20211216 Explanation of (1) ātmārāma, (2) muni, (3) nirgrantha, and (4) urukrama

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 16th December 2021 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Explanation of (1) ātmārāma, (2) muni, (3) nirgrantha, and (4) urukrama
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.1

“ātmārāmāśca”-śloke kutarkahara gaurera āśīryācñā:—

ātmārāmeti padyārkasy-
ārthāṁśūn yaḥ prakāśayan
jagat-tamo jahārāvyāt
sa caitanyodayācalaḥ

Translation: All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who acted as the eastern horizon where the sun of the ātmārāma verse rose. He manifested its rays in the form of different meanings and thus eradicated the darkness of the material world. May He protect the universe.

Jayapatākā Swami: The incarnation Lord Kṛṣṇa as Lord Caitanya came particularly to give the world special mercy, by following His footsteps, by taking shelter at His lotus feet one can dissipate all the darkness or ignorance.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.3

sanātanera prabhupade prārthanā:—

tabe sanātana prabhura caraṇe dhariyā 
punarapi kahe kichu vinaya kariyā

Translation: Thereafter, Sanātana Gosvāmī clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and humbly submitted the following petition.

Jayapatākā Swami: Taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya is specially auspicious and Sanātana Gosvāmī took this advantage.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.4

pūrve sārvabhauma-samīpe varṇita “ātmārāmāśca” ślokera 18 prakāra vyākhyā śunite abhilāṣa:—

‘pūrve śuniyāchoṅ, tumi sārvabhauma-sthāne 
eka śloke āṭhāra artha kairācha vyākhyāne

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My Lord, I have heard that previously, at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, You explained the ātmārāma verse in eighteen different ways.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavata (1.7.10)—

ātmārāmāś ca munayo
nirgranthā apy urukrame kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim
ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

Translation: “Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is the famous ātmārāma verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.10).

Jayapatākā Swami: Meaning of Kṛṣṇa is 'all attractive’, ‘the reservoir of all pleasure’, so this is the reason why Kṛṣṇa is still attractive to all the people who are otherwise not attracted by material desires, as Kṛṣṇa is all attractive including transcendental qualities

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.6

āścarya śuniyā mora utkaṇṭhita mana 
kṛpā kari’ kaha yadi, juḍāya śravaṇa’

Translation: “I have heard this wonderful story and am therefore very inquisitive to hear Your explanation again. If You would kindly repeat it, I would be very pleased to hear.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī he was eager to hear how the Lord gave so many interpretations to the one word.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.7

prabhura āpanāke aprākṛta bāula-abhidhāne dainyera āvaraṇe ātmagopana-ceṣṭā:

prabhu kahe,—“āmi vātula, āmāra vacane 
sārvabhauma vātula tāhā satya kari’ māne

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I am one madman, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is another. Therefore, he took My words to be the truth.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.8

kīrtanakārī prabhura upayukta śrotā sanātanake bahumānanapūrvaka pūrvakṛta 18 prakāra artha chāḍiyā nūtana vyākhyāna :—

kibā pralāpilāṅa, kichu nāhika smaraṇe 
tomāra saṅga-bale yadi kichu haya mane

Translation: “I do not recall what I spoke in that connection, but if something comes to My mind due to association with you, I shall explain it.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, lets see how many interpretation Lord Caitanya gives now, He is saying that He cannot remember what He said previously, but if He is inspired He may speak something now.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.9

sahaje āmāra kichu artha nāhi bhāse 
tomā-sabāra saṅga-bale ye kichu prakāśe

Translation: “Generally by Myself I cannot give an explanation, but by the strength of your association something may manifest itself.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Lord Caitanya is glorifying His devotee Sanātana Gosvāmī, He is saying that by the presence of His devotee He may be inspired to speak something.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.10

“ātmārāmāśca” śloke sarva-śuddha 11ṭī pada:—

ekādaśa pada ei śloke sunirmala 
pṛthak nānā artha pade kare jhalamala

Translation: “There are eleven clear words in this verse, but when they are studied separately, various meanings glitter from each word.

Purport: by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupāda The eleven separate words are (1) ātmārāmāḥ, (2) ca, (3) munayaḥ, (4) nirgranthāḥ, (5) api, (6) urukrame, (7) kurvanti, (8) ahaitukīm, (9) bhaktim, (10) ittham-bhūta-guṇaḥ, and (11) hariḥ. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will explain the different connotations and imports of these words.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a devotee will explain what comes to His mind about these eleven words.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.11

(1) ‘ātmā’ śabdera 7ṭī paryyāya:—

‘ātmā’-śabde brahma, deha, mana, yatna, dhṛti 
buddhi, svabhāva,—ei sāta artha-prāpti

Translation: “The seven different meanings of the word ‘ātmā’ are the Absolute Truth, the body, the mind, endeavor, firmness, intelligence and nature.

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see how each word lends itself to various interpretations.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.12

pramāṇa:—viśvaprakāśe—

“ātmā deha-mano-brahma-svabhāva-dhṛti-buddhiṣu, prayatne ca” iti

Translation: “The following are synonyms of the word “ātmā”: the body, mind, Absolute Truth, natural characteristics, firmness, intelligence and endeavor.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya as Nimāi Paṇḍita, He would know all the meanings from the dictionary for each of the words, then He would give an interpretation on each meaning.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.13

‘ātmā’-śabdera artha laiyā ātmārāma saptavidha :—

ei sāte rame yei, sei ātmārāma-gaṇa 
ātmārāma-gaṇera āge kariba gaṇana

Translation: “The word ‘ātmārāma’ refers to one who enjoys these seven items [the Absolute Truth, body, mind and so on]. Later, I shall enumerate the ātmārāmas.

So, Lord Caitanya by giving the meaning of ātma, so when we say ātmārāma, means Rāma, one who enjoys. So Rāma is the person who enjoys these different aspects.

Jayapatākā Swami: When we say ātmārāma, means Rāma, one who enjoys. Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.14

(2) ‘muni’-śabdera 7ṭī paryyāya:—

‘muni’-ādi śabdera artha śuna, sanātana 
pṛthak pṛthak artha pāche kariba milana

Translation: “My dear Sanātana, first hear the meanings of the other words, beginning with the word ‘muni.’ I shall first explain their separate meanings, then combine them.

Jayapatākā Swami: See how Lord Caitanya mind works so methodically and He delivers the sublime meanings for each of these combinations.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.15

‘muni’-śabde manana-śīla, āra kahe maunī 
tapasvī, vratī, yati, āra ṛṣi, muni

Translation: “The word ‘muni’ refers to one who is thoughtful, one who is grave or silent, an ascetic, one who keeps great vows, one in the renounced order and a saint. These are the different meanings of the word ‘muni.’

Jayapatākā Swami: Again Lord Caitanya, He has all the meanings of the different words and when you combine these words, you get many different understandings.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.16

(3) ‘nirgrantha’-śabdera artha :—

‘nirgrantha’-śabde kahe, avidyā-granthi-hīna 
vidhi-niṣedha-veda-śāstra-jñānādi-vihīna

Translation: “The word ‘nirgrantha’ refers to one who is liberated from the material knots of ignorance. It also refers to one who is devoid of all regulative principles enjoined in the Vedic literature. It also refers to one who does not have knowledge.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.17

mūrkha, nīca, mleccha ādi śāstra-rikta-gaṇa 
dhana-sañcayī—nirgrantha, āra ye nirdhana

Translation: “Nirgrantha’ also refers to one who is illiterate, lowborn, misbehaved, unregulated and devoid of respect for the Vedic literature. The word also refers to one who is a capitalist and to one who has no riches.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.18

‘ nir’ upasarga o ‘grantha’-śabdera paryyāya-pramāṇa :—viśvaprakāśe—

nir niścaye niṣ kramārthe
nir nirmāṇa-niṣedhayoḥ grantho dhane ’tha sandarbhe
varṇa-saṅgrathane ’pi ca

“The prefix “niḥ” may be used for a sense of ascertainment, gradation, construction or forbidding. The word “grantha” means “riches,” “thesis” and “composition.”’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is another quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya this is what He is speaking spintaneously and not referring to the dictionary.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.19

(4) ‘urukrama’ (uru+krama) śabdera artha :—

‘urukrama’-śabde kahe, baḍa yāṅra krama 
‘krama’-śabde kahe ei pāda-vikṣepaṇa

Translation: “The word ‘urukrama’ refers to one whose krama [step] is great. The word ‘krama’ means ‘throwing the foot forward,’ that is, ‘stepping.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is one of the literal names for the Lord, as Vāmanadeva He expanded Himself as Urukrama and in two steps He covered the whole universe.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.20

śakti, kampa, paripāṭī, yukti, śaktye ākramaṇa 
caraṇa-cālane kāṅpāila tribhuvana

Translation: “Krama’ also means ‘power,’ ‘trembling,’ ‘a systematic method,’ ‘argument’ and ‘a forcible attack by stepping forward.’ Thus Vāmana caused the three worlds to tremble.

Purport (by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda): Uru means “very great,” and krama means “step.” When Lord Vāmanadeva was offered three steps of land, He expanded His three steps by covering the entire universe. In this way the three worlds trembled, and therefore Śrī Vāmanadeva, the incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, is referred to as Urukrama.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the third step there was nowhere to place so He asked Bali Mahārāja where to place and Bali Mahārāja said, “on my head”.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.21

prākṛta sarva-śreṣṭha sūkṣmatama paramāṇu-gaṇakera pakṣeo vāmanavīrya aparimeya:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.7.40)

viṣṇor nu vīrya-gaṇanāṁ katamo ’rhatīha
yaḥ pārthivāny api kavir vimame rajāṁsi
caskambha yaḥ sva-raṁhasāskhalatā tri-pṛṣṭhaṁ
yasmāt tri-sāmya-sadanād uru kampayānam

Translation: “Even if a learned man is able to count all the minute atoms in this material world, he still cannot count the potencies of Lord Viṣṇu. In the form of the Vāmana incarnation, Lord Viṣṇu, without hindrance, captured all the planets, extending from the root of the material world up to Satyaloka. Indeed, He caused every planetary system to tremble by the force of His steps.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.40).

In the Ṛg Veda mantras (1.2.154.1), it is said:

Jayapatākā Swami: The meaning of this verse is practically identical to that of the verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam quoted above.

So, Sanātana Gosvāmī is hearing these explanations from Lord Caitanya and He must be very ecstatic.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.22

svarūpa o māyā-śakti-vaibhava-dhāmatraye śakti vā vīryera vibhinna paricaya :—

vibhu-rūpe vyāpe, śaktye dhāraṇa-poṣaṇa 
mādhurya-śaktye goloka, aiśvarye paravyoma

Translation: “Through His all-pervasive feature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has expanded the entire creation. He is holding and maintaining this creation by His extraordinary potency. By His conjugal potency, He maintains the planetary system known as Goloka Vṛndāvana. Through His six opulences, He maintains many Vaikuṇṭha planets.

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda In His gigantic form, Lord Kṛṣṇa has covered the creation. He holds all the planetary systems and maintains them by His inconceivable potencies. Similarly, He is maintaining His personal abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, through His conjugal love, and He is maintaining the spiritual world containing the Vaikuṇṭha planets by His opulences.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the incalculable potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained here by Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.23

māyā-śaktye brahmāṇḍādi-paripāṭī-sṛjana

Translation: “The word ‘urukrama’ indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, by His external potency, has perfectly created innumerable universes.

The material world which is known as eka-pāda vibhūti is one fourth of the Lords energies by which He expands countless millions of universes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.24

kramaśabdera paryyāya śabda :— viśvaprakāśe—

“kramaḥ śaktau paripāṭyāṁ kramaś cālana-kampayoḥ”

Translation: “These are the different meanings of the word “krama.” It is used in the sense of potency, systematic arrangement, step, moving or trembling.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive. Not only does He carry the three worlds by His inconceivable energy, but He maintains them also. He is also maintaining His spiritual planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana, by His conjugal love, and He is maintaining the Vaikuṇṭhalokas by His opulences. He maintains the material universes through His external energy. The material universes are perfectly situated because they are created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the materialists and material scientists, some of them think everything came by accident. But great thinkers like Einstein when they studied the material world and saw all the arrangements, he concluded that there must be an intelligence behind this. So, actually this whole material existence and the existence of the spiritual worlds which are beyond our ability to see or observe are all maintained by the unlimited potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Explanation of (1) ātmārāma, (2) muni, (3) nirgrantha, and (4) urukrama

Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse