1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Madhya 11.113Madhya 11.115

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 11.114

তাহাঁ উপবাস, যাহাঁ নাহি মহাপ্রসাদ ।

প্রভু-আজ্ঞা-প্রসাদ-ত্যাগে হয় অপরাধ ॥ ১১৪ ॥

tāhāṅ upavāsa, yāhāṅ nāhi mahā-prasāda

prabhu-ājñā-prasāda-tyāge haya aparādha

Translation

“When mahā-prasādam is not available, there must be fasting, but when the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly orders one to take prasādam, neglecting such an opportunity is offensive.

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.

Honor the Lord’s Order to Accept Prasādam

  1. 1

    When mahā-prasādam is not available, there must be fasting.

  2. 2

    When the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly orders one to take prasādam, one should accept it.

  3. 3

    Neglecting that opportunity is offensive; fasting should not override His direct order.

How it feels

Communal anticipation. Arriving devotees, kīrtana, and longing to meet the Lord converge.

The mood of Madhya 11 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

From the roof of his palace, King Pratāparudra could see all the devotees arriving. Gopīnātha Ācārya stood on the roof with the King, and, following Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s instructions, identified each and every devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 11
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tāhāṅthere
  2. upavāsafasting
  3. yāhāṅwhere
  4. nāhithere is not
  5. mahā-prasādaremnants of food of the Lord
  6. prabhu-ājñādirect order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  7. prasādaremnants of food
  8. tyāgegiving up
  9. hayathere is
  10. aparādhaoffense
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this verse help me understand when fasting should give way to accepting prasādam?

Practice

Today, recall the distinction between fasting when mahā-prasādam is unavailable and accepting it at the Lord’s direct order.

Live this todayHonor the Lord’s Order to Accept PrasādamThis 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 11.114? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters