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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 14.51
মত্ত-হস্তিগণ টানে যার যত বল ।
এক পদ না চলে রথ, হইল অচল ॥ ৫১ ॥
matta-hasti-gaṇa ṭāne yāra yata bala
eka pada nā cale ratha, ha-ila acala
The strong elephants pulled with all their strength, but still the car remained at a standstill, not budging an inch.
Read this verse on Vedabase.ioThis verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.
Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The strong elephants pulled with all their strength.
Even with this effort, the car remained at a standstill.
The car did not budge an inch.
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
From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:
After this, when Lord Jagannātha’s ratha car stopped moving, King Pratāparudra called for many elephants to pull it, but they were unsuccessful. Seeing this, Lord Caitanya began to push the car from behind with His head, and the car began moving.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 14
Learn the words of the verse.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does the elephants’ effort help you notice about the limits of physical strength?
Take a moment today to reflect on the difference between giving your full effort and being able to control the result.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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