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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 19: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī
Madhya 19.150Madhya 19.152

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 19.151

ব্রহ্মাণ্ড ভ্রমিতে কোন ভাগ্যবান্ জীব ।

গুরু-কৃষ্ণ-প্রসাদে পায় ভক্তিলতা-বীজ ॥ ১৫১ ॥

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

Translation

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mercy Gives the Seed of Devotion

  1. 1

    Living entities wander throughout the universe according to their karma, rising to higher planetary systems or descending to lower ones.

  2. 2

    Innumerable living entities suffer and enjoy the results of fruitive activity, life after life. This is the condition of materially bound living entities under māyā.

  3. 3

    By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, a fortunate person meets a bona fide spiritual master. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, that person receives the seed of devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • When we speak of brahmāṇḍa, we refer to the whole universe, or to the cluster of many millions of universes.
  • In all the universes there are innumerable planets, and there are innumerable living entities upon those planets — in the air, on land and in the water.
  • Out of many of these living entities, one who is actually fortunate (bhāgyavān) comes in contact with a bona fide spiritual master by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.25.6

In Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.151), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu very clearly explains, brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva. All living entities are wandering in different types of bodies throughout different planets, and if, in the course of their wanderings, they come in contact with a devotee by the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their lives become successful.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.25.11

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva. If, while traveling, a living entity becomes fortunate enough to become blessed by the association of devotees and to come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his real life actually begins.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.5.6

This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.151) in the instructions given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī at Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.14.41

guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. Even if one wanders for many millions of years, from the time of creation until the time of annihilation, one cannot get free from the path of material existence unless one receives shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.1.2

As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.151): “According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe.

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

Empowerment and hope. The seed of bhakti is received, planted, and watered; intimate realization becomes transmissible.

The mood of Madhya 19 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 19: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī

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

Kavirāja Gosvāmī then extensively describes the living condition of Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana at Vṛndāvana. During the ten days at Prayāga, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was instructed by the Lord, who gave him the basic principles of the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 19
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. brahmāṇḍa bhramitewandering in this universe
  2. konasome
  3. bhāgyavānmost fortunate
  4. jīvaliving being
  5. guruof the spiritual master
  6. kṛṣṇaof Kṛṣṇa
  7. prasādeby the mercy
  8. pāyagets
  9. bhakti-latāof the creeper of devotional service
  10. bījathe seed
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Why this verse matters

    The seed of the bhakti creeper received by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa.

  • 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: “mercy”, “grace”

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “associate”

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 seeing spiritual opportunity as mercy affect your appreciation for it?

Practice

Reread the final two sentences of the translation and pause to appreciate the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master.

Live this todayMercy Gives the Seed of DevotionThis 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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