Chapter 24
The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse
The following summary of this chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. According to Sri Sanatana Gosvami's
request, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained the well-known Srimad-Bhagavatam
verse beginning atmaramas ca munayo. He explained this verse in sixty-one
different ways. He analyzed all the words and described each word with its
different connotations. Adding the words ca and api, He described all the
different meanings of the verse. He then concluded that all classes of
transcendentalists (jnanis, karmis, yogis) utilize this verse according to
their own interpretation, but if they gave up this process and surrendered to
Krsna, as indicated by the verse itself, they would be able to comprehend the
real meaning of the verse. In this regard, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu narrated a
story about how the great sage Narada converted a hunter into a great Vaisnava,
and how this was appreciated by Narada's friend Parvata Muni. Sanatana Gosvami
then offered a prayer to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
explained the glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam. After this, the Lord gave Sanatana
Gosvami a synopsis of Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which Sanatana Gosvami later
developed into the guiding principle of all Vaisnavas.
TEXT 1
TEXT
atmarameti padyarkasy-
arthamsun yah prakasayan
jagat-tamo jaharavyat
sa caitanyodayacalah
SYNONYMS
atmarama-iti--beginning with the word atmarama; padya--verse;
arkasya--of the sunlike; artha-amsun--the shining rays of different meanings;
yah--who; prakasayan--manifesting; jagat-tamah--the darkness of the material
world; jahara--eradicated; avyat--may protect; sah--He;
caitanya-udaya-acalah--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is like the eastern
horizon, where the sun rises.
TRANSLATION
May Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu be glorified. It was He who acted as the
eastern horizon where the sun of the atmarama verse rises and manifests its
rays in the form of different meanings and thus eradicates the darkness of the
material world. May He protect the universe.
TEXT 2
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-caitanya--to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu;
jaya--all glories; nityananda--to Lord Nityananda; jaya--all glories;
advaita-candra--to Advaita Acarya; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to
all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All
glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!
TEXT 3
TEXT
tabe sanatana prabhura carane dhariya
punarapi kahe kichu vinaya kariya
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; sanatana--Sanatana Gosvami; prabhura carane
dhariya--catching the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; punarapi--again;
kahe--says; kichu--something; vinaya kariya--with great humility.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Sanatana Gosvami clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and humbly submitted the following petition.
TEXT 4
TEXT
'purve suniyachon, tumi sarvabhauma-sthane
eka sloke athara artha kairacha vyakhyane
SYNONYMS
purve--formerly; suniyachon--I heard; tumi--You; sarvabhauma-sthane--at
the place of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya; eka sloke--in one verse; athara
artha--eighteen meanings; kairacha vyakhyane--have explained.
TRANSLATION
Sanatana Gosvami said, "My Lord, I have heard that previously, at
the home of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, You explained the atmarama verse in
eighteen different ways.
TEXT 5
TEXT
atmaramas ca munayo
nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty
ahaitukim bhaktim
ittham-bhuta-guno harih
SYNONYMS
atma-aramah--persons who take pleasure in being transcendentally
situated in the service of the Lord; ca--also; munayah--great saintly persons
who have completely rejected material aspirations, fruitive activities and so
forth; nirgranthah--without interest in any material desire; api--certainly;
urukrame--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, whose activities are
wonderful; kurvanti--do; ahaitukim--causeless, or without material desires;
bhaktim--devotional service; ittham-bhuta--so wonderful as to attract the
attention of the self-satisfied; gunah--who has transcendental qualities;
harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external
material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Sri Krsna, whose
qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the
Personality of Godhead, is called Krsna because He has such transcendentally
attractive features.'
PURPORT
This is the famous atmarama verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.10).
TEXT 6
TEXT
ascarya suniya mora utkanthita mana
krpa kari' kaha yadi, judaya sravana'
SYNONYMS
ascarya--wonderful; suniya--hearing; mora--my; utkanthita--desirous;
mana--mind; krpa kari'--showing Your causeless mercy; kaha yadi--if You speak;
judaya--pleases; sravana--the ear.
TRANSLATION
"I have heard this wonderful story and am therefore very
inquisitive to hear it again. If You would kindly repeat it, I would be very
pleased to hear."
TEXT 7
TEXT
prabhu kahe,----"ami vatula, amara vacane
sarvabhauma vatula taha satya kari' mane
SYNONYMS
prabhu kahe--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; ami--I; vatula--a madman;
amara vacane--in My words; sarvabhauma--Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya;
vatula--another madman; taha--that (My explanation); satya kari' mane--took as
truth.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "I am one madman, and Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya is another. Therefore he took My words to be the truth.
TEXT 8
TEXT
kiba pralapilana, kichu nahika smarane
tomara sanga-bale yadi kichu haya mane
SYNONYMS
kiba--what; pralapilana--I have said; kichu--anything; nahika--there is
not; smarane--in memory; tomara--of you; sanga-bale--by the strength of
association; yadi--if; kichu--something; haya--there is; mane--in My mind.
TRANSLATION
"I do not recall what I spoke in that connection, but if something
comes to My mind due to association with you, I shall explain it.
TEXT 9
TEXT
sahaje amara kichu artha nahi bhase
toma-sabara sanga-bale ye kichu prakase
SYNONYMS
sahaje--generally; amara--My; kichu--any; artha--meaning; nahi
bhase--does not manifest; toma-sabara sanga-bale--by the strength of your
association; ye--which; kichu--something; prakase--manifests.
TRANSLATION
"Generally by Myself I cannot give an explanation, but by the
strength of your association something may manifest itself.
