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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 1.167 Antya 1.169

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 1.168

মহেন্দ্রমণিমণ্ডলীমদবিড়ম্বিদেহদ্যুতি- র্ব্রজেন্দ্রকুলচন্দ্রমাঃ স্ফুরতি কোঽপি নব্যো যুবা ।

সখি স্থিরকুলাঙ্গনা-নিকর-নীবি-বন্ধার্গল- চ্ছিদাকরণ-কৌতুকী জয়তি যস্য বংশীধ্বনিঃ ॥ ১৬৮ ॥

mahendra-maṇi-maṇḍalī-mada-viḍambi-deha-dyutir

vrajendra-kula-candramāḥ sphurati ko ’pi navyo yuvā

sakhi sthira-kulāṅganā-nikara-nīvi-bandhārgala-

cchidā-karaṇa-kautukī jayati yasya vaṁśī-dhvaniḥ

Translation

“ ‘My dear friend, this newly youthful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the moon in the family of Nanda Mahārāja, is so beautiful that He defies the beauty of clusters of valuable jewels. All glories to the vibration of His flute, for it is cunningly breaking the patience of chaste ladies by loosening their belts and tight dresses.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Beauty and Flute Overwhelm Patience

1
Lalitādevī describes the newly youthful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Rādhārāṇī as the moon in the family of Nanda Mahārāja.
2
His beauty defies the beauty of clusters of valuable jewels.
3
She glorifies His flute’s vibration, which cunningly breaks the patience of chaste ladies by loosening their belts and tight dresses.

Key points from the purport

This verse from the Lalita-mādhava (1.49) 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

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 summary Back to this verse in Antya 1

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

mahendra-maṇiof jewels of the name mahendra-maṇi
maṇḍalīof masses
mada-viḍambidefeating the pride
deha-dyutiḥone whose bodily luster
vrajendra-kula-candramāḥthe moon of the family of Vrajarāja (Nanda Mahārāja)
sphuratimanifests
kaḥ apisome
navyaḥ yuvānewly youthful person

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana
The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “nanda”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Lalitādevī’s praise express the overwhelming attraction of Kṛṣṇa and His flute?

Practice

Reread the verse and note its two objects of praise: Kṛṣṇa’s beauty and His flute’s vibration.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Beauty and Flute Overwhelm PatienceThis 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 1.168? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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