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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

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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 ›
Antya-līlā · Chapter 1: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Second Meeting with the Lord
Antya 1.138Antya 1.140

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 1.139

অভিব্যক্তা মত্তঃ প্রকৃতিলঘুরূপাদপি বুধা বিধাত্রী সিদ্ধার্থান্ হরিগুণময়ী বঃ কৃতিরিয়ম্ ।। পুলিন্দেনাপ্যগ্নিঃ কিমু সমিধমুন্মথ্য জনিতো হিরণ্যশ্রেণীনামপহরতি নান্তঃকলুষতাম্ ॥ ১৩৯ ॥

abhivyaktā mattaḥ prakṛti-laghu-rūpād api budhā

vidhātrī siddhārthān hari-guṇa-mayī vaḥ kṛtir iyam

pulindenāpy agniḥ kim u samidham unmathya janito

hiraṇya-śreṇīnām apaharati nāntaḥ-kaluṣatām

Translation

“ ‘O learned devotees, I am by nature ignorant and low, yet even though it is from me that the Vidagdha-mādhava has come, it is filled with descriptions of the transcendental attributes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, will not such a literature bring about the attainment of the highest goal of life? Although its wood may be ignited by a low-class man, fire can nevertheless purify gold. Similarly, although I am very low by nature, this book may help cleanse the dirt from within the hearts of the golden devotees.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Descriptions of the Lord Can Purify

  1. 1

    The author humbly describes himself as ignorant and low, yet Vidagdha-mādhava is filled with the transcendental attributes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    He asks whether such literature will bring about the highest goal of life. Its value rests in its descriptions of the Lord, not in the author's standing.

  3. 3

    Fire can purify gold even when a low-class man lights it. Similarly, the author hopes his book may cleanse dirt from the hearts of the golden devotees.

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:

One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and others went to the place of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and heard some of the verses Rūpa Gosvāmī had composed for his books Lalita-mādhava and Vidagdha-mādhava. After examining the manuscripts of these two books, Rāmānanda Rāya approved and appreciated them very much.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 1
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. abhivyaktāmanifested
  2. mattaḥfrom me
  3. prakṛtiby nature
  4. laghu-rūpātsituated in a lower position
  5. apialthough
  6. budhāḥO learned devotees
  7. vidhātrīwhich may bring about
  8. siddha-arthānall the objects of perfection
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: “cleanse”

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

Do I value descriptions of the Lord more than the social standing of the person presenting them?

Practice

Read this verse once more and pause over its hope of cleansing the heart.

Live this todayDescriptions of the Lord Can PurifyThis 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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