17.136

atah sri-krsna-namadi

na bhaved grahyam indriyaih

sevonmukhe hi jihvadau

svayam eva sphuraty adah

SYNONYMS

atah—therefore (because Krsna’s name, form, quality are all on the absolute platform); sri-krsna-nama-adi—Lord Krsna’s name, form, quality, pastimes and so on; na—not; bhavet—can be; grahyam—perceived; indriyaih—by the blunt material senses; seva-unmukhe—to one engaged in His service; hi—certainly; jihva-adau—beginning with the tongue; svayam—personally; eva—certainly; sphurati—become manifest; adah—those (Krsna’s name, form, quality, and so on) " ’Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Krsna’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes.

When a conditioned soul is awakened to Krsna consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Krsna really is.’

PURPORT

This verse is recorded in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.234).