CC Adi 17.31 (1975)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Below is the 1996 edition text, ready to be substituted with the 1975 one using the compile form.
TEXT 31
- tṛṇād api su-nīcena
- taror iva sahiṣṇunā
- amāninā māna-dena
- kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
SYNONYMS
tṛṇāt api—than downtrodden grass; su-nīcena—being lower; taroḥ—than a tree; iva—like; sahiṣṇunā—with tolerance; amāninā—without being puffed up by false pride; māna-dena—giving respect to all; kīrtanīyaḥ—to be chanted; sadā—always; hariḥ—the holy name of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.”
PURPORT
The grass is specifically mentioned in this verse because everyone tramples upon it yet the grass never protests. This example indicates that a spiritual master or leader should not be proud of his position; being always humbler than an ordinary common man, he should go on preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.