17.31
trnad api su-nicena
taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena
kirtaniyah sada harih
SYNONYMS
trnat api—than downtrodden grass; su-nicena—being lower; taroh—than a tree; iva—like; sahisnuna—with tolerance; amanina—without being puffed up by false pride; mana-dena—giving respect to all; kirtaniyah—to be chanted; sada—always; harih—the holy name of the Lord “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 Mahaprabhu by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.