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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
  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 19.158Madhya 19.160

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 19.159

‘নিষিদ্ধাচার’, ‘কুটীনাটী’, ‘জীবহিংসন’ ।

‘লাভ’, ‘পূজা’, ‘প্রতিষ্ঠাদি’ যত উপশাখাগণ ॥ ১৫৯ ॥

‘niṣiddhācāra’, ‘kuṭīnāṭī’, ‘jīva-hiṁsana’

‘lābha’, ‘pūjā’, ‘pratiṣṭhādi’ yata upaśākhā-gaṇa

Translation

“Some unnecessary creepers growing with the bhakti creeper are the creepers of behavior unacceptable for those trying to attain perfection, diplomatic behavior, animal-killing, mundane profiteering, mundane adoration and mundane importance. All these are unwanted creepers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Straightforward Conduct Supports Spiritual Advancement

  1. 1

    Those seeking perfection are advised not to eat meat, gamble, engage in illicit sex or indulge in intoxication. These regulative principles are for those interested in becoming perfect and going back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    Diplomatic or duplicitous dealings obstruct spiritual advancement. Our dealings should be straightforward and approved by Vedic authorities.

  3. 3

    Animal-killing, envy of living entities, mundane profiteering, adoration and importance are unwanted creepers. Human life is meant for understanding Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not merely increasing sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • There is a certain pattern of behavior prescribed for those actually trying to become perfect.
  • The so-called leaders of human society do not know the real aim of human life and are therefore busy with economic development.
  • Why should human society be so busy trying to solve these problems?

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

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:

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. The Lord then sent Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī to Vṛndāvana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 19
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. niṣiddha-ācārabehavior not to be exhibited by a person desiring to become perfect
  2. kuṭīnāṭīdiplomacy
  3. jīva-hiṁsanaunnecessarily killing animals or the soul
  4. lābhaprofit according to material calculations
  5. pūjāadoration achieved by satisfying mundane people
  6. pratiṣṭha-ādibecoming an important man in material calculations, and so on
  7. yataall these
  8. upaśākhā-gaṇaunnecessary creepers
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could I make my conduct more straightforward and less driven by profit, praise or importance?

Practice

In one conversation today, speak straightforwardly rather than trying to manipulate someone’s impression of you.

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayStraightforward Conduct Supports Spiritual AdvancementThis 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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