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

Antya-līlā · 20 chapters

1234567891011121314151617181920
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 1.160Antya 1.162

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 1.161

পরামৃষ্টাঙ্গুষ্ঠত্রয়মসিতরত্নৈরুভয়তো বহন্তী সংকীর্ণৌ মণিভিররুণৈস্তৎপরিসরৌ ।

তয়োর্মধ্যে হীরোজ্জ্বলবিমল-জাম্বূনদময়ী করে কল্যাণীয়ং বিহরতি হরেঃ কেলিমুরলী ॥ ১৬১ ॥

parāmṛṣṭāṅguṣṭha-trayam asita-ratnair ubhayato

vahantī saṅkīrṇau maṇibhir aruṇais tat-parisarau

tayor madhye hīrojjvala-vimala-jāmbūnada-mayī

kare kalyāṇīyaṁ viharati hareḥ keli-muralī

Translation

“ ‘The flute of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes measures three fingers in length, and it is bedecked with indranīla gems. At the ends of the flute are aruṇa gems [rubies], glittering beautifully, and between its ends the flute is plated with gold set ablaze by diamonds. This auspicious flute, pleasing to Kṛṣṇa, is glittering in His hand with transcendental brilliance.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Flute Glitters in Kṛṣṇa’s Hand

  1. 1

    Paurṇamāsī describes Kṛṣṇa’s flute to Lalitādevī. The flute measures three fingers in length and is bedecked with indranīla gems.

  2. 2

    Its ends glitter with aruṇa gems, or rubies. Between the ends, gold plating shines with diamonds.

  3. 3

    This auspicious flute is pleasing to Kṛṣṇa and glitters in His hand with transcendental brilliance.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from the Vidagdha-mādhava (3.1) is spoken to Lalitādevī by Paurṇamāsī.

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

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. parāmṛṣtameasured
  2. anguṣṭha-trayama length of three fingers
  3. asita-ratnaiḥwith valuable indranīla jewels
  4. ubhayataḥfrom both ends
  5. vahantīhaving
  6. saṅkīrṇaubedecked
  7. maṇibhiḥby gems
  8. aruṇaiḥrubies
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the statement that the flute pleases Kṛṣṇa give meaning to its brilliant decoration?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute rereading the flute’s description, focusing on its place in Kṛṣṇa’s hand.

Live this todayThe Flute Glitters in Kṛṣṇa’s HandThis 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 1.161? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters