150 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

There is a nice verse in the Skanda Purana which says: “My dear Devarsi
(Narada), you are glorious, and by your mercy even the lowest creature,
such as a hunter, also became elevated to such a state of devotion, and attained
transcendental attachment for Krishna.”

Narada then enquired of the hunter-devotee: “Are you getting your
foodstuff regularly?”

The hunter replied, “You send so many people, and they bring so much
eatables that we both cannot eat so much.”

Narada replied, “That’s all right. Whatever you are getting, it is all right.
Now continue your devotional service in that way.” And after saying that,
both Narada and Parbut Muni disappeared from that place.

This recitation of the story of the hunter is offered by Lord Chaitanya to
show that even a hunter can be engaged in the devotional service of Krishna
by the influence of pure devotees.

He then said that another meaning of Atma is: all varieties of the Personality
of Godhead. Generally, the Personality of Godhead Himself, Krishna, and His
different expansions, are all known as the Personality of Godhead. So anyone
who is engaged in the devotional service of any Form or extension of the Su-
preme Personality of Godhead is also called Atmarama, and all such devotees
engage themselves either in the regulative principles of devotional service,
or in devotional service in transcendental love.

These two kinds of devotees also are divided into three categories: the
associates, those in the perfection of devotional service, and those newly-
engaged in devotional service. Newly engaged devotees can be divided into
two: ones who have already attained an attachment for the Lord, and others
who have not attained such attachment for the Lord. And, according to the
two divisions of devotional service, namely the regulative principles and attach-
ment by transcendental love, all these four classes of devotees become eight
in number. By following the regulative principles of devotion, the perfect
associates of the Lord are divided further into four classes: the servants, the
friends, the parental superiors, and the fiancees.

Just as devotees are sometimes perfected by devotional service, so some of
them are eternally perfect. In the regulative principle of devotional service,
according to the advanced standard and the beginner’s standard, there are six-
teen kinds of devotees in transcendental loving service of the Lord. Therefore,
such Atmaramas can be considered to exist in 32 divisions. If you apply the
words Muni, Nirgrantha, Cha and Api in the 32 classes, then it becomes a de-
scription of 58 different types of devotees. All these devotees can be sheltered
