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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 16: The Pastimes of the Lord in His Childhood and Youth
Ādi 16.79Ādi 16.81

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 16.80

‘ইঁহা বিষ্ণুপাদপদ্মে গঙ্গার উৎপত্তি’ ।

বিরোধালঙ্কার ইহা মহা–চমৎকৃতি ॥ ৮০ ॥

‘ihāṅ viṣṇu-pāda-padme gaṅgāra utpatti’

virodhālaṅkāra ihā mahā-camatkṛti

Translation

“The existence of mother Ganges begins from the lotus feet of the Lord. Although this statement that water comes from a lotus flower is a contradiction, in connection with Lord Viṣṇu it is a great wonder.

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.

The Ganges’ Origin Is a Great Wonder

  1. 1

    The existence of mother Ganges begins from the lotus feet of the Lord.

  2. 2

    The statement that water comes from a lotus flower is a contradiction.

  3. 3

    In connection with Lord Viṣṇu, however, it is a great wonder.

How it feels

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

Further reading

Ādi 16: The Pastimes of the Lord in His Childhood and Youth

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

This chapter also describes the Lord’s argument with Keśava Kāśmīrī, the celebrated scholar, and the Lord’s criticism of his prayer glorifying mother Ganges. In this prayer the Lord found five kinds of literary ornaments and five kinds of literary faults, thus defeating the paṇḍita.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 16
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. ihāṅin this connection
  2. viṣṇu-pāda-padmein the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu
  3. gaṅgāraof mother Ganges
  4. utpattibeginning
  5. virodhacontradiction
  6. alaṅkāraliterary decoration
  7. ihait
  8. mahāvery great
  9. camatkṛtiwonder
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: “lotus feet”

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

How does the connection with Lord Viṣṇu change your response from contradiction to wonder?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, then pause to reflect on mother Ganges beginning from the Lord’s lotus feet.

Live this todayThe Ganges’ Origin Is a Great WonderThis 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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