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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 19.211Madhya 19.213

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 19.212

শমো মন্নিষ্ঠতা বুদ্ধেরিতি শ্রীভগবদ্বচঃ ।

তনিষ্ঠা দুর্ঘটা বুদ্ধেরেতাং শান্তরতিং বিনা ॥ ২১২ ॥

śamo man-niṣṭhatā buddher

iti śrī-bhagavad-vacaḥ

tan-niṣṭhā durghaṭā buddher

etāṁ śānta-ratiṁ vinā

Translation

“ ‘These are the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “When one’s intelligence is fully attached to My lotus feet but one does not render practical service, one has attained the stage called śānta-rati, or śama.” Without śānta-rati, attachment to Kṛṣṇa is very difficult to achieve.’

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.

Śānta-rati Establishes Attachment to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead describes a stage in which one’s intelligence is fully attached to His lotus feet.

  2. 2

    At this stage, one does not render practical service. It is called śānta-rati, or śama.

  3. 3

    Without śānta-rati, attachment to Kṛṣṇa is very difficult to achieve.

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:

After this, a brāhmaṇa scholar named Raghupati Upādhyāya arrived and discussed Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the Lord. Kavirāja Gosvāmī then extensively describes the living condition of Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana at Vṛndāvana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 19
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śamaḥequality or neutrality
  2. mat-niṣṭhatābeing fixed in My lotus feet
  3. buddheḥof the intelligence
  4. itithus
  5. śrī-bhagavat-vacaḥwords of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. tat-niṣṭhāattachment or attraction for Him
  7. durghaṭāvery difficult to achieve
  8. buddheḥof intelligence
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”

  • 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 distinction does this verse make between attached intelligence and practical service?

Practice

Read the definition of śānta-rati aloud once, then spend a quiet minute focusing your intelligence on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Live this todayŚānta-rati Establishes Attachment to KṛṣṇaThis 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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