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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 17.44

ময়ূরাদি পক্ষিগণ প্রভুরে দেখিয়া ।

সঙ্গে চলে, ‘কৃষ্ণ’ বলি’ নাচে মত্ত হঞা ॥ ৪৪ ॥

mayūrādi pakṣi-gaṇa prabhure dekhiyā

saṅge cale, ‘kṛṣṇa’ bali’ nāce matta hañā

Translation

Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Birds Follow, Chanting and Dancing

  1. 1

    Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  2. 2

    They began to follow Him, chanting and dancing.

  3. 3

    They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

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:

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. Whenever the Lord had a chance to visit a village, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya would beg alms and acquire some rice and vegetables.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 17
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mayūra-ādibeginning with peacocks
  2. pakṣi-gaṇadifferent types of birds
  3. prabhureŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  4. dekhiyāseeing
  5. saṅge calego with Him
  6. kṛṣṇa bali’chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa
  7. nācedance
  8. matta hañābecoming mad
3

Key ideas in this 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”

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 the birds’ response invite you to reflect on the holy name of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa today while remembering the birds’ joyful response.

Live this todayBirds Follow, Chanting and DancingThis 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 17.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.