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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

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 20.112

বিষ্ণুশক্তিঃ পরা প্রোক্তা ক্ষেত্রজ্ঞাখ্যা তথাপরা ।

অবিদ্যা-কর্মসংজ্ঞান্যা তৃতীয়া শক্তিরিষ্যতে ॥ ১১২ ॥

viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā proktā

kṣetrajñākhyā tathā parā

avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyā

tṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate

Translation

“ ‘Originally, Kṛṣṇa’s energy is spiritual, and the energy known as the living entity is also spiritual. However, there is another energy, called illusion, which consists of fruitive activity. That is the Lord’s third potency.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Energy and the Potency of Illusion

  1. 1

    Originally, Kṛṣṇa’s energy is spiritual.

  2. 2

    The energy known as the living entity is also spiritual.

  3. 3

    Another energy, called illusion, consists of fruitive activity. It is the Lord’s third potency.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (6.7.61).
  • For a further explanation of this verse, refer to Ādi-līlā, chapter seven, verse 119.

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

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:

First they discussed the constitutional position of the living entities, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī how the living entity is one of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s energies. After this, the Lord explained the way of devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. viṣṇu-śaktiḥthe potency of Lord Viṣṇu
  2. parāspiritual
  3. proktāit is said
  4. kṣetra-jña-ākhyāthe potency known as kṣetrajña
  5. tathāas well as
  6. parāspiritual
  7. avidyāignorance
  8. karmafruitive activities
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this verse help you understand about the spiritual nature of the living entity?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, noting which energies are called spiritual and which is called illusion.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySpiritual Energy and the Potency of IllusionThis 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 20.112? Get an answer from the verses themselves.