Madhya-lilaChapter 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmarama Verse

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 24 Summary

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 munayah. 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 different classes of transcendentalists (jnanis, karmis, yogis) utilize this verse according to their own interpretation, but if they would give up this process and surrender 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.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness