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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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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 3: The External Reasons for the Appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Ādi 3.17Ādi 3.19

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 3.18

সার্ষ্টি, সারূপ্য, আর সামীপ্য, সালোক্য ।

সাযুজ্য না লয় ভক্ত যাতে ব্রহ্ম–ঐক্য ॥ ১৮ ॥

sārṣṭi, sārūpya, āra sāmīpya, sālokya

sāyujya nā laya bhakta yāte brahma-aikya

Translation

“These liberations are sārṣṭi [achieving opulences equal to those of the Lord], sārūpya [having a form the same as the Lord’s], sāmīpya [living as a personal associate of the Lord] and sālokya [living on a Vaikuṇṭha planet]. Devotees never accept sāyujya, however, since that is oneness with Brahman.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Matters More Than Liberation

  1. 1

    Sārṣṭi means attaining opulences equal to the Lord’s, and sārūpya means having a form like His. Sāmīpya means living as His personal associate, and sālokya means living on a Vaikuṇṭha planet.

  2. 2

    Devotees following scriptural ritualistic principles can attain these liberations. Yet they are satisfied only in rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Devotees never accept sāyujya, or merging into the Brahman effulgence. This is the aspiration of impersonalists, not of devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Those engaged in devotional service according to the ritualistic principles mentioned in the scriptures attain these different kinds of liberation.
  • But although such devotees can attain sārṣṭi, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sālokya, they are not concerned with these liberations, for such devotees are satisfied only in rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.
  • The fifth kind of liberation, sāyujya, is never accepted even by devotees who perform only ritualistic worship.

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

Compassion and urgency. The holy name is offered for the age; divine love moves outward toward others.

The mood of Ādi 3 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 3: The External Reasons for the Appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

He has described bodily symptoms in Lord Caitanya that are visible only in the person of the Supreme Lord, and he has proved that Lord Caitanya appeared with His personal associates — Śrī Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and other devotees — to preach the special significance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. The appearance of Lord Caitanya is both significant and confidential.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 3
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sārṣṭiopulences equal with the Lord’s
  2. sārūpyathe same form as the Lord’s
  3. āraand
  4. sāmīpyapersonal association with the Lord
  5. sālokyaresidence on a Vaikuṇṭha planet
  6. sāyujyaoneness with the Lord
  7. nā layathey do not accept
  8. bhaktadevotees
  9. yātesince
  10. brahma-aikyaoneness with Brahman
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: “associate”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking a benefit from devotion, or satisfaction in serving the Lord?

Practice

Offer one small service to the Lord today without asking for any personal reward.

Live this todayLoving Service Matters More Than LiberationThis 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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