272
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
[Ādi-līlā, Ch. 17]
TRANSLATION
To chant the holy name always, one should be humbler than the grass in the street and devoid of all desire for personal honor, but one should offer others all respectful obeisances.
TEXT 27
তরুসম সহিষ্ণুতা বৈষ্ণব করিবে ।  
 শুৎ সন-তাভ়নে কাকে কিছু না বলিবে ॥ ২৭ ॥
taru-sama sahiṣṇutā vaiṣṇava karibe 
  bhartsana-tāḍane kāke kichu nā balibe
SYNONYMS
taru-sama —like a tree;  sahiṣṇutā —forbearance;  vaiṣṇava —devotee;  karibe —should practice;  bhartsana —rebuking;  tāḍane —chastising;  kāke —unto anyone;  kichu —something;  nā —not;  balibe —will utter.
TRANSLATION
A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others to retaliate.
TEXT 28
কাটিলেহ তরু যেন কিছু না বোলয় ।  
 শুকাইয়া গয়ে, তবু জল না মাগয় ॥ ২৮ ॥
kāṭileha taru yena kichu nā bolaya 
  śukāiyā mare, tabu jala nā māgaya
SYNONYMS
kāṭileha —even being cut;  taru —the tree;  yena —as;  kichu —something;  nā —not;  bolaya —says;  śukāiyā —drying up;  mare —dies;  tabu —still;  jala —water;  nā —does not;  māgaya —ask for.
TRANSLATION
For even if one cuts a tree, it never protests, nor even if it is drying up and dying does it ask anyone for water.
PURPORT
This practice of forbearance ( tṛṇād api sunīcena ) is very difficult, but when one actually engages in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mantra , the quality of forbearance automatically develops. A person advanced in spiritual consciousness through the chant-