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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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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 1.7Ādi 1.9

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 1.8

মায়াতীতে ব্যাপিবৈকুণ্ঠলোকে

পূর্ণৈশ্বর্যে শ্রীচতুর্ব্যূহমধ্যে ।

রূপং যস্যোদ্ভাতি সঙ্কর্ষণাখ্যং

তং শ্রীনিত্যানন্দরামং প্রপদ্যে ॥ ৮ ॥

māyātīte vyāpi-vaikuṇṭha-loke

pūrṇaiśvarye śrī-catur-vyūha-madhye

rūpaṁ yasyodbhāti saṅkarṣaṇākhyaṁ

taṁ śrī-nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye

Translation

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, who is known as Saṅkarṣaṇa in the midst of the catur-vyūha [consisting of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha]. He possesses full opulences and resides in Vaikuṇṭhaloka, far beyond the material creation.

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.

Surrender to Śrī Nityānanda Rāma

  1. 1

    The author surrenders unto the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma.

  2. 2

    He is known as Saṅkarṣaṇa within the catur-vyūha, consisting of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.

  3. 3

    He possesses full opulences and resides in Vaikuṇṭhaloka, far beyond the material creation.

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. māyā-atītebeyond the material creation
  2. vyāpiall-expanding
  3. vaikuṇṭha-lokein Vaikuṇṭhaloka, the spiritual world
  4. pūrṇa-aiśvaryeendowed with full opulence
  5. śrī-catuḥ-vyūha-madhyein the quadruple expansions (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha)
  6. rūpamform
  7. yasyawhose
  8. udbhātiappears
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “surrender”, “lotus feet”, “surrenders”

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

What does the author’s expression of surrender invite you to consider in your own devotional life?

Practice

Read the opening words as a personal prayer of surrender to the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma.

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 todaySurrender to Śrī Nityānanda RāmaThis 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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