Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 2.52
Love Surpasses Both Poison and Nectar
“Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke, “ ‘My dear beautiful friend, if one develops love of Godhead, love of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, all the bitter and sweet influences of this love will manifest in one’s heart. Such love of Godhead acts in two ways. The poisonous effects of love of Godhead defeat the severe and fresh poison of the serpent. Yet there is simultaneously transcendental bliss, which pours down and defeats the pride of nectar and diminishes its value. In other words, love of Kṛṣṇa is so powerful that it simultaneously defeats the poisonous effects of a snake, as well as the happiness derived from pouring nectar on one’s head. It is perceived as doubly effective, simultaneously poisonous and nectarean.’””
What the purport teaches
- The purport identifies this as Paurṇamāsī’s speech to Nāndīmukhī in Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Vidagdha-mādhava.
- Love of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, manifests both bitter and sweet influences in the heart. Its poisonous effects surpass even severe, fresh serpent poison.
- At the same time, its transcendental bliss surpasses nectar and diminishes its value. Love of Kṛṣṇa is thus simultaneously poisonous and nectarean.
Try this today
Read the translation once more and identify the two comparisons used to describe love of Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you about bitterness and transcendental bliss appearing simultaneously in this love?
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.