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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 10.95

গোবিন্দ কহে মনে — “আমার ‘সেবা’ সে ‘নিয়ম’ ।

অপরাধ হউক, কিবা নরকে গমন ॥ ৯৫ ॥

govinda kahe mane — “āmāra ‘sevā’ se ‘niyama’

aparādha ha-uka, kibā narake gamana

Translation

Govinda mentally replied, “My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell.

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.

Govinda’s Firm Resolve to Serve

  1. 1

    Govinda mentally replied that his duty was to serve.

  2. 2

    He was prepared to face offenses or even hell in carrying out that service.

  3. 3

    His thought expressed his personal determination to serve the Lord, not a desire to disregard offenses for his own benefit.

How it feels

Tender service. Food prepared and carried with love becomes a medium of intimate exchange.

The mood of Antya 10 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 10: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Accepts Prasādam from His Devotees

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

From the character of Govinda it is to be learned that we may sometimes commit offenses for the service of the Lord, but not for sense gratification. Govinda induced the Lord to eat all the food delivered by the devotees of Bengal for His service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 10
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. govinda kaheGovinda said
  2. manewithin his mind
  3. āmāra sevāmy service
  4. se niyamathat is the regulation
  5. aparādha ha-ukalet there be offenses
  6. kibāor
  7. naraketo hell
  8. gamanagoing
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: “serve”, “service”

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

What does Govinda’s determination reveal about the importance he gave to service?

Practice

Complete one small devotional service today without making personal convenience your first concern.

Live this todayGovinda’s Firm Resolve to ServeThis 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 10.95? Get an answer from the verses themselves.