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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 18.99

ভট্টাচার্য তবে কহে প্রভুর চরণে ।

‘আজ্ঞা দেহ’, যাই’ করি কৃষ্ণ দরশনে !’ ৯৯ ॥

bhaṭṭācārya tabe kahe prabhura caraṇe

‘ājñā deha’, yāi’ kari kṛṣṇa daraśane!’

Translation

At that time Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya placed a request at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said, “Please give me permission to go see Lord Kṛṣṇa directly.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Kṛṣṇa Through the Spiritual Master's Guidance

  1. 1

    The visitors mistook a boatman's light for Kṛṣṇa and saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as an ordinary human being. Their imperfect knowledge led them astray.

  2. 2

    One must see Kṛṣṇa according to the verdict of Vedic literatures presented by the self-realized spiritual master.

  3. 3

    A sincere person can see Kṛṣṇa through Śrī Gurudeva's guidance. Even constant company with the spiritual master is not enough without enlightenment through his teachings.

Key points from the purport
  • The puzzled people who visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were actually seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa, but they were mistaken in thinking that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come to Kālīya Lake.
  • Because they were speculating with their imperfect knowledge, they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as an ordinary human being and a boatman’s light in the lake as Kṛṣṇa.
  • One must see things as they are through the mercy of a spiritual master; otherwise, if one tries to see Kṛṣṇa directly, he may mistake an ordinary man for Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa for an ordinary man.

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

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:

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath at Akrūra-ghāṭa, He submerged Himself in the water for a long time. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya decided to take Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Prayāga after visiting the holy place known as Soro-kṣetra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 18
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. bhaṭṭācāryaBalabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya
  2. tabeat that time
  3. kahesays
  4. prabhura caraṇeat the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  5. ājñā deha’please give permission
  6. yāi’going
  7. kari kṛṣṇa daraśaneI shall see Lord Kṛṣṇa directly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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

Am I seeking to understand through the spiritual master's teachings, or relying on my own speculation?

Practice

Write down one teaching from this purport about how to recognize Kṛṣṇa, and reflect on it today.

Live this todaySee Kṛṣṇa Through the Spiritual Master's GuidanceThis 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 18.99? Get an answer from the verses themselves.