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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 2.112

অবতারীর দেহে সব অবতারের স্থিতি ।

কেহো কোনমতে কহে, যেমন যার মতি ॥ ১১২ ॥

avatārīra dehe saba avatārera sthiti

keho kona-mate kahe, yemana yāra mati

Translation

All other incarnations are situated in potential form in the original body of the primeval Lord. Thus according to one’s opinion, one may address Him as any one of the incarnations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Original Lord Includes All His Expansions

  1. 1

    All other incarnations are situated in potential form in the original body of the primeval Lord.

  2. 2

    Calling the Supreme Lord by a name of one of His plenary expansions is not contradictory. Those expansions exist within the original person.

  3. 3

    Lord Caitanya says He was asleep in the ocean of milk and was awakened by the call of Nāḍā, Śrī Advaita Prabhu. Here He refers to His form as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • It is not contradictory for a devotee to call the Supreme Lord by any one of the various names of His plenary expansions, because the original Personality of Godhead includes all such categories.
  • In Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata (Madhya 6.95) Lord Caitanya says, “I was lying asleep in the ocean of milk, but I was awakened by the call of Nāḍā, Śrī Advaita Prabhu.”
  • Here the Lord refers to His form as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Revelatory awe. The identity of Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa is established; wonder becomes theological confidence.

The mood of Ādi 2 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 2: Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

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

Lord Caitanya is directly the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, as the evidence of authoritative scriptures proves. This chapter stresses that a devotee who wishes to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness must have knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s personal form, His three principal energies, His pastimes and the relationship of the living entities with Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 2
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. avatārīraof the source
  2. dehein the body
  3. sabaall
  4. avatāreraof the incarnations
  5. sthitiexistence
  6. kehosomeone
  7. kona-matein some way
  8. kahesays
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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Why is addressing the original Lord by the name of one of His expansions not contradictory?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining how the original Lord includes His plenary expansions.

Live this todayThe Original Lord Includes All His ExpansionsThis 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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