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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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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 2.44Madhya 2.46

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 2.45

ন প্রেমগন্ধোঽস্তি দরাপি মে হরৌ

ক্রন্দামি সৌভাগ্যভরং প্রকাশিতুম্ ।

বংশীবিলাস্যাননলোকনং বিনা

বিভর্মি যৎ প্রাণপতঙ্গকান্ বৃথা ॥ ৪৫ ॥

na prema-gandho ’sti darāpi me harau

krandāmi saubhāgya-bharaṁ prakāśitum

vaṁśī-vilāsy-ānana-lokanaṁ vinā

bibharmi yat prāṇa-pataṅgakān vṛthā

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “ ‘My dear friends, I have not the slightest tinge of love of Godhead within My heart. When you see Me crying in separation, I am just falsely exhibiting a demonstration of My great fortune. Indeed, not seeing the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa playing His flute, I continue to live My life like an insect, without purpose.’

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.

Tears Alone Do Not Prove Love

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tells His friends that He has not the slightest tinge of love of Godhead within His heart.

  2. 2

    He describes His crying in separation as a false exhibition of His great fortune.

  3. 3

    Although He does not see the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa playing His flute, He continues to live. He compares this life to that of an insect, without purpose.

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. nanever
  2. prema-gandhaḥa scent of love of Godhead
  3. astithere is
  4. darā apieven in a slight proportion
  5. meMy
  6. harauin the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. krandāmiI cry
  8. saubhāgya-bharamthe volume of My fortune
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Vipralambha · Love in separation

    Separation that intensifies remembrance and longing; especially central to the confidential pastimes at Purī. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “separation”, “crying”

  • 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: “love of godhead”

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

Do I ever take outward emotion as proof of love of Godhead?

Practice

Reflect quietly on one outward expression of your devotion and examine the intention behind it.

Live this todayTears Alone Do Not Prove LoveThis 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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