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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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Madhya-līlā · 25 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 Madhya 1.120

ব্রহ্মসংহিতা, কর্ণামৃত, দুই পুঁথি পাঞা ।

দুই পুস্তক লঞা আইলা উত্তম জানিঞা ॥ ১২০ ॥

brahma-saṁhitā, karṇāmṛta, dui puṅthi pāñā

dui pustaka lañā āilā uttama jāniñā

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also found two other books — namely, the Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. Knowing these books to be excellent, He took them to present to His devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sharing Authoritative Scriptures with Devotees

  1. 1

    In the olden days there were no presses. Important scriptures were handwritten and kept in large temples.

  2. 2

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu found handwritten copies of the Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. Knowing them to be very authoritative, He obtained the temple commander’s permission and took them to present to His devotees.

  3. 3

    Both books are available in print with commentaries by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

Key points from the purport
  • In the olden days there were no presses, and all the important scriptures were handwritten and kept in large temples.
  • Caitanya Mahāprabhu found the Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta in handwritten texts, and knowing them to be very authoritative, He took them with Him to present to His devotees.
  • Now both the Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta are available in print with commentaries by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

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

Anticipation and hidden longing. The author previews later pastimes, including the inner Vraja mood expressed at Ratha-yātrā.

The mood of Madhya 1 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

There is also a description of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s ecstasy that occurred when He recited the verse beginning yaḥ kaumāra-haraḥ, as well as a description of how that ecstasy was explained in the verse beginning priyaḥ so ’yaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ, by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Because he wrote that verse, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was specifically blessed by the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 1
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. brahma-saṁhitāthe book named Brahma-saṁhitā
  2. karṇāmṛtathe book named Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta
  3. duitwo
  4. puṅthiscriptures
  5. pāñāobtaining
  6. duitwo
  7. pustakabooks
  8. lañācarrying
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from Mahāprabhu’s desire to share these books and His care to obtain permission?

Practice

Write down the names Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta as two books Mahāprabhu valued and shared.

Live this todaySharing Authoritative Scriptures with DevoteesThis 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 Madhya 1.120? Get an answer from the verses themselves.