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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Ādi-līlā · 17 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
  4. 4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
  5. 5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
  6. 6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.
Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›
Ādi-līlā · Chapter 1: The Spiritual Masters
Ādi 1.15Ādi 1.17

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 1.16

দীব্যদ্‌বৃন্দারণ্যকল্পদ্রুমাধঃ–

শ্রীমদ্‌রত্নাগারসিংহাসনস্থৌ

শ্রীমদ্‌রাধা–শ্রীলগোবিন্দদেবৌ

প্রেষ্ঠালীভিঃ সেব্যমানৌ স্মরামি ॥ ১৬ ॥

dīvyad-vṛndāraṇya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ-

śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau

śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau

preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

Translation

In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Humble Obeisances to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda

  1. 1

    Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda sit in a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree.

  2. 2

    They sit upon an effulgent throne and are served by Their most confidential associates.

  3. 3

    The author offers humble obeisances unto Them.

How it feels

Reverence and gratitude. The narrator takes shelter of the guru-paramparā; receptivity begins with humility.

The mood of Ādi 1 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 1: The Spiritual Masters

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī are the two principal followers of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who acted as the most confidential servitor of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Viśvambhara in His early life. A direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 1
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dīvyatshining
  2. vṛndā-araṇyain the forest of Vṛndāvana
  3. kalpa-drumadesire tree
  4. adhaḥbeneath
  5. śrīmatmost beautiful
  6. ratna-āgārain a temple of jewels
  7. siṁha-āsana-sthausitting on a throne
  8. śrīmatvery beautiful
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Dainya & humility · Making room for grace

    The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “served”

  • Rādhā-bhāva · The confidential inner purpose

    The Lord’s desire to taste the love and perspective of Śrī Rādhā, illuminated by later ecstatic pastimes. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “rādhā-govinda”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail of this description helps you offer humble obeisances to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda?

Practice

Spend a quiet moment remembering the scene described here, then offer humble obeisances to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayHumble Obeisances to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-GovindaThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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