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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

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 12.21

দেখিব সে মুখচন্দ্র নয়ন ভরিয়া ।

ধরিব সে পাদপদ্ম হৃদয়ে তুলিয়া ॥ ২১ ॥

dekhiba se mukha-candra nayana bhariyā

dhariba se pāda-padma hṛdaye tuliyā

Translation

Nityānanda Prabhu continued, “The King also expressed his desire to see the moonlike face of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his eyes’ full satisfaction. He would like to raise the lotus feet of the Lord to his heart.”

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.

Longing to See and Hold the Lord

  1. 1

    Nityānanda Prabhu described the King’s desire to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  2. 2

    The King wished to see the Lord’s moonlike face to his eyes’ full satisfaction.

  3. 3

    He also wished to raise the Lord’s lotus feet to his heart.

How it feels

Purification through joyful service. Collective cleansing becomes a visible devotional act before Ratha-yātrā.

The mood of Madhya 12 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 12: The Cleansing of the Guṇḍicā Temple

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

Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu and the other devotees informed the Lord about the King’s desire, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not agree to see him. At that time Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu devised a plan, and He sent a piece of the Lord’s outward garment to the King.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 12
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dekhibaI shall see
  2. sethat
  3. mukha-candramoonlike face
  4. nayana bhariyāto the fulfillment of the eyes
  5. dharibaI shall catch
  6. sethose
  7. pāda-padmalotus feet
  8. hṛdayeon my heart
  9. tuliyāraising
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

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 touches you about the King’s desire to hold the Lord’s lotus feet to his heart?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, pausing over the King’s wish to raise the Lord’s lotus feet to his heart.

Live this todayLonging to See and Hold the LordThis 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 12.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.