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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

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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 15: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Antya 15.77Antya 15.79

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 15.78

হরিণ্মণিকবাটিকাপ্রততহারিবক্ষঃস্থলঃ স্মরার্ততরুণীমনঃকলুষহারিদোরর্গলঃ ।

সুধাংশুহরিচন্দনোৎপলসিতাভ্রশীতাঙ্গকঃ স মে মদনমোদনঃ সখি তনোতি বক্ষঃস্পৃহাম্ ॥ ৭৮ ॥

hariṇ-maṇi-kavāṭikā-pratata-hāri-vakṣaḥ-sthalaḥ

smarārta-taruṇī-manaḥ-kaluṣa-hāri-dor-argalaḥ

sudhāṁśu-hari-candanotpala-sitābhra-śītāṅgakaḥ

sa me madana-mohanaḥ sakhi tanoti vakṣaḥ-spṛhām

Translation

“ ‘My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa’s chest is as broad and attractive as a door made of indranīla gems, and His two arms, as strong as bolts, can relieve the mental anguish of young girls distressed by lusty desires for Him. His body is cooler than the moon, sandalwood, the lotus flower and camphor. In this way, Madana-mohana, the attractor of Cupid, is increasing the desire of My breasts.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Madana-mohana Relieves Anguish and Deepens Desire

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s broad, attractive chest is compared to a door made of indranīla gems, and His strong arms to bolts.

  2. 2

    His arms can relieve the mental anguish of young girls distressed by lusty desires for Him. His body is cooler than the moon, sandalwood, the lotus flower and camphor.

  3. 3

    The speaker describes Madana-mohana, the attractor of Cupid, as increasing the desire of Her breasts. The purport notes that this verse is also found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is also found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta (8.7).

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

Absorbed searching. The Lord lives the gopīs’ search for Kṛṣṇa with ecstatic transformations.

The mood of Antya 15 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 15: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī recited a verse from the Gīta-govinda just suitable to the Lord’s emotions. Caitanya Mahāprabhu then exhibited the ecstatic transformations known as bhāvodaya, bhāva-sandhi, bhāva-śābalya and so on.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 15
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. hariṭ-maṇiof indranīla gems
  2. kavāṭikālike a door
  3. pratatabroad
  4. hāriattractive
  5. vakṣaḥ-sthalaḥwhose chest
  6. smara-ārtadistressed by lusty desires
  7. taruṇīof young women
  8. manaḥof the mind
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this verse describe Kṛṣṇa as both relieving anguish and increasing desire for Him?

Practice

Write down one image of Kṛṣṇa’s beauty from this verse and the effect it has on those attracted to Him.

Live this todayMadana-mohana Relieves Anguish and Deepens DesireThis 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.

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