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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Ādi 6.55-56

অন্যের কা কথা, ব্রজে নন্দ মহাশয় ।

তার সম ‘গুরু’ কৃষ্ণের আর কেহ নয় ॥ ৫৫ ॥

শুদ্ধবাৎসল্যে ঈশ্বর–জ্ঞান নাহি তার ।

তাহাকেই প্রেমে করায় দাস্য–অনুকার ॥ ৫৬ ॥

anyera kā kathā, vraje nanda mahāśaya

tāra sama ‘guru’ kṛṣṇera āra keha naya

Translation

Although no one is a more respected elder for Kṛṣṇa than Nanda Mahārāja in Vraja, who in transcendental paternal love has no knowledge that his son is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, still ecstatic love makes him, what to speak of others, feel himself to be a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Paternal Love Also Inspires Service

  1. 1

    In Vraja, no elder is more respected by Kṛṣṇa than Nanda Mahārāja.

  2. 2

    In transcendental paternal love, Nanda Mahārāja has no knowledge that his son is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Even this most respected elder feels himself to be Lord Kṛṣṇa’s servant through ecstatic love.

How it feels

Devotional appeal. The glory of Advaita frames service as the deepest form of greatness.

The mood of Ādi 6 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 6: The Glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya

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

That Advaita, the superintendent of the cosmic manifestation, has descended in the form of Advaita Ācārya to associate with Lord Caitanya. When He is addressed as the servitor of Lord Caitanya, His glories are magnified because unless one is invigorated by this mentality of servitorship one cannot understand the mellows derived from devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 6
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. anyeraof others
  2. kāwhat
  3. kathāto speak
  4. vrajein Vṛndāvana
  5. nanda mahāśayaNanda Mahārāja
  6. tāra samalike him
  7. gurua superior
  8. kṛṣṇeraof Lord Kṛṣṇa
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: “vraja”, “nanda”

  • 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: “servant”

  • 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: “ecstatic 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 Nanda Mahārāja’s feeling of service teach me about love?

Practice

Write one sentence reflecting on how love can inspire service even in someone deeply respected.

Live this todayPaternal Love Also Inspires ServiceThis 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 6.55-56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.