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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 13.37

দূরে রহি’ ভক্তি করিহ সঙ্গে না রহিবা ।

তাঁ-সবার আচার-চেষ্টা লইতে নারিবা ॥ ৩৭ ॥

dūre rahi’ bhakti kariha saṅge nā rahibā

tāṅ-sabāra ācāra-ceṣṭā la-ite nāribā

Translation

“Do not mix freely with the residents of Mathurā; show them respect from a distance. Because you are on a different platform of devotional service, you cannot adopt their behavior and practices.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect devotion you do not yet understand

  1. 1

    The residents of Mathurā and Vṛndāvana serve Kṛṣṇa in parental affection on the path of spontaneous love.

  2. 2

    Devotees following vidhi-mārga, or regulative devotional principles, may misunderstand those following rāga-mārga, or spontaneous devotional love. Worshipers of Kṛṣṇa in opulence may not understand these parental feelings.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Jagadānanda Paṇḍita to show respect from a distance rather than adopt their practices. This would protect him from becoming disrespectful.

Key points from the purport
  • The residents of Vṛndāvana and Mathurā are devotees of Kṛṣṇa in parental affection, and their feelings always conflict with the opinions of smārta-brāhmaṇas.
  • Devotees who worship Kṛṣṇa in opulence cannot understand the parental devotional feelings of the residents of Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, who follow the path of spontaneous love.
  • Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Jagadānanda Paṇḍita to remain apart from the residents of Vṛndāvana, who were spontaneous devotees, so as not to become disrespectful toward them.

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

Concern and affectionate restraint. Devotees seek to care for the Lord while He maintains His renounced practice.

The mood of Antya 13 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 13: Pastimes with Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī

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

With the permission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita went to Vṛndāvana, where he discussed many devotional subjects with Sanātana Gosvāmī. There was also a discussion about Mukunda Sarasvatī’s garment.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 13
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dūre rahi’keeping apart
  2. bhakti karihashow devotion
  3. saṅgein association
  4. nā rahibādo not stay
  5. tāṅ-sabāratheir
  6. ācārabehavior
  7. ceṣṭāendeavors
  8. la-ite nāribāyou cannot take up
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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: “service”, “serve”

  • Audārya · Love that moves outward

    The freely offered gift of bhakti and prema, especially through nāma-saṅkīrtana and Mahāprabhu’s compassionate dealings. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “freely”

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love”

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

Can I respect another devotee’s service without assuming I understand it or should imitate it?

Practice

When you encounter an unfamiliar devotional practice today, pause before judging or imitating it.

Live this todayRespect devotion you do not yet understandThis 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 13.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.