1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

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 8.7

এই সব না মানে যেবা করে কৃষ্ণভক্তি ।

কৃষ্ণ–কৃপা নাহি তারে, নাহি তার গতি ॥ ৭ ॥

ei saba nā māne yebā kare kṛṣṇa-bhakti

kṛṣṇa-kṛpā nāhi tāre, nāhi tāra gati

Translation

One who does not accept the glories of the Pañca-tattva but still makes a show of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa can never achieve the mercy of Kṛṣṇa or advance to the ultimate goal.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Ācāryas, Not Outward Show

  1. 1

    One who rejects the glories of the Pañca-tattva while making a show of devotion to Kṛṣṇa cannot achieve His mercy or the ultimate goal.

  2. 2

    A serious person must follow the rules and regulations laid down by the ācāryas and understand their conclusions.

  3. 3

    Success comes by following the instructions and footsteps of the previous ācāryas in disciplic succession. Without serving the spiritual master and ācāryas, one cannot be liberated.

Key points from the purport
  • If one is seriously interested in Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, he must be ready to follow the rules and regulations laid down by the ācāryas, and he must understand their conclusions.
  • It is very difficult to understand the secret of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but one who advances by the instruction of the previous ācāryas and follows in the footsteps of his predecessors in the line of disciplic succession will have success.
  • Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says in this connection, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: “Unless one serves the spiritual master and ācāryas, one cannot be liberated.”

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. eithese
  2. sabaall
  3. nā mānedoes not accept
  4. yebāanyone who
  5. kareexecutes
  6. kṛṣṇa-bhaktidevotional service
  7. kṛṣṇa-kṛpāmercy of Kṛṣṇa
  8. nāhiis not
3

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”, “serving”

  • 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: “mercy”

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

Where could you give more attention to following instruction rather than merely appearing devoted?

Practice

Write down one instruction from this purport that you want to follow carefully today.

Live this todayFollow the Ācāryas, Not Outward ShowThis 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 8.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.