20211225 Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (3. mana, 4. yatna, and 5. dhṛti) in ātmārāma, Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 25th 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!

The compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled is:

Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (3. mana, 4. yatna, and 5. dhṛti) in ātmārāma, Part 2
Under the section: Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.176

vrajera pakṣigaṇao kṛṣṇa-niṣṭha muni :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.21.14)—

prāyo batāmba munayo vihagā vane ’smin 
kṛṣṇekṣitaṁ tad-uditaṁ kala-veṇu-gītam
āruhya ye druma-bhujān rucira-pravālān 
śṛṇvanti mīlita-dṛśo vigatānya-vācaḥ

Translation: “My dear mother, in this forest, all the birds, after rising on the beautiful branches of the trees, are closing their eyes and, not being attracted by any other sound, are simply listening to the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. Such birds must be on the same level as great saints.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.14). This statement was made by the gopīs, who were lamenting in separation from Kṛṣṇa and studying how the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were enjoying life like saintly persons.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, even the birds were in ecstasy listening to the sounds of Kṛṣṇa's flute, they were closing their eyes and were completely absorbed So just as great saints meditate on Kṛṣṇa, these birds were meditating on the sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.177

vrajera bhṛṅgagaṇao kṛṣṇa-niṣṭha muni :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.15.6)—

ete ’linas tava yaśo ’khila-loka-tīrthaṁ 
gāyanta ādi-puruṣānupathaṁ bhajante
prāyo amī muni-gaṇā bhavadīya-mukhyā 
gūḍhaṁ vane ’pi na jahaty anaghātma-daivam

Translation: “O good fortune personified! O original Personality of Godhead, all these bees are chanting about Your transcendental fame, which will purify the entire universe. Indeed, they are following Your path in the forest and are worshiping You. Actually they are all saintly persons, but now they have taken the form of bees. Although You are playing like a human being, they could not forget that You are their worshipable Deity.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.6). Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were just on the verge of boyhood and were entering the forest of Vṛndāvana when Kṛṣṇa began to offer prayers to please Balarāma.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how the bees in Vṛndāvana were also meditating on Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and therefore they are like great saintly devotees, their consciousness is fixed on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.178

vrajera haṃsa-sārasādi pakṣīo kṛṣṇa-niṣṭha muni :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavata (10.35.11)—

sarasi sārasa-haṁsa-vihaṅgāś
cāru-gīta-hṛta-cetasa etya
harim upāsata te yata-cittā
hanta mīlita-dṛśo dhṛta-maunāḥ

Translation: “All the cranes and swans in the water are being enchanted by the melodious song of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. They have approached and are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full attention. Alas, they are closing their eyes and are becoming completely silent.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.35.11). In the day, Kṛṣṇa went to the forest of Vṛndāvana, and at that time the gopīs, being morose due to separation from Him, were lamenting in this way.

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs were fully conscious of Lord Kṛṣṇa and when they saw the birds in the water, the cranes and swans, their eyes closed to Kṛṣṇa playing on His flute, they were feeling that these birds are simply meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.179

śuddha-bhakta-kṛpāya aśuci jātirao śuddhi :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavata (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.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18). This verse was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī when Parīkṣit Mahārāja asked him for a description of the creation. While offering obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śukadeva Gosvāmī described the unlimited potencies of Lord Viṣṇu, who can purify the lowborn creatures mentioned herein.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this verse declares that people who are addicted to sinful activities, if they take shelter of the pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, since Kṛṣṇa is all powerful then they could be purified. So, Śukadeva Gosvāmī is offering his obeisances to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.180

dhṛti-śabdera anya artha:—

kiṁvā ‘dhṛti’-śabde nija-pūrṇatādi-jñāna kaya 
duḥkhābhāve uttama-prāptye mahā-pūrṇa haya

Translation: “The word ‘dhṛti’ is also used when one is fully perfect in knowledge. When, due to having obtained the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has no material miseries, he attains mahā-pūrṇa, the highest level of perfection."

Jayapatākā Swami: ‘dhṛti’ is used when one is perfect in knowledge. So, in this way by using the word ‘dhṛti’ in the ātmārāma verse, it signifies that if one is engaged in devotional service, he can achieve complete perfection or the highest level of perfection.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.181

dhṛtira saṃjñā :—

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.4.144)—

dhṛtiḥ syāt pūrṇatā-jñāna-
duḥkhābhāvottamāptibhiḥ
aprāptātīta-naṣṭārthā-
nabhisaṁśocanādi-kṛt

Translation: “Dhṛti is the fullness felt due to the absence of misery and the attainment of knowledge of the Supreme Lord and pure love for Him. The lamentation that accrues from not obtaining a goal or from losing something already attained does not affect this completeness.’

Purport: This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.4.144).

Jayapatākā Swami: ‘Dhṛti’ is expressed when one is in full transcendental knowledge and bliss and thus free from all miseries, this is a permanent state.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.182

ślokārtha :—

kṛṣṇa-bhakta—duḥkha-hīna, vāñchāntara-hīna 
kṛṣṇa-prema-sevā-pūrṇānanda-pravīṇa

Translation: “A devotee of Kṛṣṇa is never in a miserable condition, nor does he have any desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa. He is experienced and advanced. He feels the transcendental bliss of love of Kṛṣṇa and always engages in His service in full perfection.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the material world one feels misery when one is hankering for some material sense gratification, but the devotee being fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not feel such misery. So, this fulness in devotional service is expressed here.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.183

kṛṣṇa-sevātei bhaktera santoṣa, asantoṣamūlaka anyakāmābhāva:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (9.4.67)—

mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te
sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam
necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ
kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam

Translation: “My devotees, having fulfilled their desires by serving Me, do not accept the four kinds of salvation that are easily earned by such service. Why then should they accept any pleasures that are lost in the course of time?’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67).

Jayapatākā Swami: Material pleasure has a beginning and end, but the devotees are happy to be serving Kṛṣṇa, that has no end. Even if the devotees do not accept the four kinds of liberation if they are not with service to Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.184

sarvendriye kṛṣṇānuśīlana-niṣṭha bhaktai dhīra o sthira :—

śrī-gosvāmipādokta-śloka—

hṛṣīkeśe hṛṣīkāṇi
yasya sthairya-gatāni
hi sa eva dhairyam āpnoti
saṁsāre jīva-cañcale

Translation: “In this material world, all living entities are disturbed due to their flickering position. A devotee, however, is fixed in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, the master of the senses. Such a person is to be considered situated in endurance and patience.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, those in the material world who have some desires are naturally disturbed, but if one can be fixed in devotional service, they will not be disturbed. They will be ever blissful.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.185

ātmārāmāḥ—dhṛtimanta, ‘munayaḥ’—pakṣigaṇa, ‘nirgranthā’—mūrkhagaṇaḥ—

‘ca’—avadhāraṇe, ihā ‘api’—samuccaye 
dhṛtimanta hañā bhaje pakṣi-mūrkha-caye

Translation: “The word ‘ca’ is for emphasis, and the word ‘api’ is used to indicate an aggregate. Thus, it is to be understood that even dull creatures [birds and illiterates] can also be situated in endurance and engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa's service is to be practiced even by the animals the birds and the illiterate beings, so devotional service is a panacea for everyone.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Explanation of the Word ‘ātmā’ (3. mana, 4. yatna, and 5. dhṛti) in ātmārāma, Part 2
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse