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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 16.11
বহুশাস্ত্রে বহুবাক্যে চিত্তে ভ্রম হয় ।
সাধ্য–সাধন শ্রেষ্ঠ না হয় নিশ্চয় ॥ ১১ ॥
bahu-śāstre bahu-vākye citte bhrama haya
sādhya-sādhana śreṣṭha nā haya niścaya
If one becomes a bookworm, reading many books and scriptures and hearing many commentaries and the instructions of many men, this will produce doubt within his heart. One cannot in this way ascertain the real goal of life.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
Reading many books and hearing many commentaries and instructions can produce doubt. In this way, one cannot ascertain the real goal of life.
One must give up the ambition to become a learned scholar for worldly reputation and financial facilities.
Scattered attention to many subjects, especially fruitive activities and philosophical speculation, prevents the mind from becoming fixed in unalloyed devotional service.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
The purport of CC Ādi 16.11 quotesSB 7.13.8
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.13.8) it is said, granthān naivābhyased bahūn na vyākhyām upayuñjīta: “One should not read many books, nor should one try to make a profession of reciting many books, especially if one is a devotee.”
Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.
Grief and transformed pride. Lakṣmīdevī’s departure brings sorrow; Keśava Kāśmīrī’s pride yields to surrender.
The mood of Ādi 16 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas
From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:
During this time He studied deeply and was victorious over greatly learned scholars. During His kaiśora-līlā the Lord also sported in the water.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 16
Learn the words of the verse.
The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.
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: “service”
Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Is your study helping you focus on devotional service, or scattering your attention?
For today’s study, stay with this passage rather than moving among many books, and reflect on its connection to devotional service.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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