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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 5: The Glories Of Lord Nityānanda Balarāma
Ādi 5.92Ādi 5.94

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 5.93

যস্যাংশাংশঃ শ্রীল–গর্ভোদশায়ী

যন্নাভ্যব্জং লোকসংঘাতনালম্‌ ।

লোকস্রষ্টুঃ সূতিকাধাম ধাতু–

স্তং শ্রীনিত্যানন্দরামং প্রপদ্যে ॥ ৯৩ ॥

yasyāṁśāṁśaḥ śrīla-garbhoda-śāyī

yan-nābhy-abjaṁ loka-saṅghāta-nālam

loka-sraṣṭuḥ sūtikā-dhāma dhātus

taṁ śrī-nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye

Translation

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu sprouts the lotus that is the birthplace of Brahmā, the engineer of the universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Obeisances to Śrī Nityānanda Rāma

  1. 1

    The author offers full obeisances unto the feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma. Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is a partial part of Him.

  2. 2

    Brahmā, the engineer of the universe, is born from the lotus sprouting from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu’s navel. The lotus stem is the resting place of the multitude of planets.

  3. 3

    Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu are identical plenary expansions of Pradyumna. Pradyumna gives Brahmā direction for cosmic management.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva, it is said that He who is Pradyumna is also Aniruddha.
  • Thus Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu are identical plenary expansions of Pradyumna, the original Deity of Brahmā, who is born from the lotus flower.
  • A full description of Brahmā’s birth is given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.8.15-16).

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 5.93 quotesSB 3.8.15

A full description of Brahmā’s birth is given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.8.15-16).

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

Shelter and wonder. The glory of Nityānanda reveals the intimate support behind the descent.

The mood of Ādi 5 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 5: The Glories Of Lord Nityānanda Balarāma

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

Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu reclines in the midst of the watery portion of the universe and generates the first living creature of the universe, Brahmā. The imaginary universal form is a partial manifestation of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 5
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yasyawhose
  2. aṁśa-aṁśaḥportion of a plenary portion
  3. śrīla-garbha-uda-śāyīGarbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu
  4. yatof whom
  5. nābhi-abjamthe navel lotus
  6. loka-saṅghātaof the multitude of planets
  7. nālamhaving a stem that is the resting place
  8. loka-sraṣṭuḥof Lord Brahmā, creator of the planets
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does learning that Brahmā receives direction from Pradyumna deepen your understanding of his role?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, recalling the obeisances expressed in this verse.

Live this todayObeisances to Śrī Nityānanda RāmaThis 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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