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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 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Kṛṣṇa and Guru
Ādi 8.18Ādi 8.20

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Ādi 8.19

রাজন্ পতির্গুরুরলং ভবতাং যদূনাং

দৈবং প্রিয়ঃ কুলপতিঃ ক্ক চ কিঙ্করো বঃ ।

অস্ত্বেবমঙ্গ ভগবান্ ভজতাং মুকুন্দো

মুক্তিং দদাতি কৰ্হিচিৎ স্ম ন ভক্তিযোগম্ ॥ ১৯ ॥

rājan patir gurur alaṁ bhavatāṁ yadūnāṁ

daivaṁ priyaḥ kula-patiḥ kva ca kiṅkaro vaḥ

astv evam aṅga bhagavān bhajatāṁ mukundo

muktiṁ dadāti karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam

Translation

[The great sage Śukadeva said:] “My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa is always ready to help you. He is your master, guru, God, and very dear friend, and also the head of your family. Yet sometimes He agrees to act as your servant or order-carrier. You are greatly fortunate because this relationship is possible only by bhakti-yoga. The Lord can give liberation [mukti] very easily, but He does not very easily give one bhakti-yoga, because by that process He is bound to the devotee.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhakti Binds Kṛṣṇa to His Devotee

  1. 1

    Bhakti-yoga establishes a relationship between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee. He acts as master, advisor, friend, family head, and even servant.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa gives liberation very easily, but does not easily give bhakti-yoga because it binds Him to the devotee. For a devotee, liberation is not very important.

  3. 3

    A devotee should be attracted by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, who live in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. They serve Him through peaceful service, servitude, friendship, parental affection, and conjugal love.

Key points from the purport
  • This illustrates that in bhakti-yoga there is a relationship established between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotee.
  • If a devotee wants simple liberation, he gets it very easily from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as confirmed by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura.
  • A devotee, therefore, must be attracted by the behavior of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, who live in a relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Ādi 8.19 quotesSB 5.6.18

This passage is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.6.18).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. rājanO King
  2. patiḥmaster
  3. guruḥspiritual master
  4. alamcertainly
  5. bhavatāmof your
  6. yadūnāmof the Yadus
  7. daivamGod
  8. priyaḥvery dear
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “relationship”, “servitude”, “parental”

  • 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”, “service”, “serve”

  • 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: “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 draws me toward a relationship of service with Kṛṣṇa rather than liberation alone?

Practice

Reread the description of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and reflect on one way they serve Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayBhakti Binds Kṛṣṇa to His DevoteeThis 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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