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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 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā
Madhya 13.15Madhya 13.17

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 13.16

চন্দন-জলেতে করে পথ নিষেচনে ।

তুচ্ছ সেবা করে বসি’ রাজ-সিংহাসনে ॥ ১৬ ॥

candana-jalete kare patha niṣecane

tuccha sevā kare vasi’ rāja-siṁhāsane

Translation

The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

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.

Royal Position Does Not Prevent Menial Service

  1. 1

    The King sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water.

  2. 2

    Although he was the owner of the royal throne, he engaged in menial service.

  3. 3

    He performed this service for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

How it feels

Public ecstasy with inward longing. The festival’s collective joy carries the profound Vraja mood of meeting and separation.

The mood of Madhya 13 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā

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

At that time, King Pratāparudra took a broom with a golden handle and began to cleanse the road. Lord Jagannātha took permission from the goddess of fortune and then started in the car for the Guṇḍicā temple.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 13
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. candana-jaletewith sandalwood water
  2. karedoes
  3. patharoad
  4. niṣecanesprinkling
  5. tucchainsignificant, menial
  6. sevāservice
  7. kareperforms
  8. vasi’although in possession of
  9. rāja-siṁhāsanethe royal throne
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: “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

Is there a simple service you hesitate to do because of your position?

Practice

Choose one small cleaning task today and do it for the sake of Lord Jagannātha.

Live this todayRoyal Position Does Not Prevent Menial ServiceThis 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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