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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 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His Youth
Ādi 17.166Ādi 17.168

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 17.167

তোমা–সবার শাস্ত্রকর্তা—সেহ ভ্ৰান্ত হৈল ।

না জানি’ শাস্ত্রের মর্ম ঐছে আজ্ঞা দিল ॥ ১৬৭ ॥

tomā-sabāra śāstra-kartā — seha bhrānta haila

nā jāni’ śāstrera marma aiche ājñā dila

Translation

“There are many mistakes and illusions in your scriptures. Their compilers, not knowing the essence of knowledge, gave orders that were against reason and argument.”

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.

Knowledge Must Withstand Reason and Argument

  1. 1

    The speaker identifies many mistakes and illusions in the scriptures being discussed.

  2. 2

    Their compilers are described as not knowing the essence of knowledge.

  3. 3

    Their orders are criticized as being against reason and argument.

How it feels

Public courage and ecstatic joy. The saṅkīrtana movement confronts opposition and moves toward recognition and expansion.

The mood of Ādi 17 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His Youth

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

Among all the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has the highest ecstatic love. When Kṛṣṇa in His form of Nārāyaṇa saw Rādhārāṇī, He could not keep His position as Nārāyaṇa and again assumed the form of Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 17
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tomā-sabāraof all of you
  2. śāstra-kartācompilers of scripture
  3. sehathey also
  4. bhrāntamistaken
  5. hailabecame
  6. nā jāni’without knowing
  7. śāstrera marmathe essence of scriptures
  8. aichesuch
  9. ājñāorder
  10. dilagave
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “discussed”

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

Do I examine whether a religious instruction is supported by knowledge and sound reasoning?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify its three criticisms: mistakes and illusions, lack of essential knowledge, and unreasonable orders.

Live this todayKnowledge Must Withstand Reason and ArgumentThis 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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