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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 4.270Ādi 4.273

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Ādi 4.271-272

পিতামাতা, গুরুগণ, আগে অবতারি’ ।

রাধিকার ভাব–বর্ণ অঙ্গীকার করি’ ॥ ২৭১ ॥

নবদ্বীপে শচীগর্ভ–শুদ্ধদুগ্ধসিন্ধু ।

তাহাতে প্রকট হৈলা কৃষ্ণ পূর্ণ ইন্দু ॥ ২৭২ ॥

pitā-mātā, guru-gaṇa, āge avatāri’

rādhikāra bhāva-varṇa aṅgīkāra kari’

Translation

First Lord Kṛṣṇa made His parents and elders appear. Then Kṛṣṇa Himself, with the sentiments and complexion of Rādhikā, appeared in Navadvīpa, like the full moon, from the womb of mother Śacī, which is like an ocean of pure milk.

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 Rādhikā’s Sentiments and Complexion

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa first made His parents and elders appear.

  2. 2

    Then Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared in Navadvīpa with the sentiments and complexion of Rādhikā.

  3. 3

    His appearance is compared to the full moon. The womb of mother Śacī is compared to an ocean of pure milk.

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 transactions of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā are completely different from material lust. Therefore the author has very clearly distinguished between them.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 4
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. pitā-mātāparents
  2. guru-gaṇateachers
  3. āgefirst
  4. avatāri’descending
  5. rādhikāraof Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
  6. bhāva-varṇathe luster of transcendental ecstasy
  7. aṅgīkāra kari’accepting
  8. navadvīpein Navadvīpa
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Rādhā-bhāva · The confidential inner purpose

    The Lord’s desire to taste the love and perspective of Śrī Rādhā, illuminated by later ecstatic pastimes. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “rādhikā”

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 description of Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing with Rādhikā’s sentiments and complexion invite you to reflect on?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, pausing to picture its full-moon and ocean-of-milk imagery.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Appears With Rādhikā’s Sentiments and ComplexionThis 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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