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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 11.31Madhya 11.33

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 11.32

দুরাপা হ্যল্পতপসঃ সেবা বৈকুণ্ঠবর্ত্মসু ।

যত্রোপগীয়তে নিত্যং দেবদেবো জনার্দনঃ ॥ ৩২ ॥

durāpā hy alpa-tapasaḥ

sevā vaikuṇṭha-vartmasu

yatropagīyate nityaṁ

deva-devo janārdanaḥ

Translation

“ ‘Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭhas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.’”

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Treasure the Service of Pure Devotees

  1. 1

    Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of pure devotees. Such service is a rare opportunity.

  2. 2

    These pure devotees are progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭhas.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord. He is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • It was spoken by Vidura in his conversation with Maitreya Ṛṣi, a great devotee of the Lord.

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 11.32 quotesSB 3.7.20

This verse is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.7.20).

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. durāpāvery difficult to achieve
  2. hicertainly
  3. alpa-tapasaḥby a person not advanced in spiritual life
  4. sevāservice
  5. vaikuṇṭha-vartmasuunto persons on the path back home, back to Godhead
  6. yatrawherein
  7. upagīyateis worshiped and glorified
  8. nityamregularly
  9. deva-devaḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  10. janārdanaḥLord Kṛṣṇa
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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: “service”

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

Do I value opportunities to serve those fully devoted to glorifying the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Set aside a few undistracted minutes today to glorify the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayTreasure the Service of Pure DevoteesThis 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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