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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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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 · Text Ādi 8.12

হেন কৃপাময় চৈতন্য না ভজে যেই জন ।

সর্বোত্তম হইলেও তারে অসুরে গণন ॥ ১২ ॥

hena kṛpāmaya caitanya nā bhaje yei jana

sarvottama ha-ileo tāre asure gaṇana

Translation

One who does not show respect unto this merciful Lord, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, or does not worship Him should be considered a demon, even if he is very much exalted in human society.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Caitanya and Worship Kṛṣṇa Together

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s message is to engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He teaches that chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra brings all perfection in life.

  2. 2

    The purport calls one who refuses to respect this merciful Lord an asura, even if highly honored in society. It defines an asura as someone opposed to devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    Worship of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and worship of Kṛṣṇa must go together. Treating Gaurasundara as an ordinary living entity and separating Him from Śrī Kṛṣṇa opposes the conclusion of the ācāryas.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Mahārāja says in this connection: “O living entities, simply engage yourselves in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • Therefore one who does not show Him respect or cannot appreciate His mercy despite all these merciful gestures is an asura, or opponent of bona fide devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu, even though he may be very much exalted in human society.
  • Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that atheist smārtas, or worshipers of the five kinds of demigods, worship Lord Viṣṇu for a little satisfaction in material success but have no respect for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in Ādi 8
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. henasuch
  2. kṛpāmayamerciful
  3. caitanyaLord Śrī Caitanya
  4. nādoes not
  5. bhajeworship
  6. yeione
  7. janaperson
  8. sarvottamasupreme
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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: “merciful”

  • 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: “service”

  • Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts

    Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “together”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I valuing social standing more than respect for the Lord and devotional service?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today with gratitude for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s teaching.

Live this todayHonor Caitanya and Worship Kṛṣṇa TogetherThis 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 8.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.