20211220 Explanations of Words in the Ātmārāma Verse Enables One to Taste the Transcendental Qualities of Kṛṣṇa Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 20th 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 
Under the section: Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.91

‘udāradhī’ śabdera artha:—

buddhimān-arthe—yadi ‘vicāra-jña’ haya 
nija-kāma lāgiha tabe kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Translation: “The meaning of the word ‘udāra-dhī’ is buddhimān — intelligent or considerate. Because of this, even for one’s own sense gratification one engages in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

In the Eleventh Canto, it says in the verse predicting Lord Caitanya, it says that those who follow Lord Caitanya are very intelligent.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.92

sarvavidha sādhanai bhaktisāpekṣa, bhaktii kevala nirapekṣa :—

bhakti vinu kona sādhana dite nāre phala 
saba phala deya bhakti svatantra prabala

Translation: “The other processes cannot yield results unless they are associated with devotional service. Devotional service, however, is so strong and independent that it can give one all the desired results.

Devotional service or bhakti-yoga is so powerful that it stands alone, other process of bhukti, mukti or siddhi are all dependent upon some practice of bhakti

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.93

bhaktira āśraya binā anya sādhana, samastai niṣphala :—

ajā-gala-stana-nyāya anya sādhana 
ataeva hari bhaje buddhimān jana

Translation: “With the exception of devotional service, all the methods of self-realization are like the nipples on the neck of a goat. Therefore an intelligent person adopts only devotional service, giving up all other processes of self-realization.

Purport: by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Without devotional service, other methods for self-realization and spiritual life are useless. Other methods cannot produce good results at any time, and therefore they are compared to the nipples on the neck of a goat. These nipples cannot produce milk, although it may appear that they can. An unintelligent person cannot understand that only devotional service can elevate one to the transcendental position.

The nipples on the neck of the goat look they are milk producing nipples, but they cannot produce milk. Therefore bhakti-yoga is recommended, and other process are like nipples on the neck o f a goat.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.94

bubhukṣu o mumukṣubhede cāriprakāra anarthayukta sukṛta ; tāhā haile o ei caturvidha kāmanā niṣkāma bhaktira kāraṇa nahe :—

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (7.16)—

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
janāḥ sukṛtino ’rjuna ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

Translation: “O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16). The word sukṛtinaḥ is very important in this verse. Su means “auspicious,” and kṛtī means “meritorious” or “regulated.” Unless one follows the regulative principles of religious life, human life is no different from animal life. Religious life means following the principles of varṇa and āśrama.

In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said:

According to religious life, society is divided into four social divisions — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra — and four spiritual divisions — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. One needs to be trained to become a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, just as one is trained to become an engineer, doctor or lawyer. Those who are properly trained can be considered human beings; if one is not trained socially and spiritually — that is, if one is uneducated and unregulated — his life is on the animal platform. Among animals there is no question of spiritual advancement. Spiritual life can be attained by proper training — either by following the principles of varṇa and āśrama or by being directly trained in the bhakti school by the methods of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam. Without being trained, one cannot be sukṛtī, auspicious. In this verse Kṛṣṇa says that people approach Him when in distress, in need of money or when actually inquisitive to understand the Supreme Being, or the original source of everything. Some people approach Him in the pursuit of knowledge of the Absolute Truth, and others approach Him when they are distressed, like the devotee Gajendra. Others are inquisitive, like the great sages headed by Śaunaka, and others need money, like Dhruva Mahārāja. Śukadeva Gosvāmī approached the Lord when he pursued knowledge. All these great personalities thus took to the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotional service satisfies all the desire of the devotees, no matter what their desires are, so here it is highly recommended that people follow the path of devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.95

