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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 14.230Madhya 14.232

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 14.231

রসাবেশে প্রভুর নৃত্য, স্বরূপের গান ।

‘বল’ ‘বল’ বলি’ প্রভু পাতে নিজ-কাণ ॥ ২৩১ ॥

rasāveśe prabhura nṛtya, svarūpera gāna

‘bala’ ‘bala’ bali’ prabhu pāte nija-kāṇa

Translation

While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing in ecstatic love and Svarūpa Dāmodara was singing, the Lord said, “Go on singing! Go on singing!” The Lord then extended His own ears.

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 Eagerly Hears Svarūpa Dāmodara

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing in ecstatic love while Svarūpa Dāmodara sang.

  2. 2

    The Lord urged him to continue: “Go on singing! Go on singing!”

  3. 3

    The Lord then extended His own ears to hear.

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:

For nine continuous days during Ratha-yātrā, the Lord remained at Sundarācala, and on the fifth day He and Svarūpa Dāmodara observed the pastimes of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune. During that time, there was much talk about the pastimes of the gopīs.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 14
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. rasa-āveśein ecstatic mellows
  2. prabhuraof Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  3. nṛtyathe dancing
  4. svarūpera gānaand singing by Svarūpa Dāmodara
  5. bala balago on speaking, go on speaking
  6. bali’saying
  7. prabhuŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  8. pāteextends
  9. nija-kāṇaown ear
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “ecstatic love”

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 the Lord’s request convey His eagerness to hear?

Practice

Read the Lord’s repeated request aloud, then pause to reflect on His eagerness.

Live this todayThe Lord Eagerly Hears Svarūpa DāmodaraThis 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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