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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

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.

Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›

Madhya-līlā · Chapter 18: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

Madhya 18.194 Madhya 18.196

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 18.195

মোক্ষাদি আনন্দ যার নহে এক ‘কণ’ ।

পূর্ণানন্দ-প্রাপ্তি তাঁর চরণ-সেবন ॥ ১৯৫ ॥

mokṣādi ānanda yāra nahe eka ‘kaṇa’

pūrṇānanda-prāpti tāṅra caraṇa-sevana

Translation

“The happiness of liberation, whereby one merges into the Lord’s existence, cannot even be compared to a fragment of the transcendental bliss obtained by service unto the Lord’s lotus feet.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Gives Bliss Beyond Liberation

1
The verse describes the happiness of liberation in which one merges into the Lord’s existence.
2
Service unto the Lord’s lotus feet brings transcendental bliss.
3
The happiness of merging cannot compare even to a fragment of the bliss of serving the Lord.

How it feels

Overwhelmed recognition. Seeing the places of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes evokes extraordinary remembrance and ecstasy.

The mood of Madhya 18 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Madhya 18: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

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

From the Koran, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu established devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Thus the leader of the soldiers, named Vijulī Khān, surrendered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he and his party became devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 18

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

mokṣa-ādiliberation and so on
ānandatranscendental bliss
yārawhose
nahenot
ekaeven
kaṇaa fragment
pūrṇa-ānanda-prāptiattainment of completely blissful life
tāṅra caraṇa-sevanaservice to His lotus feet

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: “service”, “serving”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this comparison help you appreciate service to the Lord?

Practice

Offer one short prayer today with the desire to serve the Lord rather than seek your own happiness.

Live this todayService Gives Bliss Beyond LiberationThis 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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