Answer
The best time is early morning, during Brahma-muhurta, immediately after waking from a long sleep.
At that time the mind is fresh and less disturbed by worldly thoughts. As the day progresses, many impressions, worries, and plans accumulate, making attentive chanting more difficult.
The effectiveness of chanting depends on hearing the holy name deeply, allowing the sound to enter the heart. Early morning chanting provides the greatest opportunity for concentrated hearing.
The speaker compared it to placing iron near a fire versus placing it inside the fire. Casual chanting gives some benefit; attentive early-morning chanting gives the full transformative effect.
If one begins the day by associating with Krishna through chanting, Krishna consciousness guides the rest of the day, helping one face external difficulties with spiritual clarity.
