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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 3.137

নিরন্তর নাম লও, কর তুলসী সেবন ।

অচিরাৎ পাবে তবে কৃষ্ণের চরণ ।।” ১৩৭ ।। ॥ ১৩৭ ॥

nirantara nāma lao, kara tulasī sevana

acirāt pābe tabe kṛṣṇera caraṇa”

Translation

“Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chant and Serve to Reach Kṛṣṇa’s Shelter

  1. 1

    Haridāsa Ṭhākura instructs her to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and serve the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers.

  2. 2

    He assures her that this practice will soon bring the opportunity to take shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā, and Kṛṣṇa promises protection from sinful reactions. For one unable to surrender, the purport recommends constant chanting under Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s instruction.

Key points from the purport
  • At least five thousand years ago, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa expressed His desire that everyone surrender to Him (sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja).
  • Everyone is suffering from the results of sinful activities, but Kṛṣṇa says that if one surrenders unto Him, He will protect one from sinful reactions.
  • Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, it is better to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

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

Steadfast compassion. Haridāsa’s spiritual conviction and the reach of the holy name confront prejudice and temptation.

The mood of Antya 3 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 3: The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura

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

Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that their deliverance would be possible if they very loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, for hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanted loudly, even with but little realization, would help them. After describing this incident, the author of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta also describes how Haridāsa Ṭhākura was tested at Benāpola, a village near Śāntipura.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 3
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. nirantaratwenty-four hours a day
  2. nāma laochant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
  3. karaperform
  4. tulasī sevanaworship of the tulasī plant
  5. acirātvery soon
  6. pābeyou will get
  7. tabethen
  8. kṛṣṇera caraṇathe lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “sheltered”, “lotus feet”, “surrender”

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chant”, “haridāsa”

  • 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”

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 can chanting help me move toward trusting Kṛṣṇa’s promise of shelter?

Practice

Spend five minutes chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today; if a tulasī plant is available, offer prayers to her.

Live this todayChant and Serve to Reach Kṛṣṇa’s ShelterThis 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 3.137? Get an answer from the verses themselves.