Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 16.71
Poetic Beauty Cannot Overcome a Fault
“ ‘As one’s body, although well-decorated with ornaments, is made unfortunate by even one spot of white leprosy, so an entire poem is made useless by a fault, despite alliteration, similes and metaphors.’
What the purport teaches
- The comparison describes an ornamented body made unfortunate by even one spot of white leprosy.
- Similarly, a fault makes an entire poem useless.
- Alliteration, similes and metaphors do not prevent that fault from spoiling the poem.
Try this today
Read a short poem once for its ornaments and once for any faulty expression.
Ask yourself
Do beautiful sounds and comparisons distract me from checking a poem's faults?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.