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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 19.178Madhya 19.180

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 19.179

যৈছে বীজ, ইক্ষু, রস, গুড়, খণ্ড-সার ।

শর্করা, সিতা, মিছরি, উত্তম-মিছরি আর ॥ ১৭৯ ॥

yaiche bīja, ikṣu, rasa, guḍa, khaṇḍa-sāra

śarkarā, sitā, michari, uttama-michari āra

Translation

“The gradual development of prema may be compared to different states of sugar. First there is the seed of the sugarcane, then sugarcane and then the juice extracted from the cane. When this juice is boiled, it forms liquid molasses, then solid molasses, then sugar, candy, rock candy and finally lozenges.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prema Develops Like Stages of Sugar

  1. 1

    The gradual development of prema is compared to the different states of sugar.

  2. 2

    The sequence begins with the sugarcane seed, then sugarcane and the juice extracted from it.

  3. 3

    Boiling the juice produces liquid molasses, followed by solid molasses, sugar, candy, rock candy and finally lozenges.

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:

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī finally reached Prayāga and met with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for ten successive days. During this time, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa extended an invitation to the Lord with great respect.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 19
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yaichejust like
  2. bījathe seed
  3. ikṣuthe sugarcane plant
  4. rasathe juice
  5. guḍamolasses
  6. khaṇḍa-sāradry molasses
  7. śarkarāsugar
  8. sitācandy
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “prema”

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 the sugar comparison help me picture the gradual development of prema?

Practice

Draw a simple sequence from sugarcane seed to lozenges, and label it as a comparison for the development of prema.

Live this todayPrema Develops Like Stages of SugarThis 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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