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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 3.60

নামৈকং যস্য বাচি স্মরণ পথগতং শ্রোত্রমূলং গতং বা শুদ্ধং বাশুদ্ধবর্ণং ব্যবহিত-রহিতং তারয়ত্যেব সত্যম্ ।

তচ্চেদ্দেহ-দ্রবিণ-জনতা-লোভ-পাষণ্ড-মধ্যে নিক্ষিপ্তং স্যান্ন ফলজনকং শীঘ্রমেবাত্র বিপ্র ॥ ৬০ ॥

nāmaikaṁ yasya vāci smaraṇa-patha-gataṁ śrotra-mūlaṁ gataṁ vā

śuddhaṁ vāśuddha-varṇaṁ vyavahita-rahitaṁ tārayaty eva satyam

tac ced deha-draviṇa-janatā-lobha-pāṣaṇḍa-madhye

nikṣiptaṁ syān na phala-janakaṁ śīghram evātra vipra

Translation

“ ‘If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, or properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. O brāhmaṇa, the potency of the holy name is therefore certainly great. However, if one uses the vibration of the holy name for the benefit of the material body, for material wealth and followers, or under the influence of greed or atheism — in other words, if one utters the name with offenses — such chanting will not produce the desired result very soon. Therefore one should diligently avoid offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord.’”

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor the name’s potency; diligently avoid offenses

  1. 1

    The holy name can deliver a devotee from material bondage when uttered, remembered in the mind, or received through the ear.

  2. 2

    Its potency does not depend on correct grammar or perfect pronunciation. It acts whether its parts are properly joined or uttered separately.

  3. 3

    Using the holy name for bodily benefit, wealth, or followers, or chanting under greed or atheism, involves offenses. Such chanting delays the desired result, so offenses should be diligently avoided.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from the Padma Purāṇa is included in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (11.289) by Sanātana Gosvāmī.
  • Therein Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī gives the following explanation:

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:

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
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. nāmathe holy name
  2. ekamonce
  3. yasyawhose
  4. vāciin the mouth
  5. smaraṇa-patha-gatamentered the path of remembrance
  6. śrotra-mūlam gatamentered the roots of the ears
  7. vāor
  8. śuddhampure
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts

    Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “followers”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “deliver”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What material expectation could you set aside when chanting the holy name?

Practice

Before chanting today, pause and resolve not to use the holy name to seek wealth, followers, or bodily benefit.

Live this todayHonor the name’s potency; diligently avoid offensesThis 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 3.60? Get an answer from the verses themselves.