20211221 Six Kinds of Ātmārāmas, Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 21st 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!

Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Six Kinds of Ātmārāmas, Part 1
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.106

śloka-vyākhyā lāgi’ ei kariluṅ ābhāsa 
ebe kari ślokera mūlārtha prakāśa

Translation: “I have given all these explanations just to give some indication of the verse’s meaning. Now let Me explain the real meaning of the verse.

Lord Caitanya had given the meaning of each of the words and now He is giving the actual explanation of the verse.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.107

jñānīra dvividha vibheda :—

jñāna-mārge upāsaka—duita’ prakāra 
kevala brahmopāsaka, mokṣākāṅkṣī āra

Translation: “There are two kinds of worshipers on the path of philosophical speculation — one is called brahma-upāsaka, a worshiper of the impersonal Brahman, and the other is called mokṣākāṅkṣī, one who desires liberation.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here we see that the impersonalists, those who desire liberation, there are the two type of worshippers in philosophical speculation and jñana-mārga.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.108

(1) kevala brahmā-jñānī trividha :—

kevala brahmopāsaka tina bheda haya 
sādhaka, brahmamaya, āra prāpta-brahma-laya

Translation: “There are three types of people who worship the impersonal Brahman. The first is the beginner, the second is one whose thoughts are absorbed in Brahman, and the third is one who is actually merged in the impersonal Brahman.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here Caitanya Mahāprabhu explains the three types of impersonal brahmavādīs.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.109

bhaktyāśrita-jñānera sādhanei sādhakera brahmabhūtatva :—

bhakti vinā kevala jñāne ‘mukti’ nāhi haya 
bhakti sādhana kare yei ‘prāpta-brahma-laya’

Translation: “One cannot attain liberation simply through philosophical speculation devoid of devotional service. However, if one renders devotional service, he is automatically on the Brahman platform.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows how the mental speculation or impersonalism cannot reach the ultimate perfection without practicing some devotional service. So, jñana-mārga is also dependent on devotional service.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.110

vāstava vastura ānugatye vā bhaktiphalei ‘brāhmaṇatva’ evaṃ sevā-saṃyoge ‘vaiṣṇavatva’

bhaktira svabhāva,—brahma haite kare ākarṣaṇa 
divya deha diyā karāya kṛṣṇera bhajana

Translation: “Characteristically, one in devotional service is attracted away from the impersonal Brahman platform. He is offered a transcendental body to engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the actual nature of bhakti-yoga.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.111

vaiṣṇava haiyāo kṛṣṇa-sevānuṣṭhāna :—

bhakta-deha pāile haya guṇera smaraṇa 
guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare nirmala bhajana

Translation: “When one gets a devotee’s spiritual body, he can remember the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Simply by being attracted to Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, one becomes a pure devotee engaged in His service.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has given the following summary of verses 107-111. Transcendentalists on the path of philosophical speculation can be divided into two categories — the pure worshipers of impersonal Brahman and those who wish to merge into the existence of impersonal Brahman. When one is fully absorbed in the thought that one is not different from the Supreme Absolute Truth, one is said to be a worshiper/ of the impersonal Brahman. The impersonal worshipers of Brahman can again be divided into three categories — (1) sādhakas, those who are nearing perfect execution of the process of Brahman realization; (2) those who are fully absorbed in meditation on Brahman; and (3) those who are on the brahma-bhūta platform and have no relationship with material existence. Even though the worshiper of impersonal Brahman can be highly advanced, he cannot attain liberation without discharging devotional service. Anyone who has realized himself as spirit soul can engage in devotional service.

This is the verdict of the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54):

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

To attain the platform of pure devotional service, one has to become spiritually pure and attain the brahma-bhūta platform, which is beyond material anxiety and material discrimination. When one approaches pure devotional service after realizing Brahman, one becomes attracted by pure devotional service. At such a time, by rendering devotional service, one gets a spiritual body with purified senses.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

When one’s senses are pure, one can render loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee can only remember Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities. Remembering them, he fully engages in the loving service of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, three kinds of philosophical speculation, and three levels of philosophical speculators are mentioned here. In order to reach the highest aspect of liberation, one needs to do some devotional service. Normally, someone attracted by Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities, he has no desire to realize the Brahman and wants to serve Krsna eternally.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.112

muktagaṇerao aprākṛta siddhadehe bhagavatsevā :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.87.21)

śloke śrīdhara-dhṛta sarvajña bhāṣyakāra vyākhyā o nṛsiṃhatāpanīte (2.5.16)—

“muktā api līlayā vigrahaṁ
kṛtvā bhagavantaṁ bhajante”

Translation: “Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.’

Purport: Highly elevated Māyāvādī sannyāsīs sometimes worship the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity and discuss the pastimes of the Lord, but their purpose is not elevation to Goloka Vṛndāvana. They want to merge into the Lord’s effulgence. This statement is quoted from Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Upaniṣad known as Nṛsiṁha-tāpanī.

Jayapatākā Swami: I saw the Śaṅkarācārya in Purī, he worshipped the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa deities. I asked him, “why you are worshipping Rādhā Kṛṣṇa deity, they don’t grow old they are eternally young, but you grow old” He said, “this is my līlā!” I said everyone is going through that līlā. Although the impersonalists are attracted to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, their desire is to become one with the impersonal brahman.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.113

brahmamaya śuka o catuḥsanādio kṛṣṇe ākṛṣṭa haiyā kṛṣṇa-bhajanarata:—

janma haite śuka-sanakādi ‘brahmamaya’ 
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Translation: “Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the four Kumāras were always absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman and were thus Brahmavādīs, they were nonetheless attracted by the transcendental pastimes and qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, they later became devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows how Kṛṣṇa is all-attractive, that even persons who are impersonally realized, they became attracted by Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities and realize it is a highest state and become devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.114

catuḥsanādi kṛṣṇa-caraṇagandhe ākṛṣṭa haiyā śuddha-bhaktirata 

sanakādyera kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya saurabhe hare mana guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare nirmala bhajana

Translation: “The minds of the four Kumāras were attracted by the aroma of the flowers offered to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Being thus attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, they engaged in pure devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: The four Kumāras visited Viṣṇuloka, the spiritual planet of the Lord. Bowing down to Lord Nārāyaṇa they became attracted to the aroma of the flowers offered to Krsna's lotus feet. They had spiritual ecstasy greater than the impersonalists, and they immediately became devotees of the Lord.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.115 

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (3.15.43)—

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-
kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ
antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ
saṅkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

Translation: “When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Purport: This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43).

Jayapatākā Swami: This is an explanation we have about the four Kumāras, how they became transferred from impersonal brahman to bhakti-yoga.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.116

vyāsakṛpāya tacchiṣya śuka kṛṣṇa-līlāya ākṛṣṭa haiyā śuddha-bhaktirata: —

vyāsa-kṛpāya śukadevera līlādi-smaraṇa 
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā karena bhajana

Translation: “By the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was attracted by the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Being thus attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, he also became a devotee and engaged in His service.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śukadeva Gosvāmī was afraid of the material energy, that it would distract him from his impersonal realization. But when he understood from Vyāsadevā about the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, then decided to take birth and be a devotee of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.117

kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa haiyā śrautapanthī śukera vyāsa samīpe bhāgavatādhyayana :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgabate (1.7.11)

harer guṇākṣipta-matir
bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ
adhyagān mahad-ākhyānaṁ
nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ

Translation: “Being very much attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, the mind of Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī was agitated by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He therefore began to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the grace of his father.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.11).

Jayapatākā Swami: How Śukadeva Gosvāmī became devotee by the grace of his father Śrīla Vyāsadevā.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.118

śrautapanthī brahmā-jñānī nava-yogendrera kṛṣṇa-guṇa-śravaṇe kṛṣṇa-bhajana:—

nava-yogīśvara janma haite ‘sādhaka’ jñānī 
vidhi-śiva-nārada-mukhe kṛṣṇa-guṇa śuni’

Translation: “From their very births, the nine great mystic yogīs [Yogendras] were impersonal philosophers of the Absolute Truth. But because they heard about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s qualities from Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the great sage Nārada, they also became Kṛṣṇa’s devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows the importance of hearing about Kṛṣṇa from His pure devotee

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.119

guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare kṛṣṇera bhajana 
ekādaśa-skandhe tāṅra bhakti-vivaraṇa

Translation: “In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a full description of the devotional service of the nine Yogendras, who rendered devotional service because they were attracted by the Lord’s transcendental qualities.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how the nine yogendras became Kṛṣṇa's devotees is explained in the eleventh canto, and how Nārada became a devotee is explained in the first canto.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.120

śāstra-pramāṇa :— Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (3.1.20)-

dhṛta mahopaniṣad-vākya —

akleśāṁ kamala-bhuvaḥ praviśya goṣṭhīṁ
kurvantaḥ śruti-śirasāṁ śrutiṁ śruta-jñāḥ
uttuṅgaṁ yadu-pura-saṅgamāya raṅgaṁ
yogīndrāḥ pulaka-bhṛto navāpy avāpuḥ

