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 1.165Antya 1.167

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 1.166

জঙ্ঘাধস্তটসঙ্গিদক্ষিণপদং কিঞ্চিদ্বিভুগ্নত্রিকং সাচিস্তম্ভিতকন্ধরং সখি তিরঃসঞ্চারিনেত্রাঞ্চলম্ ।

বংশীং কুট্মলিতে দধানমধরে লোলাঙ্গুলীসঙ্গতাং রিঙ্গদ্ভ্রূভ্রমরং বরাঙ্গি পরমানন্দং পুরঃ স্বীকুরু ॥ ১৬৬ ॥

jaṅghādhas-taṭa-saṅgi-dakṣiṇa-padaṁ kiñcid vibhugna-trikaṁ

sāci-stambhita-kandharaṁ sakhi tiraḥ-sañcāri-netrāñcalam

vaṁśīṁ kuṭmalite dadhānam adhare lolāṅgulī-saṅgatāṁ

riṅgad-bhrū-bhramaraṁ varāṅgi paramānandaṁ puraḥ svī-kuru

Translation

“ ‘O most beautiful friend, please accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is standing before You full of transcendental bliss. The borders of His eyes roam from side to side, and His eyebrows move slowly like bumblebees on His lotuslike face. Standing with His right foot placed below the knee of His left leg, the middle of His body curved in three places, and His neck gracefully tilted to the side, He takes His flute to His pursed lips and moves His fingers upon it here and there.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Behold the Lord Playing His Flute

  1. 1

    Lalitādevī asks Rādhārāṇī to accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead standing before Her, full of transcendental bliss.

  2. 2

    His eyes move from side to side, and His eyebrows move slowly like bumblebees upon His lotuslike face.

  3. 3

    His body is curved in three places, with His right foot below His left knee and His neck gracefully tilted. He holds the flute to His pursed lips and moves His fingers upon it.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from the Lalita-mādhava-nāṭaka (4.27), a ten-act play by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, is spoken by Lalitādevī to Rādhārāṇī.

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. jaṅghāof the shin
  2. adhaḥ-taṭaat the lower border
  3. saṅgiconnected
  4. dakṣiṇa-padamthe right foot
  5. kiñcitslightly
  6. vibhugna-trikamthe middle of the body bent in three places
  7. sāci-stambhita-kandharamwhose neck is fixed in a curve to the side
  8. sakhiO friend
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “gracefully”

  • Rādhā-bhāva · The confidential inner purpose

    The Lord’s desire to taste the love and perspective of Śrī Rādhā, illuminated by later ecstatic pastimes. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “rādhārāṇī”

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

How does this detailed description help you attend to the Lord’s personal form?

Practice

Read the description slowly, pausing at His face, posture and flute.

Live this todayBehold the Lord Playing His FluteThis 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 1.166? 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