1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 19.160Madhya 19.162

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 19.161

প্রথমেই উপশাখার করয়ে ছেদন ।

তবে মূলশাখা বাড়ি’ যায় বৃন্দাবন ॥ ১৬১ ॥

prathamei upaśākhāra karaye chedana

tabe mūla-śākhā bāḍi’ yāya vṛndāvana

Translation

“As soon as an intelligent devotee sees an unwanted creeper growing beside the original creeper, he must cut it down instantly. Then the real creeper, the bhakti-latā, grows nicely, returns home, back to Godhead, and seeks shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remove Whatever Obstructs Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    An intelligent devotee cuts down an unwanted creeper as soon as he sees it growing beside the bhakti-latā.

  2. 2

    Being misled by unwanted creepers prevents progress back to Godhead. One becomes engaged in activities unrelated to pure devotional service.

  3. 3

    Even elevation to higher planetary systems leaves one subject to material miseries. The real creeper grows toward shelter under Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • If one is misled by unwanted creepers and is victimized, he cannot make progress back to Godhead.
  • Rather, he remains within the material world and engages in activities having nothing to do with pure devotional service.
  • Such a person may be elevated to the higher planetary systems, but because he remains within the material world, he is subjected to the threefold material miseries.

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:

The Nawab Hussain Shah first sent his personal physician to see what the real facts were; then he personally came to see why Sanātana was not attending to official business. Knowing that he wanted to resign his post, the Nawab had him arrested and imprisoned.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 19
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. prathameifrom the very beginning
  2. upaśākhāraof the unwanted creepers
  3. karayedoes
  4. chedanathe cutting away
  5. tabethen only
  6. mūla-śākhāthe chief creeper
  7. bāḍi’growing
  8. yāyagoes
  9. vṛndāvanato the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana
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: “shelter”, “lotus feet”

  • 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”

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

What activity unrelated to pure devotional service is obstructing my devotional growth?

Practice

Identify one activity that obstructs your devotional service and refrain from it today.

Live this todayRemove Whatever Obstructs Pure 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 19.161? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters