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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 12: The Cleansing of the Guṇḍicā Temple
Madhya 12.25Madhya 12.27

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 12.26

দামোদর কহে, — তুমি স্বতন্ত্র ঈশ্বর ।

কর্তব্যাকর্তব্য সব তোমার গোচর ॥ ২৬ ॥

dāmodara kahe, — tumi svatantra īśvara

kartavyākartavya saba tomāra gocara

Translation

Dāmodara immediately replied, “My Lord, You are the fully independent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since everything is known to You, You know what is permissible and what is not permissible.

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.

The Lord Knows What Is Permissible

  1. 1

    Dāmodara acknowledges the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord is fully independent; His decisions do not depend on another’s permission.

  3. 3

    Everything is known to Him. He knows what is permissible and what is not.

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. dāmodara kahePaṇḍita Dāmodara said
  2. tumiYou
  3. svatantrafully independent
  4. īśvarathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. kartavyaduty which is permissible
  6. akartavyaduty which is not permissible
  7. sabaall
  8. tomāraof You
  9. gocarawithin knowledge
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: “depend”

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

How does remembering the Lord’s complete knowledge affect my attitude toward Him?

Practice

Read Dāmodara’s reply slowly once, pausing to reflect on the Lord’s independence and knowledge.

Live this todayThe Lord Knows What Is PermissibleThis 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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