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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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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 4.207Ādi 4.209

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 4.208

মৎসেবয়া প্রতীতং তে সালোক্যাদি–চতুষ্টয়ম্‌ ।

নেচ্ছন্তি সেবয়া পূর্ণাঃ কুতোঽন্যৎ কালবিপ্লুতম্‌ ॥ ২০৮ ॥

mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te

sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam

necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ

kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam

Translation

“My devotees, having fulfilled their desires by serving Me, do not accept the four kinds of salvation that are easily earned by such service. Why then should they accept any pleasures that are lost in the course of time?”

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Fulfills the Devotee’s Desires

  1. 1

    Speaking about the characteristics of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the Lord says that His devotees’ desires are fulfilled by serving Him.

  2. 2

    They do not accept even the four kinds of salvation easily earned by such service, much less pleasures lost with time.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that merging into the existence of the Absolute and living in the celestial kingdom are both controlled by time. Neither position is permanent.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67) was spoken by the Lord in connection with the characteristics of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa.
  • Merging into the existence of the Absolute is as temporary as living in the celestial kingdom.
  • Both of them are controlled by time; neither position is permanent.

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 4.208 quotesSB 9.4.67

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67) was spoken by the Lord in connection with the characteristics of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa.

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:

Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was the principal figure among Lord Caitanya’s confidential devotees. The records of his diary have revealed these confidential purposes of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 4
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. matof Me
  2. sevayāby service
  3. pratītamobtained
  4. tethey
  5. sālokya-ādiliberation, beginning sālokya
  6. catuṣṭayamfour kinds of
  7. na icchantido not desire
  8. sevayāby service
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”, “serving”

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

Where am I looking for fulfillment: in serving the Lord or in pleasures that pass away?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes you would normally spend seeking a passing pleasure and use them for serving the Lord.

Live this todayService Fulfills the Devotee’s DesiresThis 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 4.208? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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