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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.14
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रता: ।
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ॥ १४ ॥
satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate
Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Great souls always chant Kṛṣṇa’s glories, bow before Him, and worship Him with firm determination and devotion.
Prabhupāda explains that a great soul is known by devotional service, not a title, and is attached to Kṛṣṇa as a person.
Use your mind, body, and words to serve Kṛṣṇa by hearing, chanting, and remembering Him.
These notes cover verses 9.13–14
Mahatamas — Those who do accept Krishna as He revealed Himself (c.f. Duratmas Bg. 9.12)
PLEASE NOTE — All signs and symptoms of ‘Mahatmas’ as given in the translation are included under various themes of the ‘Focus of Learning’ section for these verses
Various signs of ‘Mahatmas’
He is already situated in the protection of the Divine Nature
By surrender unto Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is situated in the divine nature (Ref. Bg. 7.14)
‘Guidance of spiritual nature’ is called ‘Daivi-prakrti’
Does not divert his attention to anything outside Krishna. How?
Because he knows Krishna to be original Supreme person
Attracted by His two-handed form – Performs unswerving service – may not even be interested in four-armed Vishnu form FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 9.13 – 9.14 continued…
Further symptoms of ‘Mahatmas’ (9.14):
Always engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord
Refutes impersonalism – Because mahatma is attached to the personal form of the Lord and glorifies personal attributes
Endeavouring with determination
Determined to achieve Lord’s association in one of five rasas
Engaged in certain activities called “Determined” e.g. fasting on Ekadasi’s, Appearance days etc.
Following the rules and regulations of great acharyas
Always bowing down before Me
No severe austerity or penance required
Can perform “in any social condition or ashram”
“Only thing” is under the guidance of expert spiritual master
Perpetually worshiping Krishna with devotion
Implies engaging all mental, bodily and vocal functions in service of the Lord
By the nine processes of devotion (devotion means activity)
How do ‘Mahatmas’ develop — By association with other Mahatmas
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.14 & 9.15 — Now Krishna mentions three types of worshipers who worship Him indirectly
Duratmas – Fools who think Krishna’s form is ordinary are defeated in their endeavours (9.11 – 9.12)
Mahatmas – Those who know that Krishna has a transcendental form take shelter of Him and worship Him (9.13 – 9.14)
Indirect worshippers – All who take shelter of a conception of Supreme and worship it, are ultimately worshipping Krishna, but they worship Him indirectly – These are of 3 types:
Ekatvena – the monist, the lowest, worships himself as one with the Supreme (9.11 – 9.12)
Visvato-mukham – a worshiper of the material, universal form is the best (9.16 – 9.19)
Prthakvena – a demigod worshiper, is situated higher than the ‘ekatvena’ (9.20 – 9.25)
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 9.14 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?
Offer one act today with devotion.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.