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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

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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 8.16 Ādi 8.18

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 8.17

জ্ঞানতঃ সুলভা মুক্তির্ভুক্তির্যজ্ঞাদিপুণ্যতঃ ।

সেয়ং সাধনসাহস্রৈর্হরিভক্তিঃ সুদুলর্ভা ॥ ১৭ ॥

jñānataḥ su-labhā muktir

bhuktir yajñādi-puṇyataḥ

seyaṁ sādhana-sāhasrair

hari-bhaktiḥ su-durlabhā

Translation

“By cultivating philosophical knowledge one can understand his spiritual position and thus be liberated, and by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Rare

1
By cultivating philosophical knowledge, one can understand one’s spiritual position and become liberated.
2
Sacrifices and pious activities can bring sense gratification in a higher planetary system.
3
Devotional service to the Lord is so rare that even hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices cannot obtain it.

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

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

jñānataḥby cultivation of knowledge
su-labhāeasily obtainable
muktiḥliberation
bhuktiḥsense enjoyment
yajña-ādiperformance of sacrifices, etc.
puṇyataḥand by performing pious activities
sāthat
iyamthis

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

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”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking enjoyment or liberation, or do I desire devotional service to the Lord?

Practice

Take a moment today to express your desire to serve the Lord rather than seek enjoyment.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is RareThis 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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