132 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

tanya by his prayer. Sanatan Goswami fell flat at the Feet of Lord Chaitanya,
and requested Him to explain the Atmarama verse as He formerly had explained
it to Sarvabhouma Bhattacharya. He explained his eagerness to hear the same
explanation again, so that he might be enlightened.

When the Lord was thus requested by Sanatan Goswami He replied:
“I do not understand why Sarvabhouma Bhattacharya has so much appre-
ciated my explanation. As far as I am concerned I don’t remember what I said
to him. But because you are asking, I shall try to explain whatever I can remem-
ber, by your association.” The speaker. and the audience are very intimately
connected; the speaker is enlightened by the presence of the audience. In
transcendental subject matters the speaker or the Master can speak very nicely
in relationship with the understanding of the audience. Therefore, Lord Chai-
tanya said, “Generally I do not know how to explain a Sanskrit verse, but I
shall try to explain whatever I can by your association only.”

He then said that there are 11 different items in the Atmarama verse. They
are as follows: 1. Atmarama, 2. Cha, 3. Munayah, 4. Nirgrantha, 5. Api, 6. Uru-
krame, 7. Kurvanti, 8. Ahaituki, 9. Bhaktim, 10. Itthvambhuta, 11. Harih.
The Lord then began to explain each and every items as mentioned above:

So far as Atmarama is concerned, He said that the word Atma is used to mean:
1. the Supreme Absolute Truth, 2. the body, 3. the mind, 4. endeavor, 5.
intelligence, 6. conviction, and 7. nature. Therefore, anyone who takes pleas-
ure in the cultivation of the knowledge of these items, is called Atmarama.
(The Lord explained hereinafter' about the different kinds of Atmarama,
or transcendentalists).

The next item is Muni. Persons who are very great thinkers are called
Muni. Sometimes this Muni is also used for persons who are very grave. Muni
is also used for great sages, great austere persons, great mystics and learned
scholars.

The fourth item, Nirgrantha, means freed from the bondage of illusion.
Another meaning of Nirgrantha is “one who has no connection with spiritual
injunctions.” Grantha means revealed Scriptures. There are many instructions
for spiritual realization, but persons who have no connection with such Scrip-
tural injunctions are also known as Nirgrantha. Nir is an affix which is used with
three meanings: it is used to mean no connection, and to mean constructing,
and also prohibiting. There are many persons who are foolish, low-born
and misbehaved, and they have no entrance into the revealed Scriptures and
injunctions. Therefore, they are also called Nirgrantha. Because Grantha is
also used for the purpose of riches, and for the purpose of collection, therefore
