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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 2: The Ecstatic Manifestations of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Madhya 2.24Madhya 2.26

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 2.25

শত বৎসর পর্যন্ত,     জীবের জীবন অন্ত,

এই বাক্য কহ না বিচারি’ ।

নারীর যৌবন-ধন,     যারে কৃষ্ণ করে মন,

সে যৌবন — দিন দুই-চারি ॥ ২৫ ॥

śata vatsara paryanta, jīvera jīvana anta,

ei vākya kaha nā vicāri’

nārīra yauvana-dhana, yāre kṛṣṇa kare mana,

se yauvana-dina dui-cāri

Translation

“ ‘A human being does not live more than a hundred years. You should also consider that the youthfulness of a woman, which is the only attraction for Kṛṣṇa, remains for only a few days.

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.

Life and Youth Pass Quickly

  1. 1

    The speaker reminds us that a human being does not live more than a hundred years.

  2. 2

    A woman’s youthfulness remains for only a few days.

  3. 3

    The speaker describes that brief youthfulness as her only attraction for Kṛṣṇa, making the passing of time especially painful.

How it feels

Overwhelming divine separation. A preview of the last years reveals the Lord’s intense separation from Kṛṣṇa.

The mood of Madhya 2 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 2: The Ecstatic Manifestations of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

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

The author expects that reading the pastimes of the Lord will gradually help a person awaken his dormant love of Kṛṣṇa. Actually this Caitanya-caritāmṛta was compiled by the author during very old age.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 2
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śata vatsara paryantaup to one hundred years
  2. jīveraof the living entity
  3. jīvanaof the life
  4. antathe end
  5. ei vākyathis word
  6. kahayou speak
  7. nāwithout
  8. vicāri’making consideration
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the brevity of life affect what you value today?

Practice

Pause for one minute today to reflect on how quickly life and youth pass.

Live this todayLife and Youth Pass QuicklyThis 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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