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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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Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

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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 11: The Beḍā-kīrtana Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Madhya 11.29-30Madhya 11.32

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 11.31

আরাধনানাং সর্বেষাং বিষ্ণোরারাধনং পরম্ ।

তস্মাৎ পরতরং দেবি তদীয়ানাং সমর্চনম্ ॥ ৩১ ॥

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ

viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param

tasmāt parataraṁ devi

tadīyānāṁ samarcanam

Translation

“[Lord Śiva told the goddess Durgā:] ‘My dear Devī, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is the rendering of service to Vaiṣṇavas, who are related to Lord Viṣṇu.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service to Vaiṣṇavas Surpasses Direct Worship

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva tells goddess Durgā that worship of Lord Viṣṇu is topmost among the worship recommended in the Vedas. The supreme form of worship is satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The worshiper of Lord Viṣṇu renders better service by worshiping Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotee. Vaiṣṇavas are honored because of their relationship with the Lord.

  3. 3

    All devotional rasas are transcendental, but mādhurya-rasa is the supreme transcendental mellow. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers mainly worship Kṛṣṇa in mādhurya-rasa, and worship of devotees serving in this rasa is described as the supreme spiritual activity.

Key points from the purport
  • There are recommendations in the Vedas for the worship of various demigods as well as Lord Viṣṇu.
  • The words viṣṇor ārādhanam refer to the worship of Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa.
  • Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers mainly worship Lord Kṛṣṇa in mādhurya-rasa.

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. ārādhanānāmof varieties of worship
  2. sarveṣāmall
  3. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
  4. ārādhanamworship
  5. paramthe most exalted
  6. tasmātand above such worship of Lord Viṣṇu
  7. parataramof greater value
  8. deviO goddess
  9. tadīyānāmof persons in relationship with Lord Viṣṇu
  10. samarcanamrigid and firm worship
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mellow”, “rasas”, “relationship”

  • 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”, “serving”

  • Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts

    Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “followers”

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

Does my worship include care and respect for the Lord’s devotees?

Practice

Perform one considerate act of service for a Vaiṣṇava today.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayService to Vaiṣṇavas Surpasses Direct WorshipThis 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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