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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 18: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana
Madhya 18.33Madhya 18.35

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 18.34

হন্তায়মদ্রিরবলা হরিদাসবর্যো

যদ্রামকৃষ্ণচরণস্পরশপ্রমোদঃ ।

মানং তনোতি সহ-গোগণয়োস্তয়োর্যৎ

পানীয়-সুযবস-কন্দর-কন্দমূলৈঃ ॥ ৩৪ ॥

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo

yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ

mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat

pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kanda-mūlaiḥ

Translation

“ ‘Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Govardhana Serves With All Kinds of Necessities

  1. 1

    The gopīs praised Govardhana Hill as the best of all devotees. They spoke among themselves when Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered the forest in autumn.

  2. 2

    Govardhana supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Their calves, cows and cowherd friends with water, soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. By providing these necessities, the hill offers respect to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant. The gopīs glorified Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for Their pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • It was spoken by the gopīs when Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered the forest in the autumn.
  • The gopīs spoke among themselves and glorified Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for Their pastimes.

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 18.34 quotesSB 10.21.18

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.18).

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

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

Further reading

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

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

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had no desire to climb Govardhana Hill because the hill is worshiped as Kṛṣṇa. The Gopāla Deity could understand the mind of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; therefore on the plea of being attacked by Muslims, Gopāla transferred Himself to the village of Gāṅṭhuli-grāma.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 18
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. hantaoh
  2. ayamthis
  3. adriḥhill
  4. abalāḥO friends
  5. hari-dāsa-varyaḥthe best among the servants of the Lord
  6. yatbecause
  7. rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇaof the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
  8. sparaśaby the touch
3

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: “govardhana”, “cowherd”, “gopīs”

  • 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 does Govardhana’s provision of necessities help you understand offering respect through service?

Practice

List three things Govardhana provides, and reflect on how each serves Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Live this todayGovardhana Serves With All Kinds of NecessitiesThis 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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