20211219 Explanations of Words in the Ātmārāma Verse Enables One to Taste the Transcendental Qualities of Kṛṣṇa Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 19th 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:

Explanations of Words in the Ātmārāma Verse Enables One to Taste the Transcendental Qualities of Kṛṣṇa Part 1
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.71

prathame ‘ātmārāma’-padera antargata ‘ātmā’ –śabdera

(1) brahma’-arthadvārā vyākhyā:—

‘brahma’ śabdera artha—tattva sarva-bṛhattama 
svarūpa aiśvarya kari’ nāhi yāṅra sama

Translation: “The word ‘brahma’ indicates the summum bonum, the Absolute Truth, which is greater than all other truths. It is the original identity, and there can be nothing equal to that Absolute Truth.

This concept of Absolute Truth is much greater than the concept of God. God means ‘controller’ Absolute Truth means that on which everything, everything depends.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.72

brahmera saṁjñā; śāstra-pramāṇa:— viṣṇu-purāṇe (1.12.57)—

bṛhattvād bṛṁhaṇatvāc ca
tad brahma paramaṁ viduḥ tasmai namas te sarvātman
yogi-cintyāvikāravat

Translation: “I offer my respectful obeisances to the Absolute Truth, the summum bonum. He is the all-pervasive, all-increasing subject matter for the great yogīs. He is changeless, and He is the soul of all.’

Purport(by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda): This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.12.57).

This verse explains meaning of the Absolute Truth and this is for edification.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.73

‘brahma’-śabdera abhidhā-vṛttite pūrṇa pratītimaya bhagavān :—

sei ‘brahma’-śabde kahe svayaṁ-bhagavān 
advitīya-jñāna, yāṅhā vinā nāhi āna

Translation: “The proper meaning of the word ‘brahma’ is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is one without a second and without whom nothing else exists.

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the basis of everything, actually everything is part of Him, either a minute particle or energy or expansions or many other aspects but without Him nothing exists.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.74

śāstra-pramāṇa:— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.2.11)—

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Translation: “Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.’

Purport (by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda): This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.11). For an explanation, see Ādi-līlā 2.11.

Everything exist within the Personality of Godhead, the all pervasive Supersoul, and the all-pervasive impersonal energy. So everything is depending on the Personality of Godhead. Although the three things are considered as Absolute Truth, when seen together.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.75

kṛṣṇai svayaṃ bhagavān o trikālasatya vastu :—

sei advaya-tattva kṛṣṇa—svayaṁ-bhagavān 
tina-kāle satya tiṅho—śāstra-pramāṇa

Translation: “That Absolute Truth without a second is Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the supreme truth in the past, present and future. That is the evidence of all revealed scriptures.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.76

sṛṣṭira pūrve o pare kṛṣṇera nitya adhiṣṭhāna —

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.9.32)—

aham evāsam evāgre
nānyad yat sad-asat-param paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca
yo ’vaśiṣyeta so ’smy aham

Translation: “Prior to the cosmic creation, only I exist, and no phenomena exist, either gross, subtle or primordial. After creation, only I exist in everything, and after annihilation only I remain eternally.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.33) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa. For an explanation see Ādi-līlā 1.53.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa is not dependent on the material creation, He doesn’t have a material body. His body is sac-cit-ānanda spiritual, eternity knowledge and bliss. missing He is pervading all aspects and after the annihilation, He continues to exist. So, He is not dependent on the material manifestation rather the material manifestation is dependent on Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.77

‘ātmā’-śabde vibhu kṛṣṇa:—

‘ātma’-śabde kahe kṛṣṇa bṛhattva-svarūpa 
sarva-vyāpaka, sarva-sākṣī, parama-svarūpa

Translation: “The word ‘ātmā’ [‘self’] indicates the highest truth, Kṛṣṇa. He is the all-pervasive witness of all, and He is the supreme form.

Lord Caitanya through this verse is realizing the greatness of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.78

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.2.45) śloka

vyākhyāya śrīdhara-svāmi-dhṛta tantra vacana:—

ātatatvāc ca mātṛtvād ātmā hi paramo hariḥ

Translation: “Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is the all-pervasive original source of everything; He is therefore the Supersoul of everything.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a quotation from the Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, Śrīdhara Svāmī’s commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari is the Sanskrit word for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All theistic religions believe in the Supreme being and whether you know Him in Sanskrit or in some other language, He is the same person. But in the Vedas, He is very scientifically explained.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.79

trividha abhidheye kṛṣṇera trividha pratīti — brahma, paramātmā o bhagavān :—

sei kṛṣṇa-prāpti-hetu trividha ‘sādhana’ 
jñāna, yoga, bhakti,—tinera pṛthak lakṣaṇa

Translation: “There are three ways to attain the lotus feet of the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa. There is the process of philosophical speculation, the practice of mystic yoga and the execution of devotional service. Each of these has its different characteristics.

By philosophical speculation known as jñāna-yoga one realizes the impersonal aspect of Absolute Truth. By practice of the mystic aṣṭāṅga-yoga system one can realize the Supresoul in the heart, which is also known as yoga or aṣṭāṅga-yoga. By devotional service which is known as bhakti-yoga, one can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His personal form.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.80

tina sādhane bhagavān tina svarūpe bhāse 
brahma, paramātmā, bhagavattā,—trividha prakāśe

Translation: “The Absolute Truth is the same, but according to the process by which one understands Him, He appears in three forms — as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Depending on which yoga you use, you can realize a particular aspect of the Absolute Truth.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.81

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.11)—

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Translation: “Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.’

Jayapatākā Swami: If one realizes ‘Bhagavān’ or the Supreme Personality of Godhead he realizes the other two aspects, and if one realizes the localized ‘Paramātmā’ he also realizes the impersonal Truth, and if one realizes the impersonal truth, that’s all He realizes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.82

‘brahma-ātmā’-śabde yadi kṛṣṇere kahaya 
‘rūḍhi-vṛttye’ nirviśeṣa antaryāmī kaya

Translation: “Although the words ‘brahma’ and ‘ātmā’ indicate Kṛṣṇa, their direct meaning refers only to the impersonal Brahman and the Supersoul respectively.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.83

jñānamārge cinmātra brahma, yogamārge saccinmaya paramātma-pratīti:— 

jñāna-mārge—nirviśeṣa-brahma prakāśe 
yoga-mārge—antaryāmi-svarūpete bhāse

Translation: “If one follows the path of philosophical speculation, the Absolute Truth manifests Himself as impersonal Brahman, and if one follows the path of mystic yoga, He manifests Himself as the Supersoul.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.84

dvividha bhakti (rāgamayī o vaidhī)- dvārā dvividha bhagavat-svarūpa (svayaṁ kṛṣṇa o tatprakāśa)-prāpti :—

rāga-bhakti-vidhi-bhakti haya dui-rūpa 

‘svayaṁ-bhagavattve’, bhagavattve—prakāśa dvi-rūpa

Translation: “There are two kinds of devotional activity — spontaneous and regulative. By spontaneous devotional service, one attains the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and by the regulative process one attains the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa's expansions are in the Vaikuṇṭha-lokas as various Nārāyaṇa forms, and by regulated devotional service one goes to one of those Vaikuṇṭha planets. But by spontaneous devotional service you go to Kṛṣṇa-loka.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.85

rāga-bhaktye vraje svayaṁ-bhagavāne pāya

Translation: “By executing spontaneous devotional service in Vṛndāvana, one attains the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Kṛṣṇa has declared that Māyāpur Navadvīpa dhāma is non-different from Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.86

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.9.21)—

nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān
dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ
yathā bhaktimatām iha

Translation: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) was spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī. For an explanation see Madhya-līlā 8.227.

So, the Super excellence of spontaneous devotion is explained here.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.87

vaidhī-bhaktira siddhite vaikuṇṭhe nārāyaṇa-dāsya:—

vidhi-bhaktye pārṣada-dehe vaikuṇṭhete yāya

Translation: “By executing regulative devotional service, one becomes an associate of Nārāyaṇa and attains the Vaikuṇṭhalokas, the spiritual planets in the spiritual sky.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.88

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (3.15.25)—

yac ca vrajanty animiṣām ṛṣabhānuvṛttyā
dūre-yamā hy upari naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ

bhartur mithaḥ su-yaśasaḥ kathanānurāga-
vaiklavya-bāṣpa-kalayā pulakī-kṛtāṅgāḥ

Translation: “Those who discuss the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are on the highest platform of devotional service, and they evince the symptoms of tears in the eyes and bodily jubilation. Such persons discharge devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without practicing the rules and regulations of the mystic yoga system. They possess all spiritual qualities, and they are elevated to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which exist above us.’

Purport (by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda): This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.25). In this verse Lord Brahmā is speaking to all the demigods, who feared the two asuras in Diti’s womb. Lord Brahmā described the Kumāras’ visit to Vaikuṇṭha Loka, and this was again explained by Maitreya, the friend of Vyāsadeva, when he gave instructions to Vidura.

This verse explains how the Vaikuṇṭha-lokas are above the material universe, and Brahma is in the topmost planet in the material universe. and Brahma is in the topmost planet in the material universe. And he also glorifies the process of devotional service that could take one to the spiritual world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.89

trividha upāsaka :—

sei upāsaka haya trividha prakāra 
akāma, mokṣa-kāma, sarva-kāma āra

Translation: “The devotees are divided into three categories — akāma [desireless], mokṣa-kāma [desiring liberation] and sarva-kāma [desiring material perfection].

This is explained in the following verse.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.90

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.3.10)—

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Translation: “One who is actually intelligent, although he may be a devotee free from material desires, a karmī desiring all kinds of material facilities, or a jñānī desiring liberation, should seriously engage in bhakti-yoga for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).

This verse reveals that bhakti-yoga can produce the desired results for everyone, not only the akāmaḥ, devotees of the Lord but the sarva-kāma and the mokṣa-kāma can also attain their desired results through bhakti-yoga.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Explanations of Words in the Ātmārāma Verse Enables One to Taste the Transcendental Qualities of Kṛṣṇa, Part 1

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