1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 2.90

আমি বৃদ্ধ জরাতুর,     লিখিতে কাঁপয়ে কর,

মনে কিছু স্মরণ না হয় ।

না দেখিয়ে নয়নে,     না শুনিয়ে শ্রবণে,

তবু লিখি’ — এ বড় বিস্ময় ॥ ৯০ ॥

āmi vṛddha jarātura, likhite kāṅpaye kara,

mane kichu smaraṇa nā haya

nā dekhiye nayane, nā śuniye śravaṇe,

tabu likhi’ — e baḍa vismaya

Translation

I have now become too old and disturbed by invalidity. While I write, my hands tremble. I cannot remember anything, nor can I see or hear properly. Still I write, and this is a great wonder.

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.

Continuing to Write Despite Physical Limitations

  1. 1

    The author describes himself as very old and disturbed by invalidity.

  2. 2

    His hands tremble as he writes, and his memory, sight and hearing are impaired.

  3. 3

    Still he continues writing, which he calls a great wonder.

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. āmiI
  2. vṛddhaold man
  3. jarā-āturadisturbed by invalidity
  4. likhiteto write
  5. kāṅpayetrembles
  6. karathe hand
  7. manein the mind
  8. kichuany
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the author’s continued effort teach me about serving within my limitations?

Practice

Spend a few manageable minutes on your devotional study today, without demanding more than your health allows.

Live this todayContinuing to Write Despite Physical LimitationsThis 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 2.90? Get an answer from the verses themselves.