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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 17.155Madhya 17.157

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 17.156

মথুরা আসিয়া কৈলা ‘বিশ্রান্তি-তীর্থে’ স্নান ।

‘জন্মস্থানে’ ‘কেশব’ দেখি’ করিলা প্রণাম ॥ ১৫৬ ॥

mathurā āsiyā kailā ‘viśrānti-tīrthe’ snāna

‘janma-sthāne’ ‘keśava’ dekhi’ karilā praṇāma

Translation

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the city of Mathurā, He took His bath at Viśrāma-ghāṭa. He then visited the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa and saw the Deity named Keśavajī. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honoring Kṛṣṇa’s Birthplace and Deity

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed at Viśrāma-ghāṭa, visited Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace and offered respectful obeisances to the Deity Keśavajī.

  2. 2

    The purport describes how Keśavajī-mandira was attacked and later improved with the help of many rich Marwaris.

  3. 3

    Archeological discoveries and the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement were bringing foreign visitors to appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace. The purport also anticipates their attraction to the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndāvana.

Key points from the purport
  • At the present moment, the temple of Keśavajī is very much improved.
  • At one time, Keśavajī-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Keśavajī was insignificant in comparison.
  • This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is attracting many foreigners to the Keśavajī temple, and now they will also be attracted by the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndāvana.

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

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:

After taking His bath at the Maṇikarṇikā-ghāṭa at Vārāṇasī, He met Tapana Miśra, who took the Lord to his place and respectfully gave Him a comfortable residence. At Vārāṇasī, Vaidya Candraśekhara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s old friend, also rendered service unto Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 17
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mathurā āsiyācoming in to Mathurā
  2. kailāperformed
  3. viśrānti-tīrtheat the bathing place known as Viśrāma-ghāṭa
  4. snānabathing
  5. janma-sthāneat the place of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birth
  6. keśavathe Deity named Keśava
  7. dekhi’seeing
  8. karilā praṇāmaoffered His respectful obeisances
3

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: “offered”

  • 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: “vṛndāvana”

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 does Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s visit show respect for Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace and Deity?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Keśavajī today.

Live this todayHonoring Kṛṣṇa’s Birthplace and DeityThis 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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