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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 2.82Madhya 2.84

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 2.83

কহিবার কথা নহে,     কহিলে কেহ না বুঝয়ে,

ঐছে চিত্র চৈতন্যের রঙ্গ ।

সেই সে বুঝিতে পারে,     চৈতন্যের কৃপা যাঁরে,

হয় তাঁর দাসানুদাস-সঙ্গ ॥ ৮৩ ॥

kahibāra kathā nahe, kahile keha nā bujhaye,

aiche citra caitanyera raṅga

sei se bujhite pāre, caitanyera kṛpā yāṅre,

haya tāṅra dāsānudāsa-saṅga

Translation

Such topics are not to be discussed freely because if they are, no one will understand them. Such are the wonderful pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Unto one who is able to understand, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has shown mercy by giving him the association of the servant of His own servant.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Confidential Topics Require Fitness and Mercy

  1. 1

    An ordinary person cannot understand the transcendental ecstasies in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. These confidential topics are not meant for unrestricted discussion.

  2. 2

    Attempts by unfit persons to understand these ecstasies can distort the teachings. Even academic learning does not enable one to understand the bliss of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His pure devotees.

  3. 3

    One must be fit to understand His activities. His mercy gives one the association of the servant of His own servant.

Key points from the purport
  • An ordinary person cannot understand the transcendental ecstasies in the mode of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
  • Even learned scholars in the academic field cannot understand the transcendental bliss and ecstasy exhibited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His pure devotees.
  • One must be fit to understand the purport of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities.

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

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:

At that time the author, Śrīla Kavirāja Gosvāmī, met Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, by whose mercy he also could memorize all the notes. In this way the author was able to complete this transcendental literature, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 2
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kahibāra kathā nahenot a subject matter to describe freely
  2. kahileif spoken
  3. kehasomeone
  4. nā bujhayenot understands
  5. aichein that way
  6. citrawonderful
  7. caitanyeraof Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  8. raṅgapastimes
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “association”, “discussed”, “discussion”

  • Audārya · Love that moves outward

    The freely offered gift of bhakti and prema, especially through nāma-saṅkīrtana and Mahāprabhu’s compassionate dealings. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “freely”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Am I approaching confidential teachings with humility rather than assuming I already understand?

Practice

Write down one question about this teaching to ask a devotee, rather than drawing a quick conclusion on your own.

Live this todayConfidential Topics Require Fitness and MercyThis 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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