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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 20: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth
Madhya 19.257Madhya 20.2

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.1

বন্দেঽনন্তাদ্ভুতৈশ্বর্যং শ্রীচৈতন্যমহাপ্রভুম্‌ ।

নীচোঽপি যৎপ্রসাদাৎ স্যাদ্‌ভক্তিশাস্ত্রপ্রবর্তকঃ ॥ ১ ॥

vande ’nantādbhutaiśvaryaṁ

śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhum

nīco ’pi yat-prasādāt syād

bhakti-śāstra-pravartakaḥ

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who has unlimited, wonderful opulences. By His mercy, even a person born as the lowest of men can spread the science of devotional service.

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.

Mercy Enables One to Spread Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Respectful obeisances are offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  2. 2

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has unlimited, wonderful opulences.

  3. 3

    By His mercy, even a person born as the lowest of men can spread the science of devotional service.

How it feels

Humility and restored identity. A seeker relinquishes status, asks fundamental questions, and receives sambandha knowledge.

The mood of Madhya 20 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 20: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth

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

When Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī was imprisoned by Nawab Hussain Shah, he received news from Rūpa Gosvāmī that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had gone to Mathurā. Sanātana Gosvāmī thereafter satisfied the superintendent of the jail by sweet solicitations and bribery.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vandeI offer my respectful obeisances
  2. anantaunlimited
  3. adbhutawonderful
  4. aiśvaryampossessing opulences
  5. śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhumunto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  6. nīcaḥ apieven a person in the lowest status of life
  7. yat-prasādātby whose mercy
  8. syātmay become
  9. bhakti-śāstraof the science of devotional service
  10. pravartakaḥan inaugurator
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”, “offered”

  • Dainya & humility · Making room for grace

    The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lowest”

  • 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

How does this verse encourage you to depend on Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy rather than your background?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and ask for His mercy to understand devotional service.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayMercy Enables One to Spread Devotional ServiceThis 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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