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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 14: Performance of the Vṛndāvana Pastimes
Madhya 14.119Madhya 14.121

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 14.120

বাহির হইতে করে রথযাত্রা-ছল ।

সুন্দরাচলে যায় প্রভু ছাড়ি’ নীলাচল ॥ ১২০ ॥

bāhira ha-ite kare ratha-yātrā-chala

sundarācale yāya prabhu chāḍi’ nīlācala

Translation

“Externally He gives the excuse that He wants to participate in the Ratha-yātrā festival, but actually He wants to leave Jagannātha Purī to go to Sundarācala, the Guṇḍicā temple, a replica of Vṛndāvana.

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 Desire Behind the Festival Journey

  1. 1

    Externally, Lord Jagannātha gives the excuse that He wants to participate in the Ratha-yātrā festival.

  2. 2

    Actually, He wants to leave Jagannātha Purī to go to Sundarācala.

  3. 3

    Sundarācala is the Guṇḍicā temple, a replica of Vṛndāvana.

How it feels

Intimacy and ecstatic play. Mercy to Pratāparudra and discussion of the gopīs reveal deep relational sweetness.

The mood of Madhya 14 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 14: Performance of the Vṛndāvana Pastimes

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

Near the Guṇḍicā temple is a place known as Āiṭoṭā. This place was fixed up for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to rest in.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 14
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. bāhira ha-iteexternally
  2. karemakes
  3. ratha-yātrā-chalaan excuse to enjoy the car festival
  4. sundarācaleto Sundarācala, the Guṇḍicā temple
  5. yāyagoes
  6. prabhuLord Jagannātha
  7. chāḍi’leaving
  8. nīlācalaJagannātha Purī
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “festival”, “ratha-yātrā”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “vṛndāvana”

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 does the distinction between the outward excuse and the actual desire help you notice?

Practice

Write two short phrases: the outward reason for the journey and the actual destination He desires.

Live this todayThe Desire Behind the Festival JourneyThis 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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