20211226 Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in Ātmārāma

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 26th 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!

Toady we are continuing reading for the compilation of Caitanya līlā book,

Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in Ātmārāma, Part 1
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.186

‘ātmārāmāḥ’-padera antargata ātmā-śabdera (6) ‘buddhi’-arthe vyākhyā: —

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘buddhi’ kahe buddhi-viśeṣa 
sāmānya-buddhi-yukta yata jīva avaśeṣa

Translation: “The word ‘ātmā’ is also used for a particular type of intelligence. Since all living entities generally have some intelligence, more or less, they are included.

So, in Eleventh Canto it says that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would come with His associates, energies, expansions and others He will promote the congregational chanting, saṅkīrtana those who are intelligent, very intelligent will follow Him.

Eleventh Canto it says that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would come with expansions associates, energies, and others propagate saṅkīrtana those who are intelligent, very intelligent They will follow Him.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.187

paṇḍita o mūrkhabhede buddhyārāma dvividha:–

buddhye rame ātmārāma — dui ta’ prakāra 
‘paṇḍita’ muni-gaṇa, nirgrantha ‘mūrkha’ āra

Translation: “Everyone has some kind of intelligence, and one who utilizes his intelligence is called an ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāmas. One is a learned scholar and philosopher, and the other is an uneducated, illiterate, foolish person.

Jayapatākā Swami: By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa everyone can become His devotee and everyone can come under His shelter, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.188

sadhu-kṛṣṇera kṛpāya sadbuddhilābha o kṛṣṇa-bhajana :—

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya sādhu-saṅge rati-buddhi pāya 
saba chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti kare kṛṣṇa-pāya

Translation: “By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and by the association of devotees, one increases his attraction to and intelligence for pure devotional service; therefore one gives up everything and engages himself at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it says that one uses his intelligence by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa to surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.189

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (10.8)—

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

Translation: “I [Kṛṣṇa] am the original source of everything. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My service with love and devotion.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (10.8).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if one understand by his intelligence that Kṛṣṇa is the source of everything, then naturally he serves Kṛṣṇa with love and devotion.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.190

bhakta-kṛpāya śrautapathānusaraṇe nīca tiryyakajātirao māyā-mukti :–

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.7.46) —

te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
strī-śūdra-hūna-śabarā api pāpa-jīvāḥ
yady adbhuta-krama-parāyaṇa-śīla-śikṣās
tiryag-janā api kim u śruta-dhāraṇā ye

Translation: “Women, fourth-class men, uncivilized hill tribes, hunters and many others born of low families, as well as birds and beasts, can engage in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead — who acts very wonderfully — and follow the path of the devotees and take lessons from them. Although the ocean of nescience is vast, they can still cross over it. What, then, is the difficulty for those who are advanced in Vedic knowledge?’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.46). Lord Brahmā said this when speaking to his disciple Nārada about the wonderful characteristics of Lord Viṣṇu. Simply by chanting the glories of Lord Viṣṇu, one can cross the ocean of nescience, even though one may be lowborn.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, normally being born in these births mentioned above is not conducive for spiritual knowledge, however anyone even the above mentioned, who engages in devotional service achieves the highest perfection. So, we would like to encourage everyone to engage in devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.191

sadbuddhi o nitya-nitya-vicārapūrvaka kṛṣṇa-bhajanei kṛṣṇa-prāpti :—

vicāra kariyā yabe bhaje kṛṣṇa-pāya 
sei buddhi dena tāṅre, yāte kṛṣṇa pāya

Translation: “Considering all these points, when one engages in the service of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa gives one the intelligence by which he can gradually progress toward perfection in service to the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Even if one doesn’t have the intelligence, by engaging in the devotional service to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa promises to give the intelligence to come to Him.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.192

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (10.10)—

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

Translation: “To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10).

Jayapatākā Swami: So this, Kṛṣṇa is telling that if someone serves Him with love and devotion, He gives them the intelligence by which they can approach Him.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.193

sarvaśreṣṭha pañcavidha sādhana :—

sat-saṅga, kṛṣṇa-sevā, bhāgavata, nāma 
vraje vāsa, — ei pañca sādhana pradhāna

Translation: “To be elevated to the platform of devotional service, the following five items should be observed: association with devotees, engagement in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the reading of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the chanting of the holy names and residence at Vṛndāvana or Mathurā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, satsaṅga or the association of the devotees, serving Kṛṣṇa, reading Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, chanting the holy names and residing in a holy place like Vṛndāvana, Mathurā, Dvārakā and Māyāpur, etc. So, Lord Caitanya asked devotees three things, - chant the holy names, worship and serve Kṛṣṇa, study the teachings of Kṛṣṇa like Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-bhāgavatam. So, here associating with devotees and living in the holy places to enter Kṛṣṇa's pastimes are additional points.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.194

pañcasādhanera ekaṭīra sāmānyānuśīlanei kṛṣṇa-prema lābha :—

ei-pañca-madhye eka ‘svalpa’ yadi haya 
subuddhi janera haya kṛṣṇa-premodaya

Translation: “One’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa gradually awakens if one is a little advanced in one of these five items and is intelligent. So, here it says that in fact, even if one can practice even if one, even one these five items, uses the intelligence they can awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. So, here it says that in fact, even if one can practice even if one, even one these five items, uses the intelligence they can awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. So, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda he established Kṛṣṇa conscious temple all over the world, so that people could associate with devotees, could live in the holy place, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and do all these things. So, that’s why we have the temples to give people opportunity to come closer to Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.195

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.238)—

durūhādbhuta-vīrye ’smin
śraddhā dūre ’stu pañcake
yatra sv-alpo ’pi sambandhaḥ
sad-dhiyāṁ bhāva-janmane

Translation: “The power of these five principles is very wonderful and difficult to understand. Even without faith in them, a person who is offenseless can awaken his dormant love of Kṛṣṇa simply by being a little connected with them.’

Purport: This verse is found in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.238).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, generally in the material world, people are not at all connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These things connect one to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and one can easily awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.196

anarthamaya o sakāma haileo subuddhihetu nirantara kṛṣṇa-bhajana-phale kāma-tyāga-pūrvaka niṣkāma-sevā o siddhi-prāpti; tāhā haileo kintu sakāma-bhakti niṣkāma-sevāra kāraṇa’nahe :—

udāra mahatī yāṅra sarvottamā buddhi 
nānā kāme bhaje, tabu pāya bhakti-siddhi

“If a person is actually liberal and intelligent, he can advance and become perfect in devotional service even if he has material desires and serves the Lord with some motive.

Jayapatākā Swami: This verse explains that one, even if they have some motive some desires, material desires they can achieve Lord Kṛṣṇa, they can advance and become perfect. So, that’s how powerful these five items are.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.197

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.3.10)—

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

Translation: “Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).

Jayapatākā Swami: This verse explains that if people have all material desires or no material desires, or if they desire into the brahma-jyoti, they should worship Kṛṣṇa. That is the intelligent thing to do and by His mercy they can achieve all desired results.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.198

nirantara-sevā-prabhāve kāma vā anarthera nivṛtta śuddhasevā-lābha :—

bhakti-prabhāva, — sei kāma chāḍāñā kṛṣṇa-pade bhakti karāya guṇe ākarṣiyā

Translation: “Devotional service is so strong that when one engages in it, he gradually gives up all material desires and becomes fully attracted to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. All this is brought about by attraction for the transcendental qualities of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Devotional service is so powerful that even if one has material desires, those can get counteracted by the process of devotional service. Dhruva Mahārāja worshipped Kṛṣṇa with some ulterior motive, but when he advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his material desires were transformed. He realized that worshiping the material things are temporary and worshipping Kṛṣṇa was eternal.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.199

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: This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, some people worship the devas for some material things, when they get it they realize that they want more, then they come again and again asking for more. But Kṛṣṇa, He wants one to be fully satisfied, so that he won’t ask for anything else. So especially when they achieve attachment to His lotus feet all other desires seem insignificant.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in Ātmārāma, Part 1
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse