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