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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 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features
Ādi 7.120Ādi 7.122

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 7.121

ব্যাসের সূত্রেতে কহে ‘পরিণাম’–বাদ ।

‘ব্যাস ভ্রান্ত’—বলি’ তার উঠাইল বিবাদ ॥ ১২১ ॥

vyāsera sūtrete kahe ‘pariṇāma’-vāda

‘vyāsa bhrānta’ — bali’ tāra uṭhāila vivāda

Translation

“In his Vedānta-sūtra Śrīla Vyāsadeva has described that everything is but a transformation of the energy of the Lord. Śaṅkarācārya, however, has misled the world by commenting that Vyāsadeva was mistaken. Thus he has raised great opposition to theism throughout the entire world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Energies Undergo Transformation

  1. 1

    Śrīla Vyāsadeva’s Vedānta-sūtra states that cosmic manifestations result from transformations of the Lord’s various energies.

  2. 2

    Śaṅkarācārya does not accept this explanation of the Lord’s energy. Instead, he takes transformation to mean that the Lord Himself would be transformed and His oneness disturbed.

  3. 3

    By accusing Śrīla Vyāsadeva of being mistaken, Śaṅkarācārya establishes vivarta-vāda, the Māyāvāda theory of illusion. The translation describes this as raising opposition to theism.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains, “In the Vedanta-sūtra of Śrīla Vyāsadeva it is definitely stated that all cosmic manifestations result from transformations of various energies of the Lord.
  • Śaṅkarācārya, however, not accepting the energy of the Lord, thinks that it is the Lord who is transformed.
  • Thus he has accused Śrīla Vyāsadeva of being mistaken.

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

How it feels

Collective delight. The Pañca-tattva gives divine love a relational and communal form.

The mood of Ādi 7 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Ādi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features

Back to this verse in Ādi 7
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vyāseraof Śrīla Vyāsadeva
  2. sūtretein the aphorisms
  3. kahedescribes
  4. pariṇāmatransformation
  5. vādaphilosophy
  6. vyāsaŚrīla Vyāsadeva
  7. bhrāntamistaken
  8. bali’accusing him
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “transformed”

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

Can I explain the difference between transformation of the Lord’s energies and transformation of the Lord Himself?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining that cosmic manifestations arise through transformations of the Lord’s energies.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Energies Undergo TransformationThis 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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