Translation: “The nine Yogendras entered Lord Brahmā’s association and heard from him the real meaning of the topmost Vedic literatures, the Upaniṣads. Although the Yogendras were already conversant in Vedic knowledge, they became very jubilant in Kṛṣṇa consciousness just by listening to Brahmā. Thus they wanted to enter Dvārakā, the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way they finally achieved the place known as Raṅga-kṣetra.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Mahā Upaniṣad.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how the Nava-Yogendras became situated in pure devotional service is explained here. We should hear about the glories of Kṛṣṇa from the lips of pure devotees and this will purify our consciousness.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.121

(2) mokṣākāṅakṣīra trividha bheda :—

mokṣākāṅkṣī jñānī haya tina-prakāra 
mumukṣu, jīvan-mukta, prāpta-svarūpa āra

Translation: “Those who wish to merge into the impersonal Brahman are also divided into three categories — those desiring to be liberated, those already liberated and those who have realized Brahman.

Jayapatākā Swami: Those desiring liberation are explained in three levels.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.122

(a) mumukṣu viṣayigaṇera bhaktira āśraye kṛṣṇa-bhajana:—

‘mumukṣu’ jagate aneka saṁsārī jana 
‘mukti’ lāgi’ bhaktye kare kṛṣṇera bhajana

“There are many people within this material world who desire liberation, and for this purpose they render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can understand that many people desire to be liberated and worship Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.123

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.2.26)—

mumukṣavo ghora-rūpān
hitvā bhūta-patīn atha
nārāyaṇa-kalāḥ śāntā
bhajanti hy anasūyavaḥ

Translation: “Those who want to be relieved from the material clutches give up the worship of the various demigods who have fearful bodily features. Such peaceful devotees, who are not envious of the demigods, worship the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.26). Those who actually want the highest perfection worship Lord Viṣṇu in His different incarnations. Those who are attracted to the materialistic way of life and who are always agitated and full of anxiety worship demigods who appear fierce — demigods like goddess Kālī and Kāla-bhairava (Rudra). The devotees of Kṛṣṇa, however, do not envy the demigods or their worshipers but peacefully render devotional service to the incarnations of Nārāyaṇa instead.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is important to know that we should never criticize the devas or their worshippers, they are actually all serving Lord Nārāyaṇa, helping Him to manage the universe, so we don’t criticize them, but neither do we worship them as independent gods, we see that everyone is depending on Kṛṣṇa. He is the cause of all causes, He is the Absolute Truth.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.124

sādhu-saṅge mumukṣā-tyāga :—

sei sabera sādhu-saṅge guṇa sphurāya 
kṛṣṇa-bhajana karāya, ‘mumukṣā’ chāḍāya

Translation: “If those who are attached to demigod worship fortunately associate with the devotees, their dormant devotional service and appreciation of the Lord’s qualities gradually awaken. In this way they also engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service and give up the desire for liberation and the desire to merge into the existence of impersonal Brahman.

Purport: The four Kumāras (Catuḥsana), Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the nine Yogendras were absorbed in Brahman realization, and how they became devotees is described herein. There are three kinds of impersonalists — the mumukṣu (those desiring liberation), the jīvan-muktas (those liberated in this life) and the prāpta-svarūpas (those merged in Brahman realization). All three types of jñānīs are called mokṣākāṅkṣīs, those desiring liberation. By associating with devotees, such people give up the mumukṣu principle and render devotional service. The real cause for this change is the association of devotees. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to attract all types of men, even those who desire things other than the Lord’s devotional service. Through the association of devotees, they gradually begin to render devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, associating with pure devotees is so important. They change even the devotee liberated in impersonal Brahman, and become situated in Bhakti-yoga. So, we should be very careful to render pure devotional service and offer it to others.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.125

satsaṅgera guṇa o mahimā :—

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (3.2.27)-

dhṛta hari-bhakti-sudhodaya-vacana

aho mahātman bahu-doṣa-duṣṭo
’py ekena bhāty eṣa bhavo guṇena
sat-saṅgamākhyena sukhāvahena
kṛtādya no yena kṛśā mumukṣā

Translation: “O great learned devotee, although there are many faults in this material world, there is one good opportunity — the association with devotees. Such association brings about great happiness. Due to this good quality, our strong desire to achieve liberation by merging into the Brahman effulgence has become weakened.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the persons who want to merge into the impersonal Brahman, by associating with pure devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa gets awakened and thus their desire for merging in the impersonal Brahman is slackened and their desire to serve Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Six Kinds of Ātmārāmas, Part 1