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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 4: The Confidential Reasons for the Appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Ādi 4.10Ādi 4.13

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Ādi 4.11-12

নারায়ণ, চতুর্ব্যূহ, মৎস্যাদ্যবতার ।

যুগ–মন্বন্তরাবতার, যত আছে আর ॥ ১১ ॥

সবে আসি’ কৃষ্ণ–অঙ্গে হয় অবতীর্ণ ।

ঐছে অবতরে কৃষ্ণ ভগবান্‌ পূর্ণ ॥ ১২ ॥

nārāyaṇa, catur-vyūha, matsyādy-avatāra

yuga-manvantarāvatāra, yata āche āra

Translation

Lord Nārāyaṇa, the four primary expansions [Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha], Matsya and the other līlā incarnations, the yuga-avatāras, the manv-antara incarnations and as many other incarnations as there are — all descend in the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way the complete Supreme Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, appears.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Appears With All His Incarnations

  1. 1

    Lord Nārāyaṇa and the four primary expansions—Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha—descend in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body.

  2. 2

    Matsya and the other līlā incarnations, the yuga-avatāras and the manv-antara incarnations also descend within Him.

  3. 3

    All other incarnations descend in Him as well. In this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appears as the complete Supreme Godhead.

How it feels

Profound longing. Kṛṣṇa desires to taste Rādhā’s love, His own sweetness as She sees it, and Her joy.

The mood of Ādi 4 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 4: The Confidential Reasons for the Appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

The first purpose was to relish the position of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the prime reciprocator of transcendental love of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of transcendental loving transactions with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 4
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. nārāyaṇaLord Nārāyaṇa
  2. catuḥ-vyūhathe four expansions
  3. matsya-ādibeginning with Matsya
  4. avatārathe incarnations
  5. yuga-manv-antara-avatārathe yuga and manv-antara incarnations
  6. yataas many as
  7. āchethere are
  8. āraother
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description deepen your understanding of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the complete Supreme Godhead?

Practice

Read the names of the four primary expansions aloud, then reread the translation’s concluding sentence.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Appears With All His IncarnationsThis 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 4.11-12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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