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Study a Verse

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 2: Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Ādi 2.54Ādi 2.56

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 2.55

এতদীশনমীশস্য প্রকৃতিস্থোঽপি তদ্‌গুণৈঃ ।

ন যুজ্যতে সদাত্মস্থৈর্যথা বুদ্ধিস্তদাশ্রয়া ॥ ৫৫ ॥

etad īśanam īśasya

prakṛti-stho ’pi tad-guṇaiḥ

na yujyate sadātma-sthair

yathā buddhis tad-āśrayā

Translation

“ ‘This is the opulence of the Lord: Although situated in the material nature, He is never affected by the modes of nature. Similarly, those who have surrendered to Him and fixed their intelligence upon Him are not influenced by the modes of nature.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Shelter in the Lord Brings Freedom

  1. 1

    The Lord is never affected by the modes of nature, even when situated in material nature. This is His opulence.

  2. 2

    Those who take shelter of His lotus feet do not identify with the material world, even while living in it.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees may deal with the three modes, but their transcendental intelligence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness keeps them uninfluenced by material qualities. The spell of material activities does not attract them.

Key points from the purport
  • Pure devotees may deal with the three modes of material nature, but because of their transcendental intelligence in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are not influenced by the material qualities.
  • The spell of material activities does not attract such devotees.
  • Therefore, the Supreme Lord and His devotees acting under Him are always free from material contamination.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Ādi 2.55 quotesSB 1.11.38

This text is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.11.38). Those who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead do not identify with the material world, even while living in it.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Innumerable material universes are similarly exhibited by His external energy, and the living entities are manifested by His marginal energy. Because Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is not different from Lord Kṛṣṇa, He is the cause of all causes; there is no cause beyond Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 2
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. īśanamopulence
  3. īśasyaof the Supreme Lord
  4. prakṛti-sthaḥsituated in the material nature
  5. apialthough
  6. tatof māyā
  7. guṇaiḥby the qualities
  8. nanot
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: “surrendered”, “shelter”, “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

What would it mean for you to fix your intelligence upon the Lord while living in the material world?

Practice

Before one activity today, pause and offer a brief prayer for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Live this todayShelter in the Lord Brings FreedomThis 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 2.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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