TEXT 10
TEXT
ekadasa pada ei sloke sunirmala
prthak nana artha pade kare jhalamala
SYNONYMS
ekadasa pada--eleven words; ei--this; sloke--in the verse;
su-nirmala--very clear; prthak--separately; nana--various; artha--meanings;
pade--in each word; kare jhalamala--are glittering.
TRANSLATION
"There are eleven clear words in this verse, but when they are
studied separately, various meanings glitter from each word.
PURPORT
The eleven separate words are (1) atmaramah, (2) ca, (3) munayah, (4)
nirgranthah, (5) api, (6) urukrame, (7) kurvanti, (8) ahaitukim, (9) bhaktim,
(10) ittham-bhuta-gunah, and (11) harih. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will explain
the different connotations and imports of these words.
TEXT 11
TEXT
'atma'-sabde brahma, deha, mana, yatna, dhrti
buddhi, svabhava,----ei sata artha-prapti
SYNONYMS
atma-sabde--by the word atma; brahma--the Absolute Truth; deha--the
body; mana--the mind; yatna--endeavor; dhrti--firmness; buddhi--intelligence;
sva-bhava--nature; ei sata--these seven; artha-prapti--obtainment of meanings.
TRANSLATION
"The seven different meanings of the word atma are the Absolute
Truth, the body, the mind, endeavor, firmness, intelligence and nature.
TEXT 12
TEXT
"atma
deha-mano-brahma-svabhava-dhrti-buddhisu
prayatne ca" iti xxx
SYNONYMS
atma--the word atma; deha--the body; manah--the mind; brahma--the
Absolute Truth; sva-bhava--nature; dhrti--firmness; buddhisu--in the sense of
intelligence; prayatne--in endeavor; ca--and; iti--thus.
TRANSLATION
" 'The following are synonyms of the word atma: the body, mind,
Absolute Truth, natural characteristics, firmness, intelligence and endeavor.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Visva-prakasa dictionary.
TEXT 13
TEXT
ei sate rame yei, sei atmarama-gana
atmarama-ganera age kariba ganana
SYNONYMS
ei sate--in these seven items; rame--enjoy; yei--those who; sei--they;
atmarama-gana--atmaramas; atmarama-ganera--of the atmaramas; age--later; kariba
ganana--shall make a count.
TRANSLATION
"The word atmarama refers to one who enjoys these seven items [the
Absolute Truth, body, mind, and so on]. Later, I shall enumerate the atmaramas.
TEXT 14
TEXT
'muni'-adi sabdera artha suna, sanatana
prthak prthak artha pache kariba milana
SYNONYMS
muni--the word muni; adi--and the other; sabdera--of the words;
artha--the meaning; suna--hear; sanatana--My dear Sanatana; prthak
prthak--separately; artha--meaning; pache--after; kariba milana--I shall
combine.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, first hear the meanings of the other words,
beginning with the word muni. I shall first explain their separate meanings,
then combine them.
TEXT 15
TEXT
'muni'-sabde manana-sila, ara kahe mauni
tapasvi vrati, yati, ara rsi, muni
SYNONYMS
muni-sabde--by the word muni; manana-sila--who is thoughtful; ara--also;
kahe--it means; mauni--one who is silent; tapasvi--an ascetic; vrati--one who
keeps great vows; yati--one in the renounced order of life; ara--and; rsi--a
saintly person; muni--they are called muni.
TRANSLATION
"The word muni refers to one who is thoughtful, one who is grave or
silent, an ascetic, one who keeps great vows, one in the renounced order, a
saint. These are the different meanings of the word muni.
TEXT 16
TEXT
'nirgrantha'-sabde kahe, avidya-granthi-hina
vidhi-nisedha-veda-sastra-jnanadi-vihina
SYNONYMS
nirgrantha--nirgrantha; sabde--by the word; kahe--one means; avidya--of
ignorance; granthi-hina--without any knot; vidhi-nisedha--regulative principles
of rules and restrictions; veda-sastra--the Vedic literature;
jnana-adi--knowledge, and so on; vihina--without.
TRANSLATION
"The word nirgrantha refers to one who is liberated from the
material knots of ignorance. It also refers to one who is devoid of all regulative
principles enjoined in the Vedic literature. It also refers to one who does not
have knowledge.
TEXT 17
TEXT
murkha, nica, mleccha adi sastra-rikta-gana
dhana-sancayi----nirgrantha, ara ye nirdhana
SYNONYMS
murkha--foolish, illiterate persons; nica--lowborn; mleccha--unclean
persons with no principles; adi--and others; sastra-rikta-gana--persons devoid
of all regulative principles stated in sastra; dhana-sancayi--capitalist (one
who gathers wealth); nirgrantha--called nirgrantha; ara--also; ye--anyone who;
nirdhana--without riches.
TRANSLATION
"Nirgrantha also refers to one who is illiterate, lowborn,
misbehaved, unregulated and devoid of respect for Vedic literature. The word
also refers to one who is a capitalist and to one who has no riches.
TEXT 18
TEXT
nir
niscaye nis kramarthe
nir nirmana-nisedhayoh
grantho dhane 'tha sandarbhe
varna-sangrathane 'pi ca
SYNONYMS
nih--the prefix nih; niscaye--in the sense of ascertainment; nih--the
prefix nih; krama-arthe--in the meaning of succession; nih--the prefix nih;
nirmana--in the sense of forming; nisedhayoh--in the sense of forbidding;
granthah--the word grantha; dhane--in the sense of wealth; atha--also;
sandarbhe--thesis; varna-sangrathane--in the sense of tying together words;
api--also; ca--and.
TRANSLATION
" 'The prefix nih may be used for a sense of ascertainment,
gradation, construction or forbidding. The word grantha means riches, thesis
and composition.'
PURPORT
This is another quotation from the Visva-prakasa dictionary.
TEXT 19
TEXT
'urukrama'-sabde kahe, bada yanra krama
'krama'-sabde kahe ei pada-viksepana
SYNONYMS
urukrama--urukrama; sabde--by this word; kahe--one means; bada--great;
yanra--whose; krama--step; krama-sabde--in this word krama; kahe--one means;
ei--this; pada-viksepana--throwing forth of the foot.
TRANSLATION
"The word urukrama refers to one whose krama [step] is great. The
word krama means 'throwing the foot forward,' that is, 'step.'
TEXT 20
TEXT
sakti, kampa, paripati, yukti, saktye akramana
carana-calane kanpaila tribhuvana
SYNONYMS
sakti--power; kampa--trembling; paripati--method; yukti--argument;
saktye--with great force; akramana--attacking; carana-calane--by moving the
foot; kanpaila--caused to tremble; tri-bhuvana--the three worlds.
TRANSLATION
"Krama also means power, trembling, a systematic method, argument,
and a forcible attack by stepping forward. Thus Vamana caused the three worlds
to tremble.
PURPORT
Uru means very great, and krama means step. When Lord Vamanadeva was
offered three steps of land, He expanded His three steps by covering the entire
universe. In this way the three worlds trembled, and therefore Sri Vamanadeva,
the incarnation of Lord Visnu, is referred to as Urukrama.
TEXT 21
TEXT
visnor nu virya-gananam katamo 'rhatiha
yah parthivany api kavir vimame rajamsi
caskambha yah sva-ramhasaskhalata triprstham
yasmat trisamya-sadanad urukampayanam
SYNONYMS
visnoh--of Lord Visnu; nu--certainly; virya-gananam--a counting of the
different potencies; katamah--who; arhati--is able to do; iha--in this world;
yah--who; parthivani--of the element earth; api--although; kavih--a learned
person; vimame--has counted; rajamsi--the atoms; caskambha--captured; yah--who;
sva--His own; ramhasa--by potency; askhalata--without hindrances;
tri-prstham--the topmost planet (Satyaloka); yasmat--from some cause;
tri-samya--where there is equilibrium of the three gunas; sadanat--from the
place (from the root of the material world); urukampayanam--trembling greatly.
TRANSLATION
" 'Even if a learned man is able to count all the minute atoms in
this material world, he still cannot count the potencies of Lord Visnu. In the
form of the Vamana incarnation, Lord Visnu, without hindrance, captured all the
planets, beginning from the root of the material world up to Satyaloka. Indeed,
He caused every planetary system to tremble by the force of His steps.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.40). In the Rg Veda
mantra (1.2.154.1), it is said:
om visnor nu viryani kam pravocam
yah parthivani vimame rajamsi
yo 'skambhayad uttaram sadhastham
vicakramanas tredhorugayah
TEXT 22
TEXT
vibhu-rupe vyape, saktye dharana-posana
madhurya-saktye goloka, aisvarye paravyoma
SYNONYMS
vibhu-rupe--in His all-pervasive feature; vyape--expands; saktye--by His
potency; dharana-posana--maintaining and nourishing; madhurya-saktye--by His potency
of conjugal love; goloka--the planetary system Goloka Vrndavana; aisvarye--and
by opulence; para-vyoma--the spiritual world.
TRANSLATION
"Through His all-pervasive feature, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead expanded the entire creation. He is holding and maintaining this
creation by His extraordinary potency. By His conjugal potency, He maintains
the planetary system known as Goloka Vrndavana. Through His six opulences, He
maintains many Vaikuntha planets.
PURPORT
In His gigantic form, Lord Krsna has covered the creation. He holds all
the planetary systems and maintains them by His inconceivable potencies.
Similarly, He is maintaining His personal abode, Goloka Vrndavana, through His
conjugal love, and He is maintaining the spiritual world containing the
Vaikuntha planets by His opulences.
TEXT 23
TEXT
maya-saktye brahmandadi-paripati-srjana
'urukrama'-sabdera ei
artha nirupana
SYNONYMS
maya-saktye--by His external potency; brahmanda-adi--of material
universes and so on; paripati--an orderly arrangement; srjana--creating;
urukrama-sabdera--of the word urukrama; ei--this; artha--of the meaning;
nirupana--ascertainment.
TRANSLATION
"The word urukrama indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
who, by His external potency, has perfectly created innumerable universes.
TEXT 24
TEXT
"kramah saktau paripatyam kramas
calana-kampayoh"
SYNONYMS
kramah--the word krama; saktau--in the meaning of potency; paripatyam--in
the meaning of systematic arrangement; kramah--the word krama; calana--in
moving; kampayoh--or in trembling.
TRANSLATION
" 'These are the different meanings of the word krama. It is used
in the sense of potency, systematic arrangement, step, moving or trembling.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Visva-prakasa dictionary. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive. Not only does He carry the three
worlds by His inconceivable energy, but He maintains them also. He is also
maintaining His spiritual planet, Goloka Vrndavana, by His conjugal love, and
He is maintaining the Vaikunthalokas by His opulences. He maintains these
material universes through the external energy. Material universes are
perfectly situated because they are created by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
TEXT 25
TEXT
'kurvanti'-pada ei parasmaipada haya
krsna-sukha-nimitta bhajane tatparya kahaya
SYNONYMS
kurvanti--they do (for others); pada--the word; ei--this;
parasmaipada--a verb form indicating things done for others; haya--is;
krsna-sukha-nimitta--to satisfy Krsna; bhajane--in devotional service;
tatparya--the purport; kahaya--is said.
