Chapter 9Chapter 9Text 13-14Text 13-14

Mahatmas – the Mahatmas – the great souls.great souls.

Activities of Activities of Mahatmas.Mahatmas.

Text 13Text 13

mahätmänas tu mäà pärthamahätmänas tu mäà pärthadaivéà prakåtim äçritäùdaivéà prakåtim äçritäù

bhajanty ananya-manasobhajanty ananya-manasojïätvä bhütädim avyayamjïätvä bhütädim avyayam

O son of Påthä, those who are not O son of Påthä, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.original and inexhaustible.

Qualification to become great soul.Qualification to become great soul.

Surrender to Krsna is the essential qualification Surrender to Krsna is the essential qualification to become Mahatma.to become Mahatma.Mahatma is not a rubber stamp for political Mahatma is not a rubber stamp for political leaders or even so called sober and nice people.leaders or even so called sober and nice people.The The mahätmämahätmä does not divert his attention to does not divert his attention to anything outside anything outside KåñëaKåñëa, because he knows , because he knows perfectly well that perfectly well that KåñëaKåñëa is the original Supreme is the original Supreme Person, the cause of all causes. Person, the cause of all causes. Such a Such a mahätmämahätmä, or great soul, develops , or great soul, develops through association with other through association with other mahätmäsmahätmäs, pure , pure devotees. devotees. Not even attracted to other expansions of Krsna.Not even attracted to other expansions of Krsna.

Text 14Text 14

satataà kértayanto mäàsatataà kértayanto mäà

yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäùyatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù

namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyänamasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä

nitya-yuktä upäsatenitya-yuktä upäsate

Always chanting My glories, endeavoring Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.perpetually worship Me with devotion.

Characteristics of MahatmaCharacteristics of Mahatma

No other business but always engaged in No other business but always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord KåñëaKåñëa – thus not a impersonalist. – thus not a impersonalist.

Attractions to brahmajyoti – not a Attractions to brahmajyoti – not a mahatma, but association with Supreme mahatma, but association with Supreme Lord in one of the 5 rasas.Lord in one of the 5 rasas.

5 rasas – Santya, Dasya, Sakhya, 5 rasas – Santya, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya.Vatsalya and Madhurya.

Following the acharyasFollowing the acharyas

Mahatmas strictly follow the determined Mahatmas strictly follow the determined rules and regulations by previous rules and regulations by previous acharyas.acharyas.E.g. following four regulative principles of E.g. following four regulative principles of not meat eating, gambling, intoxication or not meat eating, gambling, intoxication or illicit sex. Following Ekadasi, fasting on illicit sex. Following Ekadasi, fasting on auspicious occasions like appearance day auspicious occasions like appearance day of Lord and His great devotees. Visiting of Lord and His great devotees. Visiting holy places from time to time. If possible holy places from time to time. If possible regularly hearing from saintly people or regularly hearing from saintly people or reading literature like Gita or Bhagavatam.reading literature like Gita or Bhagavatam.

No restrictions in social ordersNo restrictions in social orders

Mahatma can be in any social or spiritual order, Mahatma can be in any social or spiritual order, kiba vibra kiba nyasi…kiba vibra kiba nyasi…

Following the rules and regulations given by Following the rules and regulations given by acharyas are susukham kartum…acharyas are susukham kartum…

Guidance from a expert spiritual master can Guidance from a expert spiritual master can elevate an ordinary person to level of Mahatma. elevate an ordinary person to level of Mahatma. E.g. two pots of water used by gardnerE.g. two pots of water used by gardner

In any position and anywhere in the world one In any position and anywhere in the world one can perform devotional service (chanting Hare can perform devotional service (chanting Hare Krsna) and become Mahatma.Krsna) and become Mahatma.