.

śikṣāṣṭaka cinta kara smaraṇa kīrtan,
krame aṣṭakāla-sevā habe uddīpana,
sakala anartha jābe pābe premadhana,
caturvarge phalguprāya habe adarśana

In spite of chanting Harinām and listening about the desires for mundane virtue, wealth, sensuous enjoyment and salvation (dharma, artha, kāma and mokśa) every year, we are engrossed in fulfilling those desires only. By incessantly thinking, remembering and singing of the eight verses of Shikshastaka all the ulterior desires will be removed. The undercurrent flow of desires for the above mentioned four objects of human pursuits will disappear. There will not remain even an iota of those desires.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ
bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ
vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ
prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ
paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

All attainments you can get by performing Sri Krishna Sankirtan. Here, principal seven attainments are mentioned; cleansing of the mirror of the heart, extinguishing the forest fire of birth, death and threefold afflictions, bestowing eternal soothing benefit like moonlight, life of spiritual learning i.e. awakening of the real self, increasing of the ocean of bliss, bestowing at every step sweet taste of complete transcendental ambrosia, and holy immersion of body-mind-real self. All glories to Sri Krishna Sankirtan!!

saṅkīrtana haite pāpa-saṁsāra-nāśana
citta-śuddhi, sarva-bhakti-sādhana-udgama
kṛṣṇa-premodgama, premāmṛta-āsvādana
kṛṣṇa-prāpti, sevāmṛta-samudre majjana
(Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 20.13-14)

By performing congregational chanting of the Holy Names, one can destroy the sinful material existence, purify the unclean heart and awaken all varieties of devotional service. The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Krishna and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Krishna and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love.

Thinking of Krishna-lila (pastimes of Krishna)

niśante kirtane kuñja bhaṅga kare dhyana
krame krame citta lagne rasera vidhān

At the close of the night you have to meditate about the awakening of Sri RadhaKrishna in the grove. Then you can get the transcendental bliss, the rasa, due to the eternal delightful relation with Krishna.

rātryante trastavṛnderita bahu-vira-vaibodhitau kirasārī
padyair-hṛdhyair api sukha-śayanād-utthitau tau sakhibhiḥ
dṛṣṭau hṛṣṭau tadātvoditarati-lalitau kakkhaṭīgīḥ saśaṅkau
rādhā-kṛṣṇau satṛṣṇāv api nija-nija dhāmnyāpta talpau smarāmi
(Govindalilamrita)

At day break Vrinda Devi sends Suk-Sarika and other birds to sing and awaken RadhaKrishna by their chirping sounds which are pleasing and not so pleasing. Gopis guard RadhaKrishna throughout the night. The birds are kept a far. They are keeping watch from far. How do they keep watch on new moon nights? Torches are not there with them. RadhaKrishna are far. In the darkness of the new moon how all these Gopis always guarding RadhaKrishna? No birds or anything can go near, how? It is the full darkness in new moon. There Yogamaya is arranging everything. Even at the time of Krishna’s advent, by Yogamaya’s arrangement Krishna is taken to Gokul Mahavan by Vasudeva. Nobody could know anything including Kamsa. All these pastimes take place by Yogamaya’s arrangement only. Those who are influenced by Mahamaya are in this world, and those who are influenced by Yogamaya they can enter into these pastimes. In spite of that darkness in the new moon it will not be any obstruction, because Yogamaya can do everything. Those who are averse to Sri Krishna will be enveloped by Mahamaya, they cannot understand. Devotees will be under the influence of Yogamaya and non-devotees are under Mahamaya. Maya will be there, otherwise the lila (pastime) cannot be done.

Sri Krishna is the Supreme Lord, the avatāri, and Radharani is His internal energy. Being His internal energy, She knows everything but still why does She cry in separation? This is because of Yogamaya, She forgets everything, Her real self. RadhaKrishna both forget Their real identity. Sometime by forgetting Herself, Radharani feels proud also. After forgetting the real identity only love manifests.

So, here Suk-Shari are parrots. We see here in this world parrots do mimicry. They imitate human voice. But there in the spiritual world they are realized souls. They are also spiritual. They are not like the starling (Myna) birds of this world. They sing the glories of RadhaKrishna. There is a competition. Suk sings the glories of Krishna and Krishna’s group of associates are pleased, and then Radharani’s group of associates feel depressed. Then Sarika sings the glories of Radharani even more than that of Krishna, then the hearts of Krishna’s group of devotees sink, they feel sad and Radharani’s group of associates are very much pleased. Then again Suk will sing more glories of Krishna, like this competition goes on, in very sweet mood. Hearing those songs slowly Radharani opens Her eyes, willingly and not by force. But Krishna does not open His eyes. He desires that everyone should get service. Krishna’s sleep is not like the sleep of any ordinary person. It is not like Kumbakarna’s sleep which is in the mode of ignorance (tamo-guna). It is transcendental realm and the sleep is just an excuse to give service. So Krishna keeps His eyes tightly shut. There is one little female monkey who desires to serve, but her voice is not sweet. So Gopis and Vrinda Devi do not approve of her service. Being very sad she thinks, “My life is wasted, I cannot serve.” But Krishna is not opening His eyes so as to give her service. When the Gopis find that Krishna is not opening His eyes they feel compelled to give permission to the female monkey who is looking at them from far. The Gopis give her signal, “Please proceed.” She makes loud harsh screaming sound and Krishna opens His eyes. RadhaKrishna look at each other with wistful eyes. They are also frightened thinking it is high time we have to go back to our houses. They afraid like ordinary persons but actually They are enacting the pastimes. They are the Highest Truth, Highest Reality. They go to their respective houses and rest on beds to sleep.