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Study a Verse

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 17.36

ধন্যাঃ স্ম মূঢ়মতয়োঽপি হরিণ্য এতা

যা নন্দনন্দনমুপাত্ত-বিচিত্রবেশম্‌ ।

আকর্ণ্য বেণুরণিতং সহকৃষ্ণসারাঃ

পূজাং দধুর্বিরচিতাং প্রণয়াবলোকৈঃ ॥ ৩৬ ॥

dhanyāḥ sma mūḍha-matayo ’pi hariṇya etā

yā nanda-nandanam upātta-vicitra-veśam

ākarṇya veṇu-raṇitaṁ saha-kṛṣṇa-sārāḥ

pūjāṁ dadhur viracitāṁ praṇayāvalokaiḥ

Translation

“ ‘Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Mahārāja Nanda’s son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Deer Worship With Love and Affection

  1. 1

    The gopīs of Vṛndāvana spoke this verse, which appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

  2. 2

    They call the deer blessed because they have approached Mahārāja Nanda’s son, who is gorgeously dressed and playing His flute.

  3. 3

    Both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.11) spoken by the gopīs of 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.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 17.36 quotesSB 10.21.11

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.11) spoken by the gopīs of Vṛndāvana.

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:

Early in the morning before sunrise, the Lord started for the town of Kaṭaka (Cuttack). North of Kaṭaka, He penetrated a dense forest and came upon many tigers and elephants, whom He engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 17
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dhanyāḥfortunate, blessed
  2. smacertainly
  3. mūḍha-matayaḥfoolish, without good sense
  4. apialthough
  5. hariṇyaḥshe-deer
  6. etāḥthese
  7. yāḥwho
  8. nanda-nandanamthe son of Mahārāja Nanda
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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: “nanda’s”, “vṛndāvana”, “gopīs”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “blessed”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the deer’s worship help you appreciate about love and affection for the Lord?

Practice

Read this verse today and pause to think affectionately of the Lord playing His flute.

Live this todayThe Deer Worship With Love and AffectionThis 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 17.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.