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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 1.34

প্রভু-আজ্ঞায় কৈল সব শাস্ত্রের বিচার ।

ব্রজের নিগূঢ় ভক্তি করিল প্রচার ॥ ৩৪ ॥

prabhu ājñāya kaila saba śāstrera vicāra

vrajera nigūḍha bhakti karila pracāra

Translation

The Gosvāmīs carried out the preaching work of devotional service on the basis of an analytical study of all confidential Vedic literatures. This was in compliance with the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus one can understand the most confidential devotional service of Vṛndāvana.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Rests on Vedic Knowledge

  1. 1

    The Gosvāmīs preached devotional service through analytical study of confidential Vedic literatures, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  2. 2

    Bona fide devotional service rests on the conclusions of Vedic literature, not on sentiment or theatrical displays of emotion.

  3. 3

    Serious devotees acquire devotional service by hearing Vedic literatures. Sufficient knowledge of these scriptures is needed to understand Vṛndāvana and its pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • The prākṛta-sahajiyās do not realize that they are violating the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who specifically said that to understand Vṛndāvana and the pastimes of Vṛndāvana one must have sufficient knowledge of the śāstras (Vedic literatures).
  • This means that devotional service is acquired from Vedic knowledge.
  • Devotees who are actually serious attain bhakti, scientific devotional service, by hearing Vedic literatures (bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā).

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 1.34 quotesSB 1.2.12

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.12), bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. prabhu ājñāyaupon the order of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  2. kailathey did
  3. saba śāstreraof all scriptures
  4. vicāraanalytical study
  5. vrajeraof Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma
  6. nigūḍhamost confidential
  7. bhaktidevotional service
  8. kariladid
  9. pracārapreaching
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “vṛndāvana”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I ground my devotional understanding in scripture rather than sentiment alone?

Practice

Read this translation and purport again, and write down one scriptural principle that should guide your devotional service.

Live this todayDevotional Service Rests on Vedic KnowledgeThis 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 1.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.