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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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Antya-līlā · 20 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 Antya 1.120

তুণ্ডে তাণ্ডবিনী রতিং বিতনুতে তুণ্ডাবলীলব্ধয়ে কর্ণক্রোড়কড়ম্বিনী ঘটয়তে কর্ণার্বুদেভ্যঃ স্পৃহাম্ ।

চেতঃপ্রাঙ্গণসঙ্গিনী বিজয়তে সর্বেন্দ্রিয়াণাং কৃতিং নো জানে জনিতা কিয়দ্ভিরমৃতৈঃ কৃষ্ণেতি বর্ণদ্বয়ী ॥ ১২০ ॥

tuṇḍe tāṇḍavinī ratiṁ vitanute tuṇḍāvalī-labdhaye

karṇa-kroḍa-kaḍambinī ghaṭayate karṇārbudebhyaḥ spṛhām

cetaḥ-prāṅgaṇa-saṅginī vijayate sarvendriyāṇāṁ kṛtiṁ

no jāne janitā kiyadbhir amṛtaiḥ kṛṣṇeti varṇa-dvayī

Translation

“ ‘I do not know how much nectar the two syllables “Kṛṣ-ṇa” have produced. When the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.’”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s Holy Name

  1. 1

    Rūpa Gosvāmī marvels at the nectar produced by the two syllables “Kṛṣ-ṇa.” As the name dances within the mouth, one desires many, many mouths.

  2. 2

    When the holy name enters the ears, one desires many millions of ears to hear it.

  3. 3

    When the name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the mind’s activities. All the senses then become inert.

How it feels

Recognition and encouragement. Rūpa’s devotional insight receives the Lord’s approval; even a dog receives mercy.

The mood of Antya 1 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 1: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Second Meeting with the Lord

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

Although he could not follow the Bengali devotees, after some time he also came to Jagannātha Purī, where he stayed with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī composed an important verse beginning with the words priyaḥ so ’yam, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu relished it very much.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 1
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tuṇḍein the mouth
  2. tāṇḍavinīdancing
  3. ratimthe inspiration
  4. vitanuteexpands
  5. tuṇḍa-āvalī-labdhayeto achieve many mouths
  6. karṇaof the ear
  7. kroḍain the hole
  8. kaḍambinīsprouting
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chanted”, “holy name”

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

Which image of the holy name’s sweetness most invites your attention?

Practice

Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa for one quiet minute today, listening carefully to its sound.

Live this todayThe Nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s Holy NameThis 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 Antya 1.120? Get an answer from the verses themselves.