tṛṇÄd api su-nÄ«cena
taror iva sahiṣṇunÄ
amÄninÄ mÄna-dena
kÄ«rtanÄ«yaḥ sadÄ hariḥ

124 times this text was mentioned in purports to other texts: KB(1) , LBG(23) , LCC(4) , LSB(51) , MM(1) , NBS(2) , TLKS(42)

 tṛṇÄt api - than downtrodden grass; su-nÄ«cena - being lower; taroḥ - than a tree; iva - like; sahiṣṇunÄ - with tolerance; amÄninÄ - without being puffed up by false pride; mÄna-dena - giving respect to all; kÄ«rtanÄ«yaḥ - to be chanted; sadÄ - always; hariḥ - the holy name of the Lord.


Text

“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.â€

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 MahÄprabhu by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.