TRANSLATION
"The word kurvanti, which means 'they do something for others,' is
a form of the verb 'things done for others.' It is used in connection with
devotional service, which must be executed for the satisfaction of Krsna. That
is the purport of the word kurvanti.
PURPORT
In Sanskrit the verb "to do" has two forms, technically called
parasmaipada and atmanepada. When things are done for one's personal
satisfaction, the form is called atmanepada. In that case, the word
"do" in English is kurvante in Sanskrit. When things are done for
others, the verb form changes to kurvanti. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed
Sanatana Gosvami that in the atmarama verse the verb kurvanti means that things
should be done only for the satisfaction of Krsna. This is supported by the
grammarian Panini. The verb is formed as atmanepada when the work is to be done
for one's own benefit, and when it is done for others, it is called
parasmaipada. Thus the verb is formed according to whether something is done
for one's self-satisfaction or for another's satisfaction.
TEXT 26
TEXT
"svaritanitah
kartrabhipraye kriya-phale"
SYNONYMS
svarita-nitah--of verbs having an indicatory n or a svarita accent;
kartr-abhipraye--is meant for the agent; kriya-phale--when the fruit of the
action.
TRANSLATION
" 'The terminations of the atmanepada are employed when the fruit
of the action accrues to the agent of verbs having an indicatory n or a svarita
accent.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Panini's sutras (1.3.72).
TEXT 27
TEXT
'hetu'-sabde kahe----bhukti-adi vanchantare
bhukti, siddhi, mukti----mukhya ei tina prakare
SYNONYMS
hetu--cause; sabde--by the word; kahe--it is said; bhukti--enjoying the
result by oneself; adi--and so on; vancha-antare--because of a different
ambition; bhukti--enjoying the result of action; siddhi--the perfection of
doing something; mukti--liberation; mukhya--chief; ei--these; tina prakare--in
three ways.
TRANSLATION
"The word hetu [cause] means that a thing is done for some motive.
There can be three motives. One may act to enjoy the result personally, to
achieve some material perfection, or to act in such a way that one may be
liberated.
TEXT 28
TEXT
eka bhukti kahe, bhoga----ananta-prakara
siddhi----astadasa, mukti----panca-vidhakara
SYNONYMS
eka--first; bhukti--material enjoyment by doing something; kahe--is
known; bhoga--enjoyment; ananta-prakara--unlimited varieties; siddhi--the yogic
perfections; astadasa--eighteen in number; mukti--liberation;
panca-vidha-akara--five varieties.
TRANSLATION
"First we take the word bhukti [material enjoyment], which is of
unlimited variety. We may also take the word siddhi [perfection], which has
eighteen varieties. Similarly, the word mukti has five varieties.
TEXT 29
TEXT
ei yanha nahi, taha bhakti----'ahaituki'
yaha haite vasa haya sri-krsna kautuki
SYNONYMS
ei--these; yanha--where; nahi--not existing; taha--that; bhakti--the
platform of devotional service; ahaituki--unmotivated; yaha haite--by which;
vasa haya--comes under control; sri-krsna--Lord Sri Krsna; kautuki--the most
funny.
TRANSLATION
"Causeless devotional service is unmotivated by sense enjoyment,
perfection or liberation. When one is freed from all these contaminations, he
can bring Lord Krsna, who is very funny, under control.
TEXT 30
TEXT
'bhakti'-sabdera artha haya dasa-vidhakara
eka----'sadhana', 'prema-bhakti'----nava prakara
SYNONYMS
bhakti--bhakti; sabdera--of this word; artha--meanings; haya--are;
dasa-vidha-akara--ten varieties; eka--one; sadhana--the execution of regulative
devotional service; prema-bhakti--ecstatic love; nava prakara--nine kinds.
TRANSLATION
"There are ten meanings to the word
bhakti, devotional service. One is execution of devotional service according to
the regulative principles, and the other, called prema-bhakti [ecstatic love]
has nine varieties.
PURPORT
The nine varieties are rati, prema, sneha, mana, pranaya, raga, anuraga,
bhava and mahabhava-attraction, love, affection, adverse feelings, intimacy,
attachment, subattachment, ecstatic love and sublime ecstatic love. For the
execution of devotional service according to regulative principles, there is
only one meaning.
TEXT 31
TEXT
'rati'-laksana, 'prema'-laksana, ityadi pracara
bhava-rupa, mahabhava-laksana-rupa ara
SYNONYMS
rati--of attraction; laksana--the symptoms; prema--of love; laksana--the
symptoms; iti-adi--and so on; pracara--are known; bhava-rupa--in the form of
ecstatic love; maha-bhava--of higher ecstatic love; laksana-rupa--there are
many symptoms; ara--other.
TRANSLATION
"Next are explained the symptoms of love of Godhead, which can be
divided into nine varieties, beginning with attraction up to ecstatic love and
finally up to the topmost ecstatic love [mahabhava].
TEXT 32
TEXT
santa-bhaktera rati bade 'prema'-paryanta
dasya-bhaktera rati haya 'raga'-dasa-anta
SYNONYMS
santa-bhaktera--of devotees on the platform of neutrality;
rati--attraction; bade--increases; prema-paryanta--up to love of Godhead;
dasya-bhaktera--of devotees on the platform of servitude; rati--attraction; haya--increases;
raga-dasa-anta--up to the point of spontaneous attachment.
