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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

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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 4: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī
Antya 4.68Antya 4.70

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Antya 4.69

বিপ্রাদ্দ্বিষড়্গুণযুতাদরবিন্দনাভ- পাদারবিন্দবিমুখাৎ শ্বপচং বরিষ্ঠম্ ।

মন্যে তদর্পিতমনোবচনেহিতার্থ- প্রাণং পুনাতি স কুলং ন তু ভূরিমানঃ ॥ ৬৯ ॥

viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-

pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacaṁ variṣṭham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-

prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ

Translation

“ ‘One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if in spite of being thus qualified he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord. Thus if a śva-paca, or caṇḍāla, is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his entire family as well, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Surpasses Birth and Qualifications

  1. 1

    Even birth in a brāhmaṇa family and all twelve brahminical qualities are insufficient without devotion to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. One must be a pure devotee of the Lord.

  2. 2

    A caṇḍāla who dedicates mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the Lord’s service is better situated than a qualified brāhmaṇa without devotion.

  3. 3

    Such a devotee delivers both himself and his entire family. A brāhmaṇa with qualifications but no devotion cannot even purify himself.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Antya 4.69 quotesSB 7.9.10

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Despair met with care. Sanātana’s wish to die is interrupted by the Lord’s protective insistence on his future service.

The mood of Antya 4 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 4: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī

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

You have already dedicated your life and body to My service; therefore your body does not belong to you, nor do you have any right to commit suicide. I have to execute many devotional services through your body.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 4
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. viprātthan a brāhmaṇa
  2. dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutātwho has twelve brahminical qualifications
  3. aravinda-nābhaof Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel
  4. pāda-aravindaunto the lotus feet
  5. vimukhātthan a person bereft of devotion
  6. śva-pacama caṇḍāla, or a person accustomed to eating dogs
  7. variṣṭhammore glorified
  8. manyeI think
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “delivers”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

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

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

  • 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”

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 I dedicate more of my thoughts, words and activities to the Lord rather than rely on my qualifications?

Practice

Use a few minutes of your speech today in the Lord’s service by chanting His holy name.

Live this todayPure Devotion Surpasses Birth and QualificationsThis 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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