ārta o arthārthī—bubhukṣu; jijñāsu o jñānī—mumukṣu :—

ārta, arthārthī,—dui sakāma-bhitare gaṇi 
jijñāsu, jñānī,—dui mokṣa-kāma māni

Translation: “Materialistic devotees take to devotional service and worship Kṛṣṇa when they are distressed or in need of money. Those who are actually inquisitive to understand the supreme source of everything and those who are in search of knowledge are called transcendentalists, for they desire liberation from all material contamination.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the path for approaching the Supreme Lord in this age of Kali, is chanting the holy name. So materialistic devotees they can also achieve their results by chanting the holy names while the transcendentalists can also have their desires fulfilled by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.96

caturvidha kāmanā chāḍilei śuddha-bhakti-lābhe yogyatā :—

ei cāri sukṛti haya mahā-bhāgyavān 
tat-tat-kāmādi chāḍi’ haya śuddha-bhaktimān

Translation: “Because they have a pious background, all four types of people are to be considered greatly fortunate. Such people gradually give up material desires and become pure devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by any cause devotional service is auspicious and eventually one may achieve pure devotion simply by practicing devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.97

caturvidha kāmai duḥsaṅga, sādhu-guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya duḥsaṅga-mocana :—

sādhu-saṅga-kṛpā kimvā kṛṣṇera kṛpāya 
kāmādi ‘duḥsaṅga’ chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti pāya

Translation: “One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Kṛṣṇa. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus, one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by taking shelter of a bonafide spiritual master, by associating with a pure Vaiṣṇava, one gives up unwanted association and ultimately achieve pure devotion.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.98

satsaṅgera prabhāva :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.10.11)—

sat-saṅgān mukta-duḥsaṅgo
hātuṁ notsahate budhaḥ
kīrtyamānaṁ yaśo yasya
sakṛd ākarṇya rocanam

Translation: “The intelligent, who have understood the Supreme Lord in the association of pure devotees and have become free from bad, materialistic association, can never avoid hearing the glories of the Lord, even though they have heard them only once.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.10.11). All the members of the Kuru dynasty offered respects when Kṛṣṇa was leaving Hastināpura after the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Kṛṣṇa was going to His own kingdom, and all the members of the Kuru dynasty were overwhelmed by His departure.

This verse was spoken in that connection by Sūta Gosvāmī.

A pure devotee becomes attached to Kṛṣṇa by hearing the Lord’s glories. The Lord’s glories and the Lord Himself are identical. One has to be qualified to understand this absolute truth; therefore one should be given a chance to associate with a pure devotee. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit by their association. In this way the number of pure devotees increases. Professional preachers cannot create pure devotees. There are many professional preachers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam who read this work to earn their livelihood. However, they cannot convert materialistic people to devotional service. Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service. It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. They should regularly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend maṅgala-ārati and recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā regularly.

In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination.

“Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all one’s senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.” (Nārada-pañcarātra)

To make a show of devotional service will not help one. One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu practiced devotional service and preached (āpani ācari’ bhakti karila pracāra). If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others. Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the important thing to glean from this is that one should achieve pure devotional service, that one want to please Kṛṣṇa by engaging his sense in Kṛṣṇa's service because Kṛṣṇa is the master of all the senses.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.99

duḥsaṅgera artha :—

‘duḥsaṅga’ kahiye—‘kaitava’, ‘ātma-vañcanā’ 
kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinu anya kāmanā

Translation: “Cheating oneself and cheating others is called kaitava. Associating with those who cheat in this way is called duḥsaṅga, bad association. Those who desire things other than Kṛṣṇa’s service are also called duḥsaṅga, bad association.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we should avoid the bad association, people who want other things than Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.100

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.1.2)—

dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śiva-daṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ’tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt

Translation: “The great scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, compiled by Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva from four original verses, describes the most elevated and kindhearted devotees and completely rejects the cheating ways of materially motivated religiosity. It propounds the highest principle of eternal religion, which can factually mitigate the threefold miseries of a living being and award the highest benediction of full prosperity and knowledge. Those willing to hear the message of this scripture in a submissive attitude of service can at once capture the Supreme Lord in their hearts. Therefore there is no need for any scripture other than Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.2). For an explanation see Ādi-līlā 1.91.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, two types of persons are mentioned here, kaitava, or cheating and pure devotees. We want to avoid associating with the cheating and want to associate with eth pure devotees who actually want to please Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.101

