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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

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 11.191 Madhya 11.193

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 11.192

অহো বত শ্বপচোঽতো গরীয়ান্

যজ্জিহ্বাগ্রে বর্ততে নাম তুভ্যম্ ।

তেপুস্তপস্তে জুহুবুঃ সস্নুরার্যা

ব্রহ্মানূচুর্নাম গৃণন্তি যে তে ॥ ১৯২ ॥

aho bata śva-paco ’to garīyān

yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam

tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā

brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse: “ ‘My dear Lord, one who always keeps Your holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Although he may be born in a family of dog-eaters and therefore by material calculation may be the lowest among men, he is still glorious. This is the wonderful effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is therefore concluded that one who chants the holy name of the Lord should be understood to have performed all kinds of austerities and great sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. He has already taken his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. He has studied all the Vedas, and he is actually an Āryan.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Holy Name Gives Spiritual Greatness

1
One who always keeps the Lord’s holy name on his tongue becomes greater than an initiated brāhmaṇa. Even a person considered lowest by material calculation becomes glorious through chanting.
2
One who chants should be understood to have performed austerities and great sacrifices, bathed in all holy places and studied all the Vedas.
3
Āryan means spiritually advanced; genuine qualifications are required to be a brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan. Devahūti praised the devotee’s greatness after understanding the influence of devotional service.

Key points from the purport

By following the Vedic culture, by performing great sacrifices and by becoming a strict follower of the Vedic instructions, one may become a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or an Āryan.
It is not possible to become a brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan without being properly qualified.
Bhāgavata-dharma never allows one to become a cheap brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan.

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 11.192 quotesSB 3.33.7

The qualities or qualifications described herein are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7) and were spoken by Devahūti, the mother of Kapiladeva, when she understood the influence of devotional service (bhakti-yoga).

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

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

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

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

After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had explained to the King why the devotees had apparently violated the scriptural injunctions for visiting a place of pilgrimage, the King arranged residential quarters for all the devotees and saw to their prasādam. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu talked very happily with Vāsudeva Datta and other devotees.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 11

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

aho batahow wonderful it is
śva-pacaḥdog-eaters
ataḥthan the initiated brāhmaṇa
garīyānmore glorious
yatof whom
jihvā-agreon the tongue
vartateremains
nāmaholy name

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”, “holy name”
Dainya & humility · Making room for grace
The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “lowest”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value the spiritual greatness of chanting more than material judgments about birth?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy name attentively.

Live this todayThe Holy Name Gives Spiritual GreatnessThis 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 11.192? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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