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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 11.28

যে মে ভক্তজনাঃ পার্থ ন মে ভক্তাশ্চ তে জনাঃ ।

মদ্ভক্তানাঞ্চ যে ভক্তাস্তে মে ভক্ততমা মতাঃ ॥ ২৮ ॥

ye me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha

na me bhaktāś ca te janāḥ

mad-bhaktānāṁ ca ye bhaktās

te me bhakta-tamā matāḥ

Translation

“[Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:] ‘Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be a Devotee of His Servant

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quotes Lord Kṛṣṇa’s words to Arjuna from the Ādi Purāṇa.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa says that those who are His direct devotees are actually not His devotees.

  3. 3

    He identifies those devoted to His servant as factually His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quotes this verse from the Ādi Purāṇa.
  • The verse is also included in the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (2.6).

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

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:

At this time Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya returned from his governmental post, and he praised King Pratāparudra highly in Lord Caitanya’s presence. Because of this, the Lord became a little soft.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 11
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yethose who
  2. meMy
  3. bhakta-janāḥdevotees
  4. pārthaO Pārtha
  5. nanot
  6. meMy
  7. bhaktāḥdevotees
  8. caand
3

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: “servant”

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 place does service to Kṛṣṇa’s servants have in my devotion?

Practice

Ask a devotee whether there is a small service you can do for them today.

Live this todayBe a Devotee of His ServantThis 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 11.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.