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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 17: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana
Madhya 17.141Madhya 17.143

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 17.142

তস্যারবিন্দনয়নস্য পদারবিন্দ-

কিঞ্জল্কমিশ্রতুলসীমকরন্দবায়ুঃ ।

অন্তর্গতঃ স্ববিবরেণ চকার তেষাং

সংক্ষোভমক্ষরজুষামপি চিত্ততন্বোঃ ॥ ১৪২ ॥

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-

kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ

antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ

saṅkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

Translation

“ ‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Kumāras Become Devotees

  1. 1

    The Kumāras were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding. Seeing the Lord and smelling tulasī and saffron from His lotus feet changed both their bodies and minds.

  2. 2

    They became devotees and abandoned their long-cherished impersonalism. Thus the four Kumāras became Vaiṣṇavas.

  3. 3

    Those actually on the platform of Brahman realization who have not offended Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet can immediately become Vaiṣṇavas. Offenders, however, remain unattracted to the Lord’s personal feature even after repeated temple visits.

Key points from the purport
  • Simply by seeing the Lord and smelling the aroma of tulasī and saffron from His lotus feet, the Kumāras became devotees and abandoned their long-cherished impersonalism.
  • Thus the four Kumāras were turned into Vaiṣṇavas simply by smelling the aromatic tulasī mixed with saffron.
  • Those who are actually on the platform of Brahman realization and who have not offended the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa can immediately become Vaiṣṇavas simply by smelling the aroma of the Lord’s lotus feet.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of CC Madhya 17.142 quotesSB 3.15.43

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.45

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Wonder and contagious joy. Even forest animals chant; nature seems drawn into the saṅkīrtana movement.

The mood of Madhya 17 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 17: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

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

Seeing the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, a Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa informed Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, the leader of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs. Prakāśānanda made various accusations against the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 17
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof Him
  2. aravinda-nayanasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus
  3. pada-aravindaof the lotus feet
  4. kiñjalkawith saffron
  5. miśramixed
  6. tulasīof tulasī leaves
  7. makarandawith the aroma
  8. vāyuḥthe air
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can the Kumāras’ response encourage me to approach the Lord’s personal form with respect?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to the Lord today, remembering the Kumāras’ obeisances.

Live this todayThe Kumāras Become DevoteesThis 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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