Aim

To understand the activities and qualities of mahatmas who continuously glorify and worship Krishna with determination and devotion.

Purport

The mahātmā cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man. His symptoms are described here: a mahātmā is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. He has no other business. He is always engaged in the glorification of the Lord. In other words, he is not an impersonalist. When the question of glorification is there, one has to glorify the Supreme Lord, praising His holy name, His eternal form, His transcendental qualities and His uncommon pastimes. One has to glorify all these things; therefore a mahātmā is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

One who is attached to the impersonal feature of the Supreme Lord, the brahma-jyotir, is not described as mahātmā in the Bhagavad-gītā. He is described in a different way in the next verse. The mahātmā is always engaged in different activities of devotional service, as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu, not a demigod or human being. That is devotion: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ and smaraṇam, remembering Him. Such a mahātmā has firm determination to achieve at the ultimate end the association of the Supreme Lord in any one of the five transcendental rasas. To achieve that success, he engages all activities – mental, bodily and vocal, everything – in the service of the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. That is called full Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

In devotional service there are certain activities which are called determined, such as fasting on certain days, like the eleventh day of the moon, Ekādaśī, and on the appearance day of the Lord. All these rules and regulations are offered by the great ācāryas for those who are actually interested in getting admission into the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the transcendental world. The mahātmās, great souls, strictly observe all these rules and regulations, and therefore they are sure to achieve the desired result.

As described in the second verse of this chapter, not only is this devotional service easy, but it can be performed in a happy mood. One does not need to undergo any severe penance and austerity. He can live this life in devotional service, guided by an expert spiritual master, and in any position, either as a householder or a sannyāsī or a brahmacārī; in any position and anywhere in the world, he can perform this devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become actually mahātmā, a great soul.

Objectives

• To understand how mahatmas engage in glorifying Krishna.
• To recognize the qualities of determination and humility in their worship.
• To explain how their actions are expressions of pure devotional service.
• To realize why such constant devotion distinguishes true mahatmas.
• To appreciate the focus and surrender that characterize their worship.

Key Points

• Mahatmas constantly chant and glorify Krishna’s names and qualities.
• They serve with great determination and humility.
• Their actions—hearing, bowing, serving—are acts of pure bhakti.
• Continuous remembrance and service mark their greatness.
• Their life’s goal is only to please Krishna, not personal gain.

Application in Life

• Do chant and glorify Krishna daily → This keeps the mind pure and connected to Him.
• Do serve Krishna with firm determination → Obstacles become opportunities for devotion.
• Do cultivate humility through prayer and bowing → This attracts the Lord’s mercy.
• Do engage every action for Krishna’s pleasure → Life becomes spiritually meaningful.
• Do aim for constant remembrance of Krishna → It transforms ordinary life into divine service.

Simple Takeaway

• Great souls are always chanting and glorifying Krishna with love.
• Their devotion is constant, humble, and full of determination.
• They live only to please Krishna, the center of all their thoughts and actions.