Chapter 9 Text 13-14

1
Chapter 9Text 13-14

• Mahatmas the great souls.
• Activities of Mahatmas.

2
Text 13

• mahätmänas tu mäà pärtha
• daivéà prakåtim äçritäù
• bhajanty ananya-manaso
• jïätvä bhütädim avyayam
• O son of Påthä, those who are not deluded, the
  great souls, are under the protection of the
  divine nature. They are fully engaged in
  devotional service because they know Me as the
  Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and
  inexhaustible.

3
Qualification to become great soul.

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

4
Text 14

• satataà kértayanto mäà
• yatantaç ca dåòha-vratäù
• namasyantaç ca mäà bhaktyä
• nitya-yuktä upäsate
• Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with
  great determination, bowing down before Me, these
  great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.

5
Characteristics of Mahatma

• No other business but always engaged in chanting
  the glories of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa thus not
  a impersonalist.
• Attractions to brahmajyoti not a mahatma, but
  association with Supreme Lord in one of the 5
  rasas.
• 5 rasas Santya, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and
  Madhurya.

6
Following the acharyas

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

7
No restrictions in social orders

• Mahatma can be in any social or spiritual order,
  kiba vibra kiba nyasi
• Following the rules and regulations given by
  acharyas are susukham kartum
• Guidance from a expert spiritual master can
  elevate an ordinary person to level of Mahatma.
  E.g. two pots of water used by gardner
• In any position and anywhere in the world one can
  perform devotional service (chanting Hare Krsna)
  and become Mahatma.