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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 3.21Ādi 3.23

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 3.22

যদা যদা হি ধর্মস্য গ্লানির্ভবতি ভারত ।

অভ্যুত্থানমধর্মস্য তদাত্মানং সৃজাম্যহম্‌ ॥ ২২ ॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya

tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

Translation

“ ‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself.

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 Lord Descends When Religion Declines

  1. 1

    The Lord speaks of a decline in religious practice.

  2. 2

    He also describes a predominant rise of irreligion.

  3. 3

    Whenever and wherever these conditions arise, He declares that He descends Himself.

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:

The incarnation for this age especially preaches this process, but only Kṛṣṇa Himself can explain the confidential loving service performed in the four principal varieties of loving affairs between the Supreme Lord and His devotees. Lord Kṛṣṇa therefore personally appeared, with His plenary portions, as Lord Caitanya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 3
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yadā yadāwhenever
  2. hicertainly
  3. dharmasyaof religious principles
  4. glāniḥdecrease
  5. bhavatithere is
  6. bhārataO descendant of Bharata
  7. abhyutthānamincrease
  8. adharmasyaof irreligion
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the Lord’s promise to descend teach me about His concern for religious practice?

Practice

Read the Lord’s promise aloud today and pause to reflect on the words “I descend Myself.”

Live this todayThe Lord Descends When Religion DeclinesThis 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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