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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 12: The Expansions of Advaita Ācārya and Gadādhara Paṇḍita
Ādi 12.51Ādi 12.53

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 12.52

লোকলজ্জা হয়, ধর্ম–কীর্তি হয় হানি ।

ঐছে কর্ম না করিহ কভু ইহা জানি’ ॥ ৫২ ॥

loka-lajjā haya, dharma-kīrti haya hāni

aiche karma nā kariha kabhu ihā jāni’

Translation

“Thus one becomes unpopular in the eyes of the people in general, for this damages his religiosity and fame. A Vaiṣṇava, especially one who acts as a spiritual master, must not act in such a way. One should always be conscious of this fact.”

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.

Guard Religious Principles Through Careful Conduct

  1. 1

    Such conduct makes one unpopular in the eyes of people in general.

  2. 2

    It damages one’s religiosity and fame.

  3. 3

    A Vaiṣṇava, especially one acting as a spiritual master, must not act in this way. One should always remain conscious of this responsibility.

How it feels

Loyalty and discernment. The narrative distinguishes fidelity to the ācārya from deviation.

The mood of Ādi 12 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 12: The Expansions of Advaita Ācārya and Gadādhara Paṇḍita

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

In his early life Gopāla fainted during the cleansing of the Guṇḍicā-mandira at Jagannātha Purī and thus became a recipient of the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The story of Kamalākānta Viśvāsa concerns his borrowing three hundred rupees from Pratāparudra Mahārāja to clear a debt of Advaita Ācārya’s, for which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chastised him when He came to know of it.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 12
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. loka-lajjāunpopularity
  2. hayabecomes
  3. dharmareligion
  4. kīrtireputation
  5. hayabecomes
  6. hānidamaged
  7. aichesuch
  8. karmawork
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might my conduct affect others’ trust in my religious principles?

Practice

Before one decision today, pause and ask whether it could damage your religious principles or others’ trust.

Live this todayGuard Religious Principles Through Careful ConductThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Ādi 12.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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