A true human being inquires about the Absolute Truth; otherwise one remains merely a sophisticated cat or dog.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.13–15 — January 10, 1974, Los Angeles 740110SB-LOS ANGELES [35:49 Minutes] SB-01.16.13–15_740110SB-LOS ANGELES Pradyumna: [leads chanting of verse, etc.] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] tatra tatropaśṛṇvānaḥ sva-pūrveṣāṁ mahātmanām pragīyamāṇaṁ ca yaśaḥ kṛṣṇa-māhātmya-sūcakam ātmānaṁ ca paritrātam aśvatthāmno 'stra-tejasaḥ snehaṁ ca vṛṣṇi-pārthānāṁ teṣāṁ bhaktiṁ ca keśave tebhyaḥ parama-santuṣṭaḥ prīty-ujjṛmbhita-locanaḥ mahā-dhanāni vāsāṁsi dadau hārān mahā-manāḥ [SB 1.16.13-15] [break] [02:35] Translation: "Wherever the King visited, he continuously heard the glories of his great forefathers, who were all devotees of the Lord, and also of the glorious acts of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He also heard how he himself had been protected by the Lord from the powerful heat of the weapon of Aśvatthāmā. People also mentioned the great affection between the descendants of Vṛṣṇi and Pṛthā due to the latter's great devotion to Lord Keśava. The King, being very pleased with the singers of such glories, opened his eyes in great satisfaction.
Out of magnanimity he was pleased to award them very valuable necklaces and clothing." Prabhupāda: So Mahārāja Parīkṣit is on his tour, and what did he meet in every place? Tatra tatra upaśṛṇvānaḥ. Everyone was speaking very highly, sva-pūrveṣām, about his forefathers, especially the grandfathers, Pañca-Pāṇḍava, mahātmanām. They are not ordinary persons.
Mahātmanām. Mahātmāna and durātmāna, two words. Mahātmāna, a great mind or great personalities. And durātmāna means mischievous person.
There are two kinds: mischievous and magnanimous. Everywhere. So the forefathers of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, sva-pūrveṣām, they were not ordinary person. They were mahātmā. So how one can become mahātmā?
It is not very difficult, provided one wants to become mahātmā. Nothing is difficult in this world, provided one wants to have it, or to become. So how to become mahātmā? That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.
What is that? Mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13]. This is mahātmā. Sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ.
First of all Kṛṣṇa said, sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ [Bg. 7.19]: "To get a mahātmā, broadly-minded great personality, it is very difficult to find out." But still, one may try to find out what are the symptoms of mahātmā. That is discussed in Bhagavad-gītā. When one understands, "Kṛṣṇa is the origin or original source of everything," janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1], as it is indicated in the Vedānta-sūtra that "The Absolute Truth is that from whom everything emanates," that is Absolute Truth. So what is the nature of that Absolute Truth—animate or inanimate? That is also discussed: abhijña, animate.