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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 3.62Ādi 3.64

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 3.63

স্মিতালোকঃ শোকং হরতি জগতাং যস্য পরিতো

গিরান্তু প্রারম্ভঃ কুশলপটলীং পল্লবয়তি ।

পদালম্ভঃ কং বা প্রণয়তি ন হি প্রেমনিবহং

স দেবশ্চৈতন্যাকৃতিরতিতরাং নঃ কৃপয়তু ॥ ৬৩ ॥

smitālokaḥ śokaṁ harati jagatāṁ yasya parito

girāṁ tu prārambhaḥ kuśala-paṭalīṁ pallavayati

padālambhaḥ kaṁ vā praṇayati na hi prema-nivahaṁ

sa devaś caitanyākṛtir atitarāṁ naḥ kṛpayatu

Translation

“May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Lord Śrī Caitanya bestow His causeless mercy upon us. His smiling glance at once drives away all the bereavements of the world, and His very words enliven the auspicious creepers of devotion by expanding their leaves. Taking shelter of His lotus feet invokes transcendental love of God at once.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

His Mercy Awakens Devotion and Love

  1. 1

    The verse asks the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Caitanya, to bestow His causeless mercy upon us.

  2. 2

    His smiling glance at once drives away all the bereavements of the world. His words enliven the auspicious creepers of devotion by expanding their leaves.

  3. 3

    Taking shelter of His lotus feet invokes transcendental love of God at once. The purport identifies this prayer as a verse from the Stava-mālā of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is Dvitīya Śrī Caitanyāṣṭaka 8, from the Stava-mālā of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

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:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, after displaying His pastimes as Lord Kṛṣṇa, thought it wise to make His advent in the form of a devotee to explain personally the transcendental mellows of reciprocal service and love exchanged between Himself and His servants, friends, parents and fiancées. According to the Vedic literature, the foremost occupational duty for humanity in this Age of Kali is nāma-saṅkīrtana, or congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 3
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. smitasmiling
  2. ālokaḥglance
  3. śokamthe bereavement
  4. haratitakes away
  5. jagatāmof the world
  6. yasyawhose
  7. paritaḥall around
  8. girāmof the speech
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: “shelter”, “lotus feet”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love”

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 does taking shelter of Lord Śrī Caitanya’s lotus feet mean for my prayer today?

Practice

Read this translation as a prayer, asking Lord Śrī Caitanya for His causeless mercy and shelter.

Live this todayHis Mercy Awakens Devotion and LoveThis 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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