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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 7.43

সর্বোত্তম ভজন এই সর্বভক্তি জিনি’ ।

অতএব কৃষ্ণ কহে, — ‘আমি তোমার ঋণী’ ॥ ৪৩ ॥

sarvottama bhajana ei sarva-bhakti jini’

ataeva kṛṣṇa kahe, — ‘āmi tomāra ṛṇī’

Translation

“The conjugal love of the gopīs is the most exalted devotional service, surpassing all other methods of bhakti. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa is obliged to say, ‘My dear gopīs, I cannot repay you. Indeed, I am always indebted to you.’

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is Indebted to the Gopīs

  1. 1

    The conjugal love of the gopīs is the most exalted devotional service.

  2. 2

    Their love surpasses all other methods of bhakti.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa acknowledges that He cannot repay the gopīs and is always indebted to them.

How it feels

Pride softened by grace. Humor and correction lead toward humility and a relationship of devotion.

The mood of Antya 7 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Antya 7: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa

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

In this chapter, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s meeting with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa is described. There was some joking behavior between these two personalities, and finally Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu corrected Vallabha Bhaṭṭa and sympathetically accepted an invitation from him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Antya 7
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sarva-uttamaabove all
  2. bhajanadevotional service
  3. eithis
  4. sarva-bhaktiall types of bhakti
  5. jini’conquering
  6. ataevatherefore
  7. kṛṣṇa kaheLord Kṛṣṇa says
  8. āmiI
  9. tomārayour
  10. ṛṇīdebtor
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love”

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “conjugal”

  • 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

What strikes you about Kṛṣṇa’s admission that He cannot repay the gopīs?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s words, “I am always indebted to you.”

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Indebted to the GopīsThis 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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