Chant these verses and become pious - Lec 14/4/'73

[Cintamani]

We have come here not to exploit your country, but to give you something substantial. This is Krsna consciousness movement. So read Bhagavatam, pronounce the verses very nicely. Therefore we're repeating. You hear the records and try to repeat. Simply by chanting the mantra, you'll be purified. Simply by chant... Even you do not understand a single word of it, simply if you chant, this vibration has got such power. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. If you simply chant and vibrate this verse, these verses, these slokas, it is punya-sravana-kirtanah. There is, there is no question of understanding. Punya-sravana. Punya means pious, and sravana means hearing, and kirtana means chanting. One who is chanting this verse, and one who is hearing this verse, he is becoming pious automatically. Pious. To become pious one has to endeavor so much, do this, do that, but if you simply hear these verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita.
Therefore, as a rigid principle, in every temple there should be class for hearing and chanting. Without hearing and chanting, to become leader it is impossible. You can, you can become leader in the material world, but not in the spiritual world. Sravana-kirtana kare...
mali hana kare sei bija aropana
sravana-kirtana-jale karaye secana

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.22 -- Los Angeles, April 14, 1973