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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

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 3.79

কোটি অশ্বমেধ এক কৃষ্ণ নাম সম ।

যেই কহে, সে পাষণ্ডী, দণ্ডে তারে যম ॥ ৭৯ ॥

koṭi aśvamedha eka kṛṣṇa nāma sama

yei kahe, se pāṣaṇḍī, daṇḍe tāre yama

Translation

One who says that ten million aśvamedha sacrifices are equal to the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa is undoubtedly an atheist. He is sure to be punished by Yamarāja.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Surpasses Ordinary Pious Activities

  1. 1

    Considering the chanting of the holy name equal to pious activities is the eighth of the ten offenses in chanting.

  2. 2

    Charity to brāhmaṇas or saintly persons, charitable educational institutions and free food distribution should not be considered equal to chanting.

  3. 3

    The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • In the list of the ten kinds of offenses in chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hare Kṛṣṇa, the eighth offense is dharma-vrata-tyāga-hutādi-sarva-śubha-kriyā-sāmyam api pramādaḥ.
  • The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

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:

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. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 3
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. koṭiten million
  2. aśvamedhahorse sacrifices
  3. ekaone
  4. kṛṣṇaof Lord Kṛṣṇa
  5. nāmaname
  6. samaequal to
  7. yeione who
  8. kahesays
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Audārya · Love that moves outward

    The freely offered gift of bhakti and prema, especially through nāma-saṅkīrtana and Mahāprabhu’s compassionate dealings. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “distribution”

  • 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: “saintly”

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

Do I regard chanting as merely another pious activity, or recognize its distinct value?

Practice

Before chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa today, recall that its results are not equal to those of ordinary pious activities.

Live this todayChanting Surpasses Ordinary Pious ActivitiesThis 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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