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

At the beginning it is necessary to remember the glories of the Holy Name. It is stated in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, that which is not attained even by great penance by the yogis, jnanis, is attained by Namabhasa.

Glow of the Holy Name can destroy all sins and worldly entanglement. Karmis, jnanis, yogis, they are performing immense penance only by the glory of the Holy Name. When there is no knowledge of relation, but without ten fold offences and without ulterior desires when one utters the Name then the glow of the Holy Name will be revealed in your heart and that will destroy everything. So much is the efficacy of doing Harinam.

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

The person who is richly endowed with good qualities and he has got the aptitude to do Krishna Nama, even glow of the Holy Name will give all these fruits which we cannot imagine by doing other penances. And amongst the Holy Name the highest Name is Krishna. Krishna is the crown of all avataras, He is the Avatari, and His Name is the foremost Holy Name, Supreme Redeemer of all redeemers. But the conditions are imposed here, with firm faith, that is to say without deceitfulness. If there is no firm faith then they are not actually doing Harinam. So it will be not actual Harinam, for that reason it will be deceitfulness. Doing Harinam with some other purpose will not give you the actual fruit. And immediately you have to do it. Any moment we may lose this precious human birth. And with frankness of heart, with simple-heartedness. There should not be any crookedness. Then you will not get the actual benefit. You may get some worldly benefits. If you commit some offenses to Vaishnavas and Guru, then you will not be able to get those benefits also and you may go to inferno. For that reason these conditions are imposed.

Not only the full complete Suddha Nama, pure Name, but the glow of the Holy Name can destroy not all sins, great sins and nescience.

parama pāvana kṛṣṇa tānhānra charaṇa,
niskapata śraddhā saha karaha bhajan,

Every time we are reminded that there should not be any hypocrisy, there should be firm faith.

jānra nāma suryābhās antare praveśi,
dhvaṁsa kare mahāpāp andhakārarāśi

Simple-hearted person although he may have some drawbacks, weaknesses, Supreme Lord and His Personal Associates will forgive that. If there is hypocrisy then he cannot get the actual benefit, actual grace of Guru, Vaishnav, Bhagavan because he does not want this, he is hypocrite. For that reason it is repeatedly said.

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

Sincerely you have to practice. Gradual procedure is shown here about the progress of bhajan, how you can get. And when you are well-established in Sikshastaka then you will be entitled to enter into the transcendental pastimes of Radha Krishna.

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

If you are sincere to all these Sikshastaka from the beginning with great earnestness and without deceitfulness then you will have progress. By progress you can understand whether you are doing sincerely or not. By the fruits you can understand. These have been mentioned here. Only by going through, by reading without giving much attention to it, you will not get the actual fruit. So sincerely you have to think what is said here, then you will get.

tabe jāna siddhadehe adhikāra haila,
adhikāra nā labhiyā siddhadeha bhāve,
viparjya buddhi janme śaktira abhāve
sāvdhāne krama dhara yadi siddhi cāo,
sādhura carita dekhi śuddha buddhi pāo

Succession, gradual progress, you have to very carefully do. Then you will be able to enter into these eight periods of transcendental pastimes of Radha Krishna.

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

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

You get all principal attainments, all sorts of attainments by doing Sri Krishna Sankirtan. If those attainments are not attained, then it is proved actually you are not doing Sankirtan. You are doing in the name of Sankirtan something else.

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 thoroughly cleanses and cools one’s body, mind and 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 Hare Krishna mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of 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 dhyāna
krame krame citta lagne rasera vidhān

Supposing that you are well-established in Sikshastaka, taking it for granted, then you are entitled to think about the transcendental pastimes of Krishna because in the Name everything is there. All these pastimes will be manifested in sanctified heart.

At the close of the night by doing kirtan you should meditate or you are entitled to meditate the awakening of Radha Krishna in the grove. Otherwise you will not be able to understand. Then gradually you can have the taste of the absolute bliss.

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

Vrinda Devi apprehending day-break sends Suk-Sarika and other birds to start chirping to awaken Radha-Krishna. Sleeping is just a pastime of the Lord to give service to His devotees. Radha Krishna are our worshipable Lords. So at proper times They have to be served appropriately. Vrnda Devi apprehending day-break gets busy and engages the birds to go and begin singing glories. And the birds are waiting when Vrnda Devi will give orders. They do not go by their own wish thinking we are the best. In Vrndavan even the trees are bending in submissive mood. Without submissiveness, service cannot be attained. We have earlier heard the birds sing songs which are pleasing and not so pleasing. What does it mean, pleasing and not so pleasing songs? There are groups, one Radharani's and the other Krishna's. All are good and sing pleasing songs. But Krishna's group feel happy and satisfied when they hear glories of Krishna being sung and heard, and Radharani's group feel happy and pleased to hear glories of Radharani. And when they hear more they feel enthused and pleased. When Krishna's glories are sung His group is pleased, then it is displeasing to Radharani's group of associates. When Radharani's glories are sung Her group is pleased, and Krishna's group is displeased, their hearts sink. Like this competition ensues, and this is the meaning of pleasing and not so pleasing (priya-apriya) songs. Hearing those songs Radharani opens Her eyes. Gopis also sing appropriate songs very sweetly and gently. But still Krishna does not open His eyes. He has His attention on all. One who is a sincere devotee, even though may be a small animal, should be given chance to serve. Neglecting him will not bring happiness to the Lord. May be one is small and insignificant. There is one monkey and three female monkeys whose voice is not good, so we will not give them permission to sing, but Krishna does not like this. He thinks they have devotion. May be their voice is harsh still they should be given chance to serve. Otherwise I will not open My eyes at all. So they are forced to give permission to the female monkey 'Kakkhati'. Alright, you do your duty. Always she is looking to the gopis and others, can I do? You are unable to awaken Krishna, can I do? No. Do? No. In this way she is disappointed. Ultimately they are forced to, alright you do. And she made a screaming sound. She is also object of our worship as she is dear to Krishna, this monkey. She is not an ordinary monkey. Krishna opens His eyes. And Radha Krishna mutually they are seeing each other with wistful eyes and fear. They are Supreme Lord and His counter-part Radharani. They have got fear in their heart. Because if They remain always in Their Absolute position there cannot be any pastimes. By Yoga-maya it is done. They forget that They are Supreme Lord and Radharani is the absolute counter-part of Krishna. She is the Absolute of all the internal potencies. She forgets. For that reason She weeps for Krishna's separation. Yogis may say, why are you weeping, you have got no knowledge? Krishna is there, you feel Him. They cannot get Vraja prem. Vraja prem is such. After that They are quickly running towards Their house. Their houses are all closed, but everything is spiritual. They are entering into their closed house and going to their beds and sleep. Nobody can know. Yoga-maya is doing all this.