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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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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 ›
Madhya-līlā · Chapter 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannātha Purī
Madhya 10.115Madhya 10.117

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 10.116

সঙ্গীতে — গন্ধর্ব-সম, শাস্ত্রে বৃহস্পতি ।

দামোদর-সম আর নাহি মহামতি ॥ ১১৬ ॥

saṅgīte — gandharva-sama, śāstre bṛhaspati

dāmodara-sama āra nāhi mahā-mati

Translation

Svarūpa Dāmodara was as expert a musician as the Gandharvas, and in scriptural discussion he was just like Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly gods. Therefore it is to be concluded that there was no great personality quite like Svarūpa Dāmodara.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Excellence in Music and Scripture

  1. 1

    Svarūpa Dāmodara was as expert in music as the Gandharvas. In scriptural discussion, he was compared to Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly gods.

  2. 2

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called him Dāmodara because of his expert singing and musical skills. This name was added to the name given by his sannyāsa-guru.

  3. 3

    He was known as Svarūpa Dāmodara or Dāmodara Svarūpa. He compiled a book of music named Saṅgīta-dāmodara.

Key points from the purport
  • Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was very expert in music as well as the Vedic scriptures.
  • Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to call him Dāmodara because of his expert singing and musical skills.
  • He was therefore known as Svarūpa Dāmodara, or Dāmodara Svarūpa.

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

Relief and affectionate reunion. Devotees gather as the Lord returns; separation is temporarily relieved.

The mood of Madhya 10 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannātha Purī

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

He accepted the renounced order from Caitanyānanda, but he took the name of Svarūpa. Thus he arrived at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 10
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. saṅgītein music
  2. gandharva-samajust like the Gandharvas
  3. śāstrein discussions of the revealed scriptures
  4. bṛhaspatilike Bṛhaspati, the priest of the heavenly demigods
  5. dāmodara-samaequal to Svarūpa Dāmodara
  6. āraanyone else
  7. nāhithere is not
  8. mahā-matigreat personality
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “discussion”

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 do I appreciate about Svarūpa Dāmodara’s combination of musical skill and scriptural knowledge?

Practice

Spend five attentive minutes studying a scriptural passage, remembering Svarūpa Dāmodara’s expertise in scripture.

Live this todayExcellence in Music and ScriptureThis 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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