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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

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.

Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›

Ādi-līlā · Chapter 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Kṛṣṇa and Guru

Ādi 7.171 Ādi 8.2

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 8.1

বন্দে চৈতন্যদেবং তং ভগবন্তং যদিচ্ছয়া ।

প্রসভং নর্ত্যতে চিত্রং লেখরঙ্গে জড়োঽপ্যয়ম্ ॥ ১ ॥

vande caitanya-devaṁ taṁ

bhagavantaṁ yad-icchayā

prasabhaṁ nartyate citraṁ

lekha-raṅge jaḍo ’py ayam

Translation

I offer my respects to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose desire I have become like a dancing dog and suddenly taken to the writing of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, although I am a fool.

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This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Writing by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Desire

1
The author offers respects to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
2
He describes himself as a fool who has suddenly taken to writing Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
3
He compares himself to a dancing dog, moved by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire rather than his own ability.

How it feels

Vulnerability and obedience. Kavirāja writes by mercy and command rather than personal self-assertion.

The mood of Ādi 8 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Ādi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Kṛṣṇa and Guru

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

In this chapter the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda are described, and it is also stated that one who commits offenses in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra does not achieve love of Godhead, even after chanting for many years. In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura warns against artificial displays of the bodily symptoms called aṣṭa-sāttvika-vikāra.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Ādi 8