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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 16.72
“কৃষ্ণনাম নিরন্তর যাঁহার বদনে ।
সেই বৈষ্ণব-শ্রেষ্ঠ, ভজ তাঁহার চরণে ॥” ৭২ ॥
“kṛṣṇa-nāma nirantara yāṅhāra vadane
sei vaiṣṇava-śreṣṭha, bhaja tāṅhāra caraṇe
“A person who is always chanting the holy name of the Lord is to be considered a first-class Vaiṣṇava, and your duty is to serve his lotus feet.”
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The Lord says that one who always chants His holy name is to be considered a first-class Vaiṣṇava, whose lotus feet should be served. The purport describes this devotee as having attained the second platform of Vaiṣṇavism.
A neophyte simply tries to chant, while an advanced devotee is accustomed to chanting and takes pleasure in it.
This advanced devotee is called a madhyama-bhāgavata, situated between the neophyte and the perfect devotee. Generally such a devotee becomes a preacher and should be worshiped by beginners as an intermediary.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
Yearning and deferral. Attempts, delays, meetings, and farewells heighten the desire to reach Vraja.
The mood of Madhya 16 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:
Questioned by the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, Caitanya Mahāprabhu again repeated the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava. Vidyānidhi also came to Jagannātha Purī and saw the festival of Oḍana-ṣaṣṭhī.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 16
Learn the words of the verse.
The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.
Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together
Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”, “chants”
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”, “served”
Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter
Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “lotus feet”
Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How does the distinction between trying to chant and taking pleasure in chanting help you reflect on your practice?
Offer one small service today to a devotee who regularly chants the Lord’s holy name.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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