# The Mahātmā *On the characteristics of great souls* --- ### Like a Nice Flower > So, one who comes to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is compared with a nice flower. So, he is called great soul—mahātmā. So, this opportunity is open for every one of us and if we take this advantage, especially in this human form of life. Then we are also open to become great soul. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### Engaged Twenty-Four Hours > So, what is the qualification of great soul, that is defined here in the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā. Satataṁ kīrtana, he is engaged 24 hours in glorifying the Lord. This is also kīrtana, just like we perform kīrtana with musical sign, sound. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### Only Business Is Glorifying > He is mahātmā, he is I mean to say great soul. Who always who is always engaged in the performance of glorifying the Supreme Lord. His only business is how to glorify the Lord. That's all. He has no other business, 24 hours, cent per cent engaged. He is mahātmā. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### Making Plans for Kṛṣṇa > So, this mahātmās, they have also plan making but for Kṛṣṇa. For Kṛṣṇa not for any other person. Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ namasyantaś ca, the mahātmā has only one obeisances. Obedience to the Lord. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### Surrendered to Kṛṣṇa > Mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ. Daivīṁ prakṛtim. Mahātmā, one who is broad-minded, or greater souls, they are under the control of daivī-prakṛti. Daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ. And what is the symptom? Bhajanty ananya-manasaḥ: they have no other motive than to render service to the Lord. That's all. This is the symptom of mahātmā. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### To Reclaim Fallen Souls > Similarly, those who come here on—on the mission of preaching the glories of Lord they are not condemned. They are glorified, they are mahātmā. And others they are condemned. The mahātmās they come to glorify the Lord and to reclaim these fallen conditioned souls back to Godhead. That is their business. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### After Many Births > Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ. Now here it is said mahātmā, mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha. The mahātmās qualification is always chanting and always thinking, always glorifying Me. Now sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ, there it is said. That after many, many births of speculative service when he'll become a mahātmā and will be engaged in this service of constantly glorifying the Lord. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### Very Rare > So this jñāna-yajñena by the speculative process, thinking oneself that I am God. I am God, that's all right but I am God in quality. I am God not in quantity. To surrender unto Kṛṣṇa, to surrender unto the Supreme Lord. We may theoretically say and speculate but full surrender cent per cent surrender that is a difficult job for ordinary man. But if in one life he can do that. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### No Other Goal > So similarly, here it is said: anye, anye means, "Others." Those who are not actually in pure devotion but they are trying something in transcendental line and they are trying to gain at spiritual salvation. So mahātmā means—who are directly in touch with the Supreme Lord in devotional service. Unalloyed without any adulteration. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- ### At Once a Mahātmā > So, and become at once a mahātmā. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness prescribe that you become immediately Kṛṣṇa conscious. Satataṁ kīrtayan... The process is very simple, but this speculation is the thing. "Oh, what is this they are simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa." Because it is very simple method, they think it is not very good. But actually, it is the highest method. — [[spoken/1966/661128bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 9.14–15, New York, 1966]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the mahātmā* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]