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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 1.23

তার মধ্যে ছয় বৎসর ভক্তগণ-সঙ্গে ।

প্রেমভক্তি প্রবর্তাইলা নৃত্যগীতরঙ্গে ॥ ২৩ ॥

tāra madhye chaya vatsara bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge

prema-bhakti pravartāilā nṛtya-gīta-raṅge

Translation

Of these eighteen years at Jagannātha Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spent six years with His many devotees. By chanting and dancing, He introduced the loving service of the Lord.

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.

Loving Service Through Chanting and Dancing

  1. 1

    Of His eighteen years at Jagannātha Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spent six years with His many devotees.

  2. 2

    He chanted and danced during this time.

  3. 3

    Through chanting and dancing, He introduced the loving service of the Lord.

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:

In this chapter there is a summary description of all the pastimes performed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu during the middle period of His activities as well as the six years at the end of His activities. All of these are described in brief.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 1
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tāra madhyewithin that period
  2. chaya vatsarafor six years
  3. bhakta-gaṇa-saṅgewith all the devotees
  4. prema-bhaktithe loving service of the Lord
  5. pravartāilāintroduced
  6. nṛtya-gīta-raṅgein the matter of chanting and dancing
3

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”, “chanted”

  • 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 might seeing chanting as loving service shape your participation?

Practice

Spend a few moments chanting today with the intention of lovingly serving the Lord.

Live this todayLoving Service Through Chanting and DancingThis 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 1.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.