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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 15.17

কৃষ্ণজন্মযাত্রা-দিনে নন্দ-মহোত্সব ।

গোপবেশ হৈলা প্রভু লঞা ভক্ত সব ॥ ১৭ ॥

kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrā-dine nanda-mahotsava

gopa-veśa hailā prabhu lañā bhakta saba

Translation

The devotees celebrated the festival of Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

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.

Celebrating Kṛṣṇa’s Birthday Together

  1. 1

    The devotees celebrated Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday.

  2. 2

    The celebration is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

How it feels

Festive affection and reconciliation. Festivals, reciprocal hospitality, and the deliverance of Amogha show affectionate grace.

The mood of Madhya 15 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

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

When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees performed the Nandotsava ceremony, the Lord dressed Himself as a cowherd boy. Thus the ceremony was very jubilant.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 15
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrāobservance of the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
  2. dineon the day of
  3. nanda-mahotsavathe festival observed by Nanda Mahārāja, the father of Kṛṣṇa
  4. gopa-veśa hailādressed Himself as a cowherd boy
  5. prabhuŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  6. lañātaking
  7. bhakta sabaall the devotees
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “cowherd”, “nanda-mahotsava”

  • 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”

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 stands out to you about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu joining His devotees in this celebration?

Practice

Read the translation today and recall the two names given for the celebration.

Live this todayCelebrating Kṛṣṇa’s Birthday TogetherThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 15.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.