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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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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 4.154Ādi 4.156

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 4.155

অক্ষণ্বতাং ফলমিদং ন পরং বিদামঃ

সখ্যঃ পশূননুবিবেশয়তোর্বয়স্যৈঃ ।

বক্ত্রং ব্রজেশসুতয়োরনুবেণুজুষ্টং

যৈর্বা নিপীতমনুরক্তকটাক্ষমোক্ষম্‌ ॥ ১৫৫ ॥

akṣaṇvatāṁ phalam idaṁ na paraṁ vidāmaḥ

sakhyaḥ paśūn anuviveśayator vayasyaiḥ

vaktraṁ vrajeśa-sutayor anuveṇu-juṣṭaṁ

yair vā nipītam anurakta-kaṭākṣa-mokṣam

Translation

[The gopīs said:] “O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Mahārāja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vṛndāvana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Love Enables Continuous Vision of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Like the gopīs, one can see Kṛṣṇa continuously if one is fortunate enough.

  2. 2

    Sages whose eyes are smeared with the ointment of pure love see the form of Śyāmasundara continuously in the centers of their hearts.

  3. 3

    The gopīs praise the sight of the sons of Mahārāja Nanda entering the forest with Their friends and cows, holding Their flutes and glancing lovingly upon the residents of Vṛndāvana.

Key points from the purport
  • Like the gopīs, one can see Kṛṣṇa continuously if one is fortunate enough.
  • In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said that sages whose eyes have been smeared with the ointment of pure love can see the form of Śyāmasundara (Kṛṣṇa) continuously in the centers of their hearts.
  • This text from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.7) was sung by the gopīs on the advent of the śarat season.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Ādi 4.155 quotesSB 10.21.7

This text from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.7) was sung by the gopīs on the advent of the śarat season.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Kṛṣṇa is the transcendental male, and Rādhārāṇī is the transcendental female. Therefore, to know the transcendental pleasure of loving Kṛṣṇa, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Lord Caitanya, accepting the emotions and bodily luster of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 4
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. akṣaṇvatāmof those who have eyes
  2. phalamthe fruit
  3. idamthis
  4. nanot
  5. paramother
  6. vidāmaḥwe know
  7. sakhyaḥO friends
  8. paśūnthe cows
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “vṛndāvana”, “gopīs”, “nanda”

  • 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: “pure 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 the image of eyes anointed with pure love teach me about seeing Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on the loving glances described in the translation.

Live this todayPure Love Enables Continuous Vision of KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.155? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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