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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 2: The Ecstatic Manifestations of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Madhya 2.30Madhya 2.32

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 2.31

কৃষ্ণের মধুর বাণী,     অমৃতের তরঙ্গিণী,

তার প্রবেশ নাহি যে শ্রবণে ।

কাণাকড়ি-ছিদ্র সম,     জানিহ সে শ্রবণ,

তার জন্ম হৈল অকারণে ॥ ৩১ ॥

kṛṣṇera madhura vāṇī, amṛtera taraṅgiṇī,

tāra praveśa nāhi ye śravaṇe

kāṇākaḍi-chidra sama, jāniha se śravaṇa,

tāra janma haila akāraṇe

Translation

“Topics about Kṛṣṇa are like waves of nectar. If such nectar does not enter one’s ear, the ear is no better than the hole of a damaged conchshell. Such an ear is created for no purpose.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear the Nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s Topics

  1. 1

    Topics about Kṛṣṇa are compared to waves of nectar.

  2. 2

    An ear that does not receive this nectar is compared to the hole of a damaged conchshell.

  3. 3

    The verse presents hearing about Kṛṣṇa as the ear’s purpose. The purport introduces supporting verses quoted by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

Key points from the purport
  • In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.17-24):

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 2.31 quotesSB 2.3.17

In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.17-24):

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. kṛṣṇeraof Lord Kṛṣṇa
  2. madhurasweet
  3. vāṇīwords
  4. amṛteraof nectar
  5. taraṅgiṇīwaves
  6. tāraof those
  7. praveśaentrance
  8. nāhithere is not
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What place does hearing about Kṛṣṇa have in your day?

Practice

Read this verse aloud and listen attentively to its description of topics about Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayHear the Nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s TopicsThis 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 2.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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