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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 5: How Pradyumna Miśra Received Instructions from Rāmānanda Rāya
Antya 5.103Antya 5.106

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Antya 5.104-105

‘ব্যাকরণ’ নাহি জানে, না জানে ‘অলঙ্কার’ । ॥ ১০৪ ॥

‘vyākaraṇa’ nāhi jāne, nā jāne ‘alaṅkāra’

‘nāṭakālaṅkāra’-jñāna nāhika yāhāra

Translation

“A poet who does not know the grammatical regulative principles, who is unfamiliar with metaphorical ornaments, especially those employed in drama, and who does not know how to present the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa is condemned. Moreover, the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are especially difficult to understand.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Presenting divine pastimes demands understanding

  1. 1

    A poet must know grammatical principles and metaphorical ornaments, especially those used in drama.

  2. 2

    The verse condemns writing that lacks both these skills and knowledge of how to present Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

  3. 3

    The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are especially difficult to understand.

How it feels

Humility and discernment. The Lord directs a seeker to Rāmānanda and clarifies genuine spiritual qualification.

The mood of Antya 5 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 5: How Pradyumna Miśra Received Instructions from Rāmānanda Rāya

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

Pradyumna Miśra, a resident of Śrīhaṭṭa, came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear from Him about Lord Kṛṣṇa and His pastimes. The Lord, however, sent him to Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 5
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vyākaraṇagrammar
  2. nāhi jānedoes not know
  3. nā jānedoes not know
  4. alaṅkārametaphorical ornaments
  5. nāṭaka-alaṅkāraof the metaphorical ornaments of drama
  6. jñānaknowledge
  7. nāhikathere is not
  8. yāhāraof whom
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I approach descriptions of divine pastimes with greater care and humility?

Practice

Reread one description of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes today, noting anything you do not yet understand.

Live this todayPresenting divine pastimes demands understandingThis 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 5.104-105? Get an answer from the verses themselves.