1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.

Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›

Madhya-līlā · Chapter 15: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

Madhya 15.48 Madhya 15.50

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 15.49

তাঁর প্রেমবশ আমি, তাঁর সেবা — ধর্ম ।

তাহা ছাড়ি’ করিয়াছি বাতুলের কর্ম ॥ ৪৯ ॥

tāṅra prema-vaśa āmi, tāṅra sevā — dharma

tāhā chāḍi’ kariyāchi vātulera karma

Translation

“I am subordinate to the love of My mother, and it is My duty to serve her in return. Instead of doing so, I have accepted the renounced order. Certainly this is the act of a madman.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Calls for Service in Return

1
He describes Himself as subordinate to His mother’s love.
2
He says it is His duty to serve her in return for that love.
3
Instead, He has accepted the renounced order. He calls this the act of a madman.

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

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

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

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in return, worshiped Advaita Ācārya with the flowers and tulasī that remained on the offered plate and said a mantra, yo ’si so ’si namo ’stu te (“Whatever You are, You are — but I offer My respects unto You”). Then Advaita Ācārya Prabhu invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for prasādam.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 15

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

tāṅra prema-vaśasubordinate to her love
āmiI
tāṅra sevāher service
dharmaMy religion
tāhā chāḍi’giving that up
kariyāchiI performed
vātulera karmathe acts of a madman

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: “serve”
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: “love”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can receiving love awaken a desire to serve in return?

Practice

Do one small act of service for your mother or someone who has cared for you.

Live this todayLove Calls for Service in ReturnThis 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 15.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters