1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min
Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 3.14
স্বচ্ছন্দে আচার কর, কে পারে বলিতে ? মুখর জগতের মুখ পার আচ্ছাদিতে ? ১৪ ॥ ১৪ ॥
svacchande ācāra kara, ke pāre balite?
mukhara jagatera mukha pāra ācchādite?
“My dear Lord, You can act as You please. No one can say anything to restrict You. Nevertheless, the entire world is impudent. People can say anything. How can You stop them?
Read this verse on Vedabase.ioThis verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.
Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.
Dāmodara Paṇḍita acknowledged that the Lord could act as He pleased. No one could restrict Him.
At the same time, he described the world as impudent, with people ready to say anything.
His question concerned how such speech could be stopped. He recognized the Lord’s independence but remained troubled by public criticism.
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
From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:
This was not very much to the liking of Dāmodara Paṇḍita, however, who therefore told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “If You display so much love for this boy, people will doubt Your character.” Hearing these words from Dāmodara Paṇḍita, the Lord sent him to Navadvīpa to supervise the affairs of His mother, Śacīdevī.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 3
Learn the words of the verse.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How much of my concern comes from what people might say?
When you hear speculative criticism today, choose not to repeat it.
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 3.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.