TRANSLATION
"The attraction to Krsna of devotees on the platform of neutrality
increases up to love of Godhead [prema], and the attraction of devotees on the
platform of servitorship increases to spontaneous attachment [raga].
TEXT 33
TEXT
sakha-ganera rati haya 'anuraga' paryanta
pitr-matr-sneha adi 'anuraga'-anta
SYNONYMS
sakha-ganera--of the friends; rati--the attraction; haya--becomes;
anuraga paryanta--up to subecstatic love; pitr-matr-sneha--paternal love;
adi--and so on; anuraga-anta--up to the end of subecstatic love.
TRANSLATION
"Devotees in Vrndavana who are friends of the Lord can increase
their ecstatic love to the point of anuraga. Paternal affectionate lovers,
Krsna's father and mother, can increase their love of Godhead up to the anuraga
point also.
TEXT 34
TEXT
kanta-ganera rati paya 'mahabhava'-sima
'bhakti'-sabdera ei saba arthera mahima
SYNONYMS
kanta-ganera--of the devotees in conjugal love; rati--the attraction;
paya--attain; maha-bhava-sima--the limit of mahabhava; bhakti--devotional
service; sabdera--of the word; ei saba--all these; arthera--of the meanings;
mahima--of the glories.
TRANSLATION
"The gopis of Vrndavana who are attached to Krsna in conjugal love
can increase their ecstatic love up to the point of mahabhava [the greatest
ecstatic love]. These are some of the glorious meanings of the word bhakti,
devotional service.
TEXT 35
TEXT
'ittham-bhuta-gunah'-sabdera sunaha vyakhyana
'ittham'-sabdera bhinna artha, 'guna'-sabdera ana
SYNONYMS
ittham-bhuta-gunah--having qualities like this; sabdera--of the word;
sunaha--please hear; vyakhyana--the explanation; ittham--ittham; sabdera--of
the word; bhinna artha--different meanings; guna--guna; sabdera--of the word;
ana--other.
TRANSLATION
"Please hear the meaning of the word ittham-bhuta-guna, which is
found in the atmarama verse. Ittham-bhuta has different meanings, and guna has
other meanings.
TEXT 36
TEXT
'ittham-bhuta'-sabdera
artha----purnanandamaya
yanra age brahmananda trna-praya haya
SYNONYMS
ittham-bhuta-sabdera artha--the meaning or import of the word
ittham-bhuta; purna-ananda-maya--full of transcendental bliss; yanra age--in
front of which; brahma-ananda--the transcendental bliss derived from
impersonalism; trna-praya--just like straw; haya--is.
TRANSLATION
"The word ittham-bhuta is transcendentally exalted because it means
'full of transcendental bliss.' Before this transcendental bliss, the bliss
derived from merging into the existence of the Absolute [brahmananda] becomes
like a piece of straw in comparison.
TEXT 37
TEXT
tvat-saksat-karanahlada-
visuddhabdhi-sthitasya me
sukhani gospadayante
brahmany api jagad-guro
SYNONYMS
tvat--Your; saksat--meeting; karana--such action; ahlada--pleasure;
vi-suddha--spiritually purified; abdhi--ocean; sthitasya--being situated;
me--by me; sukhani--happiness; gospadayante--a small hole created by the hoof
of a calf; brahmani--the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman
understanding; api--also; jagat-guro--O master of the universe.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly
seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being
situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like
the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (14.36).
TEXT 38
TEXT
sarvakarsaka, sarvahladaka, maha-rasayana
apanara bale kare sarva-vismarana
SYNONYMS
sarva-akarsaka--all-attractive; sarva-ahladaka--all-pleasing;
maha-rasa-ayana--the complete abode of transcendental mellow; apanara bale--by
His own strength; kare--causes; sarva-vismarana--forgetfulness of all other
bliss.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna is so exalted
that He is more attractive than anything else and more pleasing than anything
else. He is the most sublime abode of bliss. By His own strength, He causes one
to forget all other ecstasies.
TEXT 39
TEXT
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-sukha chadaya yara gandhe
alaukika sakti-gune krsna-krpaya bandhe
SYNONYMS
bhukti--material happiness; mukti--liberation from material suffering;
siddhi--the perfection of mystic yoga; sukha--the happiness derived from these
things; chadaya--one gives up; yara--of which; gandhe--simply by the slight
fragrance; alaukika--uncommon, transcendental; sakti-gune--by the power and
quality; krsna-krpaya--by the mercy of Lord Krsna; bandhe--one becomes bound.
TRANSLATION
"Pure devotional service is so sublime that one can very easily
forget the happiness derived from material happiness, material liberation and
mystic or yogic perfection. Thus the devotee is bound by Krsna's mercy and His
uncommon power and qualifications.
TEXT 40
TEXT
sastra-yukti nahi ihan siddhanta-vicara
ei svabhava-gune, yate
madhuryera sara
SYNONYMS
sastra-yukti--logic on the basis of revealed scripture; nahi--there is
not; ihan--here; siddhanta-vicara--consideration of logical conclusions;
ei--this; svabhava-gune--a natural quality; yate--in which; madhuryera
sara--the essence of all transcendental bliss.
TRANSLATION
"When one is attracted to Krsna on the transcendental platform,
there is no longer any logical argument on the basis of revealed scripture, nor
are there considerations of such conclusions. This is His transcendental
quality that is the essence of all transcendental sweetness.
TEXT 41
TEXT
'guna' sabdera
artha----krsnera guna ananta
sac-cid-rupa-guna sarva purnananda
SYNONYMS
guna sabdera artha--the meaning of the word guna; krsnera guna
ananta--Krsna has unlimited qualities; sat-cit-rupa-guna--such qualities are
spiritual and eternal; sarva purna-ananda--full of all transcendental bliss.
TRANSLATION
"The word guna means 'quality.' The qualities of Krsna are
transcendentally situated and are unlimited in quantity. All of the spiritual
qualities are full of transcendental bliss.
TEXT 42
TEXT
aisvarya-madhurya-karunye svarupa-purnata
bhakta-vatsalya, atma-paryanta vadanyata
SYNONYMS
aisvarya--opulence; madhurya--transcendental sweetness; karunye--mercy;
svarupa-purnata--fullness of spiritual value; bhakta-vatsalya--affection for
the devotee; atma-paryanta--up to the point of His personal self;
vadanyata--magnanimity.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna's transcendental qualities such as opulence, sweetness and
mercy are perfect and full. As far as Krsna's affectionate leaning toward His
devotees is concerned, He is so magnanimous that He can give Himself to His
devotees.
TEXT 43
TEXT
alaukika rupa, rasa, saurabhadi guna
karo mana kona gune kare akarsana
SYNONYMS
alaukika rupa--uncommon beauty; rasa--mellows; saurabha-adi
guna--qualities like transcendental fragrance; karo mana--the mind of a
devotee; kona gune--by some particular quality; kare--does;
akarsana--attracting.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna has unlimited qualities. The devotees are attracted by His
uncommon beauty, mellows and fragrance. Thus they are differently situated in
the different transcendental mellows. Therefore Krsna is called all-attractive.
TEXT 44
TEXT
sanakadira mana harila saurabhadi gune
SYNONYMS
sanaka-adira mana--the minds of saintly sages like Sanaka and Sanatana;
harila--attracted; saurabha-adi--such as the transcendental aroma of His lotus
feet; gune--by the quality.
TRANSLATION
"The minds of the four boy sages [Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and
Sanat-kumara] were attracted to the lotus feet of Krsna by the aroma of the
tulasi that had been offered to the Lord.
TEXT 45
TEXT
tasyaravinda-nayanasya padaravinda-
kinjalka-misra-tulasi-makaranda-vayuh
antargatah svavivarena cakara tesam
sanksobham aksara-jusam api citta-tanvoh
SYNONYMS
tasya--of Him; aravinda-nayanasya--of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; pada-aravinda--of the lotus
feet; kinjalka--with saffron; misra--mixed; tulasi--of tulasi leaves;
makaranda--with the aroma; vayuh--the air; antargatah--entered;
sva-vivarena--through the nostrils; cakara--created; tesam--of them;
sanksobham--strong agitation; aksara-jusam--of the impersonally self-realized
(Kumaras); api--also; citta-tanvoh--of the mind and body.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi 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 Kumaras], they experienced a
change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to impersonal
Brahman understanding.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.15.43). For an explanation,
see Madhya-lila (17.142).
TEXT 46
TEXT
sukadevera mana harila lila-sravane
SYNONYMS
sukadevera--of Sukadeva Gosvami; mana--the mind; harila--carried away;
lila-sravane--by remembering the pastimes of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"Sukadeva's mind was carried away by remembering the pastimes of
the Lord.
TEXT 47
TEXT
parinisthito 'pi nairgunye
uttamahsloka-lilaya
grhita-ceta rajarse
akhyanam yad adhitavan
SYNONYMS
parinisthitah--situated; api--although; nairgunye--in the transcendental
position, freed from the material modes of nature; uttamah-sloka-lilaya--by the
pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamahsloka; grhita-ceta--the
mind became fully taken over; rajarse--O great King; akhyanam--the narration;
yat--which; adhitavan--studied.
TRANSLATION
" 'Sukadeva Gosvami addressed Pariksit Maharaja, "My dear
King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was
nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Krsna. Therefore I studied
Srimad-Bhagavatam from my father.' "
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.9).
TEXT 48
TEXT
svasukha-nibhrta-cetas tad-vyudastanya-bhavo
'py ajita-rucira-lilakrsta-saras tadiyam
vyatanuta krpaya yas tattva-dipam puranam
tam akhila-vrjina-ghnam vyasa-sunum nato 'smi
SYNONYMS
sva-sukha-nirbhrta-cetah--whose mind was always fully absorbed in the
happiness of self-realization; tat--by that; vyudasta-anya-bhavah--being freed
from all other attractions; api--although; ajita-rucira-lila--by the most
attractive pastimes of Ajita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
akrsta--attracted; sarah--whose heart; tadiyam--in relation to the Lord;
vyatanuta--described and spread; krpaya--out of mercy; yah--he who;
tattva-dipam--which is the light of the Absolute Truth; puranam--the
supplementary Vedic literature Srimad-Bhagavatam; tam--to him;
akhila-vrjina-ghnam--who can destroy all kinds of material misery;
vyasa-sunum--Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Vyasadeva; natah asmi--I offer my
respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
" 'I offer my respectful obeisances unto Srila Sukadeva Gosvami,
the son of Vyasadeva. He is the destroyer of all sinful reactions and is full
in self-realization and bliss. Because of this, he has no other desire. Still,
he was attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and out of compassion for the people, he described the transcendental
historical literature called Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is compared to the light
of the Absolute Truth.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.68).
TEXT 49
TEXT
sri-anga-rupe hare gopikara mana
SYNONYMS
sri-anga--of His transcendental body; rupe--by the beauty;
hare--attracts; gopikara mana--the minds of the gopis.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Sri Krsna attracts the minds of all the gopis with His
beautiful transcendental bodily features.
TEXT 50
TEXT
viksyalakavrta-mukham tava kundala-sri-
ganda-sthaladhara-sudham hasitavalokam
dattabhayam ca bhuja-danda-yugam vilokya
vaksah sriyaika-ramanam ca bhavama dasyah
SYNONYMS
viksya--seeing; alaka-avrta-mukham--face decorated with curling tresses
of hair; tava--Your; kundala-sri--beauty of earrings; ganda-sthala--falling on
Your cheeks; adhara-sudham--and the nectar from Your lips;
hasita-avalokam--Your smiling glance; datta-abhayam--which assure fearlessness;
ca--and; bhuja-danda-yugam--the two arms; vilokya--by seeing; vaksah--chest;
sriya--by the beauty; eka-ramanam--chiefly producing conjugal attraction;
ca--and; bhavama--we have become; dasyah--Your maidservants.
TRANSLATION
" 'Dear Krsna, we have simply surrendered ourselves as Your
maidservants, for we have seen Your beautiful face decorated with tresses of
hair, Your earrings falling upon Your cheeks and the nectar of Your lips. We
have also seen the beauty of Your smile and have been embraced by Your arms,
which give us courage. Because we have seen Your chest, which is beautiful and
broad, we have surrendered ourselves.'
PURPORT
This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.29.39) was spoken by the gopis
when they arrived near Krsna for the rasa dance on a full moonlit night. The
attracted gopis were awestruck, and they began to speak about how they came to
Krsna to enjoy the rasa dance.
TEXT 51
TEXT
rupa-guna-sravane rukminy-adira akarsana
SYNONYMS
rupa--beauty; guna--qualities; sravane--by hearing; rukmini-adira--of
the queens, headed by Rukmini; akarsana--attracting.
TRANSLATION
"The queens in Dvaraka, who are headed by Rukmini, are also
attracted to Krsna simply by hearing about His transcendental beauty and
qualities.
TEXT 52
TEXT
srutva gunan bhuvana-sundara srnvatam te
nirvisya karna-vivarair harato 'nga-tapam
rupam drsam drsimatam akhilartha-labham
tvayy acyutavisati cittam apatrapam me
SYNONYMS
srutva--hearing; gunan--the transcendental qualities; bhuvana-sundara--O
most beautiful in the whole creation; srnvatam--of those hearing; te--Your;
nirvisya--entering; karna-vivaraih--by the holes of the ears; haratah
anga-tapam--decreasing all the miserable conditions of the body; rupam--the
beauty; drsam--of the eyes; drsimatam--of those who can see;
akhila-artha-labham--the achievement of all kinds of gains; tvayi--unto You;
acyuta--O infallible one; avisati--enters; cittam--the consciousness;
apatrapam--without shame; me--my.
TRANSLATION
" 'O most beautiful Krsna, I have heard about Your transcendental
qualities from others, and therefore all my bodily miseries are relieved. If one
sees Your transcendental beauty, his eyes have attained everything profitable
in life. O infallible one, I have become shameless after hearing of Your
qualities, and I have become attracted to You.'
PURPORT
This verse (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.52.37) was written by Rukminidevi in a
letter to Krsna inviting Him to kidnap her. Sukadeva Gosvami described this to
Maharaja Pariksit when the King asked him how Rukmini had been kidnapped.
Rukmini had heard about Krsna's qualities from different people, and after she
heard about them, she decided to accept Krsna as her husband. Everything had
been arranged for her marriage to Sisupala; therefore she wrote a letter to
Krsna, which she sent through a brahmana, and invited Him to kidnap her.
TEXT 53
TEXT
vamsi-gite hare krsna laksmy-adira mana
SYNONYMS
vamsi-gite--by the vibration of His flute; hare--attracts; krsna--Lord
Krsna; laksmi-adira--of the goddess of fortune and others; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna even attracts the mind of the goddess of fortune simply
by vibrating His transcendental flute.
TEXT 54
TEXT
kasyanubhavo 'sya na deva vidmahe
tavanghri-renu-sparasadhikarah
yad-vanchaya srir lalanacarat tapo
vihaya kaman suciram dhrta-vrata
SYNONYMS
kasya--of what; anubhavah--a result; asya--of the serpent (Kaliya);
na--not; deva--O Lord; vidmahe--we know; tava-anghri--of Your lotus feet;
renu--of the dust; sparasa--for touching; adhikarah--qualification; yat--which;
vanchaya--by desiring; srih--the goddess of fortune; lalana--the topmost woman;
acarat--performed; tapah--austerity; vihaya--giving up; kaman--all desires;
suciram--for a long time; dhrta--a law upheld; vrata--as a vow.
TRANSLATION
" 'O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kaliya attained such an
opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. For this end, the
goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other
desires and taking austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how this serpent Kaliya
got such an opportunity.'
PURPORT
This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.16.36) was spoken by the wives of
the Kaliya demon.
TEXT 55
TEXT
yogya-bhave jagate yata yuvatira gana
SYNONYMS
yogya-bhave--by proper behavior; jagate--within the three worlds;
yata--all; yuvatira gana--the groups of young girls.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna attracts not only the minds of the gopis and the goddesses
of fortune but the minds of all the young girls in the three worlds as well.
TEXT 56
TEXT
ka stry anga te kala-padamrta-venu-gita-
sammohitarya-caritan na calet trilokyam
trailokya-saubhagam idam ca niriksya rupam
yad go-dvija-druma-mrgah pulakany abibhran
SYNONYMS
ka stri--who is that woman; anga--O Krsna; te--of You; kala-pada--by the
rhythms; amrta-venu-gita--and sweet songs of Your flute; sammohita--being
captivated; arya-caritat--from the path of chastity according to Vedic
civilization; na--not; calet--would wander; tri-lokyam--within the three
worlds; trailokya-saubhagam--which is the fortune of the three worlds;
idam--this; ca--and; niriksya--by observing; rupam--the beauty; yat--which;
go--the cows; dvija--the birds; druma--the trees; mrgah--forest animals like
the deer; pulakani--transcendental jubilation; abibhran--manifested.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Lord Krsna, where is that woman within the three worlds
who cannot be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your
wonderful flute? Who cannot fall down from the path of chastity in this way?
Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds. Upon seeing Your
beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest are stunned in
jubilation.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.29.40).
TEXT 57
TEXT
guru-tulya stri-ganera vatsalye akarsana
dasya-sakhyadi-bhave purusadi gana
SYNONYMS
guru-tulya--on the level of a superior guardian; stri-ganera--of the
ladies of Vrndavana; vatsalye--in parental affection; akarsana--attracting;
dasya-sakhya-adi--servants, friends, and others; bhave--in the mode of;
purusa-adi gana--all the males of Vrndavana.
TRANSLATION
"The women of Vrndavana, who are on the level of superior
guardians, are attracted maternally. The men of Vrndavana are attracted as
servants, friends and fathers to Lord Krsna.
TEXT 58
TEXT
paksi, mrga, vrksa, lata, cetanacetana
preme matta kari' akarsaye krsna-guna
SYNONYMS
paksi--birds; mrga--animals; vrksa--trees; lata--creepers;
cetana-acetana--living entities and even the stones and wood; preme--in
ecstatic love; matta--captivated; kari'--making; akarsaye--attract; krsna-guna--the
qualities of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"The qualities of Krsna captivate and attract everything, living
and dead. Even birds, animals and trees are attracted to Krsna's qualities.
TEXT 59
TEXT
'harih'-sabde nanartha, dui mukhyatama
sarva amangala hare, prema diya hare mana
SYNONYMS
harih--hari; sabde--by this word; nana-artha--different imports;
dui--two; mukhya-tama--chief; sarva--all; amangala--inauspiciousness;
hare--takes away; prema diya--by ecstatic love; hare--attracts; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
"Although the word hari has many different meanings, two of them
are foremost. One meaning is that the Lord takes away all inauspicious things
from His devotee, and the second meaning is that He attracts the mind by
ecstatic love for God.
TEXT 60
TEXT
yaiche taiche yohi kohi karaye smarana
cari-vidha tapa tara kare samharana
SYNONYMS
yaiche taiche--somehow or other; yohi kohi--anywhere and everywhere;
karaye smarana--remembers; cari-vidha--the four kinds; tapa--miserable
conditions of life; tara--of the devotee; kare samharana--He takes away.
TRANSLATION
"When the devotee somehow or other always remembers the Supreme
Personality of Godhead anywhere and everywhere, Lord Hari takes away life's
four miserable conditions.
PURPORT
The four miserable conditions are due to the four kinds of sinful
activities, known as (1) pataka, (2) urupataka, (3) maha-pataka and (4)
atipataka-preliminary sin, very great sin, greater sin and topmost sin.
However, Krsna assures the devotee, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma
sucah: "I will protect you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
The word sarva-papebhyah indicates four kinds of sinful activity. As soon as
the devotee surrenders unto Krsna's lotus feet, he is certainly relieved from
all sinful activities and their results. The four basic sinful activities are
summarized as illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating.
TEXT 61
TEXT
yathagnih susamrddharcih
karoty edhamsi bhasmasat
tatha mad-visaya bhaktir
uddhavainamsi krtsnasah
SYNONYMS
yatha--as; agnih--a fire; su-samrddha-arcih--having a full flame;
karoti--makes; edhamsi--fuel; bhasmasat--into ashes; tatha--similarly;
mat-visaya bhaktih--devotional service in relation to Me; uddhava--O Uddhava;
enamsi--all kinds of sinful activity; krtsnasah--totally.
TRANSLATION
" 'As all fuel is burned to ashes by a full-fledged fire, all
sinful activities are totally erased when one engages in devotional service to
Me.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.19).
TEXT 62
TEXT
tabe kare bhakti-badhaka karma, avidya nasa
sravanadyera phala
'prema' karaye prakasa
SYNONYMS
tabe--thereafter; kare--does; bhakti-badhaka--impediments on the path of
devotional service; karma--activities; avidya--ignorance; nasa--vanquishing;
sravana-adyera--of hearing, chanting and so forth; phala--the result;
prema--love of Godhead; karaye prakasa--causes a manifestation of.
TRANSLATION
"In this way, when all sinful activities are vanquished by the
grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one gradually vanquishes all kinds
of impediments on the path of devotional service, as well as the ignorance
resulting from these impediments. After this, one totally manifests his
original love of Godhead through devotional service in nine different
ways-hearing, chanting and so forth.
TEXT 63
TEXT
nija-gune tabe hare dehendriya-mana
aiche krpalu krsna, aiche tanra guna
SYNONYMS
nija-gune--by transcendental qualities; tabe--then; hare--attracts;
deha-indriya-mana--the body, senses and mind; aiche--in that way; krpalu
krsna--merciful Krsna; aiche--in that way; tanra--His; guna--transcendental
qualities.
TRANSLATION
"When the devotee is freed from all sinful material activities,
Krsna attracts his body, mind and senses to His service. Thus Krsna is very
merciful, and His transcendental qualities are very attractive.
To Next Part