‘pra’-śabde—mokṣa-vāñchā kaitava-pradhāna 
ei śloke śrīdhara-svāmī kariyāchena vyākhyāna

Translation: “The prefix ‘pra’ in the word ‘projjhita’ specifically refers to those desiring liberation or oneness with the Supreme. Such a desire should be understood to be the foremost cheating propensity. The great commentator Śrīdhara Svāmī has explained this verse in that way.

Desiring to merge into the impersonal brahma-jyoti is considered as a cheating process, if one should want to serve Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that will yield one all success.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.102

sakāma-bhakte ‘ajña’ jāni’ dayālu bhagavān 
sva-caraṇa diyā kare icchāra pidhāna

Translation: “When merciful Lord Kṛṣṇa understands that a foolish devotee desires material prosperity, He gratefully gives him the shelter of His lotus feet. In this way, the Lord covers the devotee’s undesirable ambitions.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa want to give much more valuable things to the devotees. Dhruva Mahārāja wanted material things but when he realized Kṛṣṇa, he realized what he wanted is temporary and insignificant.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.103

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (5.19.26)—

satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ
naivārtha-do yat punar arthitā yataḥ
svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām
icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam

Translation: “Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one’s desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord’s service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.’

Purport: by His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the demons and the materialists perform the worship of some demigods because the demigods just give them what they want, although they go for it again and again. But Kṛṣṇa He fulfills one’s desire by giving them the shelter of His lotus feet and thus they are fully satisfied.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.104

śuddha-bhakta-saṅga, sevā o kṛṣṇa-kṛpātei anartha-nivṛtti o siddhilābha :—

sādhu-saṅga, kṛṣṇa-kṛpā, bhaktira svabhāva 
e tine saba chāḍāya, kare kṛṣṇe ‘bhāva’

Translation: “Association with a devotee, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, and the nature of devotional service help one to give up all undesirable association and gradually attain elevation to the platform of love of Godhead.

Purport: by His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda This verse-refers to the association of pure devotees, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the rendering of devotional service. All these help one give up the association of nondevotees and the material opulence awarded by the external energy, māyā. A pure devotee is never attracted by material opulence, for he understands that wasting time to acquire material opulence is a misuse of the gift of human life. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said, śrama eva hi kevalam. In the eyes of a devotee, politicians, social workers, philanthropists, philosophers and humanitarians are simply wasting their time, for human society is not freed from the cycle of birth and death by their activity and propaganda. These so-called philanthropists, politicians and philosophers have no knowledge because they do not know that there is life after death. Understanding that there is life after death is the beginning of spiritual knowledge.

A person can understand himself and what he is simply by understanding the first lessons of the Bhagavad-gītā (2.13):

“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.”

Not knowing the real science of life, a foolish person engages in the temporary activities of this life and thus becomes further entangled in the cycle of birth and death. He always desires material opulence, which can be attained by karma, jñāna and yoga. But when one is actually elevated to the devotional platform, he gives up all these desires. This is called anyābhilāṣitā-śūnya. Then one becomes a pure devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one should try to become a pure devotee and thus reach the real goal of life. Human life is meant for this end and thus we should try to become pure devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.105

paravartī samasta vyākhyāya ihāi jñātavya:—

āge yata yata artha vyākhyāna kariba 
kṛṣṇa-guṇāsvādera ei hetu jāniba

Translation: “In this way I shall progressively explain all the words in the ātmārāma verse. It should be understood that all these words are meant to enable one to taste the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, tasting the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa is the real success of human life and if one hears the ātmārāma verse explained by a pure devotee he will appreciate the wonderful qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus ends the Part 2 of the chapter entitled, Explanations of Words in the Ātmārāma Verse Enables One to Taste the Transcendental Qualities of Kṛṣṇa,
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse