CC Madhya 24.284

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta - Madhya-līlā - Chapter 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmārāma Verse

Madhya-līlā 24.283 - Madhya-līlā 24.285

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His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 284

āra artha śuna, yāhā—arthera bhāṇḍāra

sthūle 'dui' artha, sūkṣme 'batriśa' prakāra

SYNONYMS

āra — another; artha — import; śuna — hear; yāhā — which; arthera bhāṇḍāra — storehouse of knowledge; sthūle — grossly; dui artha — two meanings; sūkṣme — by a subtle import; batriśa — thirty-two; prakāra — varieties.

TRANSLATION

"There is yet another meaning, which is full of a variety of imports. Actually there are two gross meanings and thirty-two subtle meanings.

PURPORT

The two gross meanings refer to regulative devotional service and spontaneous devotional service. There are also thirty-two subtle meanings. Under the heading of regulative devotional service, there are sixteen meanings based on understanding the word ātmārāma to mean (1) a servant of the Lord as His personal associate, (2) a personal friend, (3) personal parents or similar superiors, (4) a personal beloved, (5) a servant elevated by spiritual cultivation, (6) a friend by spiritual cultivation, (7) parents and superior devotees by cultivation of devotional service, (8) a beloved wife or female friend by cultivation of devotional service, (9) a mature devotee as a servant, (10) a mature devotee as a friend, (11) a mature devotee as a parent and superior, (12) a mature devotee as a wife and beloved, (13) an immature devotee as a servant, (14) an immature devotee as a friend, (15) an immature devotee as a father or superior, and (16) an immature devotee as a beloved. Similarly, under the heading of spontaneous devotion there are also sixteen various associates. Therefore the total number of devotees under the headings of regulated devotees and spontaneous devotees is thirty-two.

Madhya-līlā 24.283 - Madhya-līlā 24.285