20211227 Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in Ātmārāma, Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 27th 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, the chapter entitled is:

Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in ātmārāma, Part 2
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the ātmārāma Verse

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.200

“ātmārāmāḥ”-padera antargata ātmā-śabdera (7) ‘svabhāva’-arthe vyākhyā :—

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘svabhāva’ kahe, tāte yei rame 
ātmārāma jīva yata sthāvara-jaṅgame

Translation: “Another meaning of the word ‘ātmā’ is ‘one’s characteristic nature.’ Whoever enjoys his particular type of nature is called ātmārāma. Therefore, all living entities — be they moving or nonmoving — are also called ātmārāma.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if a living entity enjoys his present state he is also called ātmārāma.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.201

anāvṛta śuddha-jīva-svarūpa o āvṛta jīva-svarūpera dharma; śuddha ‘ahaṁ’ o aśuddha ‘ahaṁ’ :—

jīvera svabhāva — kṛṣṇa-‘dāsa’-abhimāna 
dehe ātma-jñāne ācchādita sei ‘jñāna’

Translation: “The original nature of every living entity is to consider himself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. But under the influence of māyā he thinks himself to be the body, and thus his original consciousness is covered.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was asked, “What is my position?” ,and He answered, “jīvera ’svarūpa’ haya—kṛṣṇera ’nitya-dāsa” every living entity is the eternal servitor of Lord Kṛṣṇa and if we understand this, then we have proper knowledge, but the body deludes us and we forget that we have this relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.202

ca-śabde ‘eva’, ‘api’-śabda samuccaye 
‘ātmārāmā eva’ hañā śrī-kṛṣṇa bhajaye

Translation: “In that case, by the word ‘ca,’ the word ‘eva’ is meant. The word ‘api’ can be taken in the sense of aggregation. Thus the verse would read ātmārāmā eva — that is, ‘even all kinds of living beings worship Kṛṣṇa.’

Purport: It is here mentioned that every living entity is ātmārāma. Temporarily covered by the influence of māyā, the living entity serves his senses, which are represented as kāma-krodha-lobha-moha-mada-mātsarya — lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. In the material condition, all living entities are engaged in sense gratification, but when they associate with devotees who follow the regulative principles, they become purified and awakened to their original consciousness. They then attempt to satisfy the senses of Lord Kṛṣṇa and engage in His devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: By serving to please Kṛṣṇa one actually gets full satisfaction because we are part of Kṛṣṇa. So, actually the secret to get spiritual bliss and happiness is to serve Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.203

śuddha-svabhāva ‘ātmārāma’ jīvera o ‘nigrarnta’ jīvera dṛṣṭānta :—

ei jīva — sanakādi saba muni-jana 
‘nirgrantha’ — mūrkha, nīca, sthāvara-paśu-gaṇa

Translation: “Living entities include great personalities like the four Kumāras, and also low-class foolish people, trees, plants, birds and beasts.

Jayapatākā Swami: See, Lord Caitanya is explaining the ātmārāma verse to Sanātana Gosvāmī. Sanātana Gosvāmī wanted to hear the different explanations of the ātmārāma verse and when Lord Caitanya taught Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, He explained the ātmārāma verse in eighteen ways. But this time He has explained the ātmārāma verse in sixty-one ways. So each word has various meanings and how combined together makes sense of it all.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.204

muktajīva vyāsādira kṛṣṇa-sevā—prasiddha, nirgrantha vā nirbbodhera bhajana-varṇana :—

vyāsa-śuka-sanakādira prasiddha bhajana 
‘nirgrantha’ sthāvarādira śuna vivaraṇa

Translation: “The devotional service of Vyāsa, Śuka and the four Kumāras has already been well celebrated. Now let Me explain how immovable living entities like trees and plants engage in the Lord’s devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is very clear that great exalted munis like Vyāsa, Śukadeva and Sanakādi Ṛṣis engaged in devotional service. But how do the sthāvarā, jaṅgama bodily plants and animals do so, that is being explained by Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.205

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya sakalera kṛṣṇa-bhajana :—

kṛṣṇa-kṛpādi-hetu haite sabāra udaya 
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā tāṅhāre bhajaya

Translation: “Everyone is eligible to receive Kṛṣṇa’s mercy — including Vyāsadeva, the four Kumāras, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, lowborn creatures, trees, plants and beasts. By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy they are elevated and engaged in His service.

Purport: This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32), wherein the Lord says:

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.”

Everyone is eligible to become Kṛṣṇa’s devotee. One simply has to be trained according to the approved process. It is the work of Kṛṣṇa’s confidential devotees to turn everyone into a Kṛṣṇa bhakta. If the confidential devotees do not take up the task of elevating everyone to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then who will do it? Those who claim to be devotees but do not engage in Kṛṣṇa’s service to elevate all living creatures to Kṛṣṇa consciousness are to be considered kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs (people in the lowest stage of devotional service). When one rises to the second platform of devotional service, his business is to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. Those who are active in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should not remain in the neophyte stage but should rise to the platform of preachers, the second platform of devotional service. Devotional service is so enchanting that even the first-class devotees (uttama-adhikārīs) also come down to the second platform to preach and render service to the Lord for the benefit of the whole world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the glories of preaching to uplift people to devotional service and help them have attraction for Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful that even the first-class devotees come down to the second platform in order to preach. We hope that all the devotees will also engage in this dissemination of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.206

kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparśe pṛthvī dhanyā, lakṣmīrao kāmya bakṣaḥsparśe gopī dhanyā :

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.15.8)—

dhanyeyam adya dharaṇī tṛṇa-vīrudhas tvat-
pāda-spṛśo druma-latāḥ karajābhimṛṣṭāḥ
nadyo ’drayaḥ khaga-mṛgāḥ sadayāvalokair
gopyo ’ntareṇa bhujayor api yat-spṛhā śrīḥ

Translation: “This land of Vṛndāvana [Vrajabhūmi] is glorified today because Your lotus feet have touched her earth and grass, Your fingernails have touched her trees and creepers, and Your merciful eyes have glanced upon her rivers, hills, birds and beasts. The gopīs have been embraced by Your arms, and even the goddess of fortune desires this. Now all of these are glorified.’

Purport: This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.8) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Śrī Balarāma.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, They were glorious, Their touch, Their glance everything is auspicious, so how the different entities in Vṛndāvana were blessed here is explained here by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Lord Balarāma.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.207

kṛṣṇabaṁśīdhvanite jaṅgamera sthāvara-dharma, sthāvarera jaṅgama-dharmodayaḥ—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.21.19)—

gā gopakair anu-vanaṁ nayator udāra-
veṇu-svanaiḥ kala-padais tanu-bhṛtsu sakhyaḥ
aspandanaṁ gatimatāṁ pulakas tarūṇāṁ
niryoga-pāśa-kṛta-lakṣaṇayor vicitram

Translation: “My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are passing through the forest leading Their cows with Their cowherd boyfriends. They both carry ropes with which, at the time of milking, They bind the rear legs of the cows. When They play on Their flutes, all moving living entities are stunned, and nonmoving living entities experience ecstatic jubilation by Their sweet music. All these things are certainly very wonderful.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.19). As Kṛṣṇa wandered in the forest with Baladeva and the two of Them wonderfully played Their flutes, all the gopīs became very much attracted. Thus, they praised the Lord’s activities, describing how He was enthusing all the plants, birds, hills, water — everything.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were giving their mercy to all the living entities in Vṛndāvana, however the Gopīs could appreciate the wonderful qualities of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. So they glorified their Lords and appreciated Their mercy and transcendental qualities. Although Kṛṣṇa is Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān, He acts like a cowherd boy in Vṛndāvana and thus gives pleasure to all the Vraja-vāsīs.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.208

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.35.9)—

vana-latās tarava ātmani viṣṇuṁ
vyañjayantya iva puṣpa-phalāḍhyāḥ
praṇata-bhāra-viṭapā madhu-dhārāḥ
prema-hṛṣṭa-tanavo vavṛṣuḥ sma

Translation: “The plants, creepers and trees were full of fruits and flowers due to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, being so full, they were bowing down. They were inspired by such deep love for Kṛṣṇa that they were constantly pouring showers of honey. In this way the gopīs saw all the forests of Vṛndāvana.’

Purport: This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.35.9). For an explanation, see Madhya-līlā 8.276.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa was giving His mercy out walking through the forest of Vṛndāvana and the gopīs could realize this, and this prayer is their realization.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.209

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.4.18)—

kirāta-hūnāndhra-pulinda-pukkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khaśādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-upāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Translation: “Kirātas, Hūnas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pukkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.’

So, normally these are considered very low births but if they take shelter of the pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa since Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme power, they can also be delivered.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.210

e paryyanta 19 prakāra artha:—

āge ‘tera’ artha kariluṅ, āra ‘chaya’ ei 
ūnaviṁśati artha ha-ila mili’ ei dui

Translation: “I have already spoken about thirteen meanings [of the ātmārāma verse]. Now there are six more. Combined, these make nineteen.

Purport: The six further meanings of the verse are based on the following meanings of the word ātmārāma: (1) mental speculators (vide verse 165), (2) those engaged in different types of endeavor (vide verse 168), (3) those who are patient and sober (vide verse 174), (4) those who are intelligent and learned scholars (vide verse 187), (5) those who are intelligent but illiterate and foolish (vide verse 187), and (6) those who are conscious of their eternal servitorship to Kṛṣṇa (vide verse 201).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way Lord Caitanya has explained nineteen meanings of the ātmārāma verse, He told Sanātana Gosvāmī that He may speak many meanings by the presence of Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (6. buddhi, and 7. svabhāva) in ātmārāma, Part 2
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the ātmārāma Verse